There’s something about shaken cocktails—perhaps the vigorous nature of their creation, or the propensity for the whole thing to go flying in the process—that suggests they’re harder to make than their stirred or built counterparts. For this reason, when it comes time to mix up a drink at the end of a long day, we often find ourselves turning to the simplicity of a Negroni or a Calvados & Tonic. But whipping out the shaker offers the opportunity not only to add new dimension to a favorite amaro, it opens up the possibility of exploring entire genres of cocktails—from sours to cobblers—that are as easy to make as they are to drink. Some, like the Campari Shakerato, require no housemade ingredients at all, not even simple syrup. Here, 15 easy cocktail recipes that prove turning to the shaker is never a bad idea.
Trader Vic’s Sour
A tiki sour that works equally well with bourbon, Scotch or brandy.
Nuclear Daiquiri
A cult cocktail adds green Chartreuse to the classic rum recipe.
Milano-Torino Sour
The two-ingredient, equal-parts aperitivo classic gets the sour treatment.
Rattlesnake
A frothy, absinthe-spiked cocktail that's surprisingly balanced.
Darryl Strawberry (at the Yankees)
A fruit-forward smash starring Amaro Montenegro and rum.
Winter Waltz
A whiskey-based spice bomb that can be easily batched for a crowd.
Army & Navy
A tropical gin sour from the 1930s.
50/50 Margarita
A split base of mezcal and manzanilla sherry offers a lower-ABV take on the classic.
Betty Carter
A sherry and amaro-infused whiskey sour in ode to legendary jazz singer Betty Carter.
Mountain Man
Giffard's Pêche de Vigne accentuates the roundness of maple syrup and the spice of ginger.
Whiskey Peach Smash
Dale DeGroff adds fresh peaches for a summery smash.