Date Night Drinks: Cocktails & Mocktails for Two | PLAIN TABLE

Date Night Drinks: Cocktails & Mocktails for Two | PLAIN TABLE

A good evening starts with a good drink. Here are four to make at home.

Why Make Drinks at Home

There's something different about a drink you made yourself. You chose the glass. You cut the garnish. You handed it to someone. That small act of intention changes the whole evening.

These four recipes — two cocktails, two mocktails — are designed for two people, require no special equipment, and take under ten minutes to make. The only thing you need is the right glass.

The Cocktails

Aperol Spritz for Two

The easiest cocktail that looks the most impressive. Bright orange, effervescent, and endlessly summery.

Ingredients:

  • 3 oz Aperol
  • 6 oz Prosecco (chilled)
  • 2 oz sparkling water
  • 2 orange slices
  • Ice

Method:

  1. Fill two glasses with ice.
  2. Add 1.5 oz Aperol to each glass.
  3. Top each with 3 oz Prosecco and 1 oz sparkling water.
  4. Stir gently once. Garnish with an orange slice.

No shaker needed. No measuring stress. Done in three minutes.

Whiskey Sour for Two

Deeper, warmer, and more complex than the Spritz. This is the drink for when the evening slows down.

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz bourbon
  • 2 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 2 egg whites (optional — adds a silky foam top)
  • Ice
  • Lemon twist to garnish

Method:

  1. Combine bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg whites (if using) in a pitcher or shaker.
  2. If using egg whites: shake without ice first for 15 seconds (dry shake), then add ice and shake again.
  3. If skipping egg whites: stir well with ice in a pitcher.
  4. Strain into two glasses over fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

The egg white is optional but worth it — it creates a beautiful foam layer on top.

The Mocktails

Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade

Elegant, floral, and light. This is the mocktail that doesn't feel like a compromise.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz elderflower cordial
  • 2 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 8 oz sparkling water (chilled)
  • Fresh mint
  • Ice
  • Lemon slice to garnish

Method:

  1. Fill two glasses with ice.
  2. Add 1 oz elderflower cordial and 1 oz lemon juice to each glass.
  3. Top with sparkling water. Stir gently.
  4. Garnish with fresh mint and a lemon slice.

Elderflower cordial is available at most grocery stores. St-Germain liqueur works as a substitute if you want a light alcoholic version.

Spicy Mango Mocktail

Bright, tropical, and just a little unexpected. The chili rim makes it look like it came from a bar.

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz mango juice
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • ½ oz ginger syrup (or a few slices of fresh ginger muddled)
  • 4 oz sparkling water
  • Chili flakes + salt for the rim
  • Lime wheel to garnish
  • Ice

Method:

  1. Rim two glasses: rub a lime wedge around the edge, then dip in a mix of chili flakes and salt.
  2. Fill glasses with ice.
  3. Add mango juice, lime juice, and ginger syrup to each glass.
  4. Top with sparkling water. Stir once. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Adjust the chili to taste. A little goes a long way.

Making It for More Than Two

All four of these recipes scale easily. For a group, make a batch in a glass pitcher — multiply the ingredients, add ice, and let people pour their own.

→ Aofmee Glass Pitcher with Lid, 68oz — Borosilicate

→ Aofmee Glass Pitcher 100oz, 3L — with Stainless Steel Lid

The Glass Matters

A good drink in the wrong glass is still a good drink. But the right glass makes it better. For cocktails and mocktails at home, a clear tumbler is the most versatile choice.

→ Topo Chico Upcycled Glass Tumbler 8oz, Set of 2

→ Hand-painted Colorful Glass Tumblers, Set of 6

→ Clear Mexican Recycled Glass Tumbler 10oz, Set of 6

Setting the Scene

A small tray with two glasses, a candle, and a bowl of something to snack on — olives, nuts, a few pieces of cheese — takes three minutes to put together and completely changes the atmosphere of the room. That's the whole point.

Shop the Drink Setup

Next Friday: How to Set a Romantic Table at Home.

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