Summer martini. Photo: Kevin.Cochran, Flickr
Marriage brings two love birds together to make one super familial unit, so when celebrating engagements, marriages, or anniversaries, why not let the idea of two-becoming-one inspire the drinks as well?
Just as couples morph from "John and Jane" into "the Smiths," many cocktails are as simple as a one-two punch -- harsh or bland on their own, or divine when merged with a mate. Some two-ingredient libations are a double helping of stiff alcohol, while some require just a splash of the strong stuff, and others are a marriage of alcohol and some other liquid -- either way, these babies will please without a long line of ingredients.
Martini: Made of gin or vodka, this may seem like a cheat on the two-ingredient rule, since a dry martini calls for only a touch of vermouth. Some martini purists, in fact, prefer to skip the vermouth all together, while others like their garnish (olives, onions, or lemon twists) soaked in the it beforehand. But we're still counting it as a two-ingredient cocktail, if only because it's so chic and classy -- perfect for toasting the happy couple.
Rum and Coke: Simple and beloved, the drink can be taken to new levels with some really good, high-quality rum. The ratio of rum to coke, well, that depends on the drinker.
Bellini: Peach puree or juice amped up with sparkling wine; it's simple, classy, and tasty.
Melon & Ginger Ale: For the lightweight drinkers, adding melon liqueur to ginger ale results in a fruity sort of cream soda that goes down easy without a harsh alcohol bite.
Rusty Nail: On the flip side, a mix of Drambuie and scotch might please those who prefer no fruit in their libations.
Gin or Vodka and Tonic: Another classic, it's as simple as adding gin or vodka to some tonic, as potent as you desire. Garnish with lime for a Great Gatsby-esque twist.
Buttery Nipple: On the creamy side of things, Baileys gets mixed with butterscotch schnapps for a thick, candy-flavored shot.
Presbyterian: This pick lightens up some scotch by mixing it with ginger ale, half and half to 2:4.
Black Russian: For a bit of a booze-filled perc, coffee liqueur gets amped up with vodka for a rich sip.
Juice + Booze: There are lots of juicy, alcohol-added drinks to choose from -- like the classic vodka-cranberry or amaretto with orange juice.
Shandy: Of course, not all libations are just liquor. The Shandy offers up a half-and-half mix of beer and ginger ale.
