For the 21 and up crowd going through college, going out with your girls, your partner or your friends to unwind and make new friends is a fun way to spend your hard earned weekends. Bar hopping and drink grabbing can be hard on the wallet though — even the $4 drink specials at The Downward Dog on Monroe Avenue can add up throughout the night. 

If your pockets are starting to hurt from the weekend nights at the bar, making your own cocktails at home for a girls’ night in could be the remedy. 

Many of the ingredients used in mixed drinks can be bought cheap or made at home. Simple syrup can be made by boiling a cup of water and a cup of sugar until completely dissolved, then stored in a mason jar and kept for at least two weeks in the refrigerator. 

Simple syrup can also be infused with other flavors. Earl Grey-infused simple syrup can be used to make an Earl Grey sour, and lavender simple syrup could be used to spice up a mojito.

Any of these drinks can be tweaked to your liking until you find the perfect drink for you, a signature you and your friends can enjoy together.  

Rum Sour: 

If you’re looking for a quick, refreshing three-ingredient drink, look no further than a rum sour. If you’re not a rum drinker, it can easily be replaced with whiskey, tequila or any other choice of liquor. 

— 2 ounces rum

— 1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice 

— 1 ounce simple syrup 

— Shake with ice 

— Garnish with a lemon slice 

Gin and Tonic: 

A G&T is a classic drink to order at the bar, but it’s simple and can be made exactly how you like it in your own kitchen. Syrups, or flavored liquor such as St-Germain, can be added to give the basic drink a little more flavor. 

— 2 ounces gin

— 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice 

— 3–4 ounces tonic water 

— Add these ingredients to ice and stir 

— Serve with a lime wedge 

Poor Man’s Cosmopolitan:

 If you’ve watched “Sex and the City,” you know the importance of a good Cosmo on a Friday night. However, with all the ingredients, it can be an intimidating — and expensive — choice for a stay-at-home cocktail night. Instead of adding an orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Cointreau, you can add something a little more affordable that can also be used for breakfast the morning after — orange juice. 

— 2 ounces gin or vodka 

— 1 ounce orange juice

— 1 ounce cranberry juice 

— 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice 

— Shake with ice 

— Garnish with an orange twist for a classy finish 

Moscow mule: 

Moscow mules are another classic drink to order from the bars that’s just as easy — and much cheaper — to make at home. There are multiple variations of the Moscow mule, a personal favorite being a Dark and Stormy, made by substituting the vodka for rum. Its sweetness is counteracted with sharpness from the ginger beer, and is sure to be a go-to for a night at home drinking. 

— 2 ounces vodka

— ½ ounce fresh squeezed lime juice 

— 4 ounces ginger beer 

— Stir or pour over ice 

— Serve with a lime slice for garnish 

Sake Blush: 

Sometimes the liquor stores are all closed when you’re looking to make a drink at home. My roommates and I came up with a simple drink you can make at home with ingredients you can grab from Market of Choice or Trader Joe’s. It’s refreshing, simple and has a pretty pink color that looks great in a martini glass with the garnish of your choice. 

— 2 ½ ounces sake 

— 1 ½ ounces rose lemonade 

— 1 ounce simple syrup 

— 1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice 

— Stir with ice 

— Garnish with a lemon 

Making drinks at home can be not only cheaper and made to your own taste, it can also be a great bonding experience with your friends. 

Having your friends over for a cocktail night and bringing your favorite drinks to share can create a fun, safe and cozy environment to bond and mix on a budget together.  

Enjoy responsibly.