Running out of ice is generally considered a party faux pas, but it doesn’t have to be! There are some great cocktails made without ice that are perfect for just this type of situation.
Or maybe you’re just not that keen on ice in your drinks. Either way, there are some great drinks you can make without any ice at all.
Here is a list of some of my favorite ice-free cocktails.
Flaming Dr. Pepper
The flaming Dr. Pepper is a showy drink, but despite its name, this fiery drink has no Dr. Pepper in it at all! Ask for a flaming Dr. Pepper, and you will get a delightful combination of beer, amaretto, and rum!
Ingredients
- 8 oz. beer
- ¼ oz. overproofed rum
- ¾ oz. amaretto
How to Make It
- Add half a pint of beer to a pint glass.
- Pour the ¾ oz. Amaretto into a shot glass and top it off with the rum.
- Set the shot on fire and carefully drop the filled shot glass into the pint glass of beer.
Just be careful—remember that this drink is literally playing with fire!
Irish Shot (Irish Car Bomb)
The Irish shot (more frequently called the “Irish car bomb”) is a rich mixture that will quickly sneak up on you if you don’t pace yourself. There is no denying that this creamy drink is just as much fun to watch a bartender make as it is to drink!
Ingredients
- Guinness Beer
- ½ oz. Bailey’s Irish cream
- ½ oz. Irish whiskey
How to Make It
- Slowly pour the Irish whiskey
- Pour the ¾ oz. Amaretto into a shot glass and top it off with the rum.
- Set the shot on fire and carefully drop the shot—still in the shot glass—into the pint glass of beer.
Hot Shot
The Hot Shot is the ideal drinker for the coffee lover in your life, but keep in mind that this drink does incorporate heavy cream to give it an incredible mouthfeel.
Ingredients
- ½ oz. Espresso
- ½ oz. Galliano L’Autentico
- ½ oz, heavy cream
How to Make It
- Add the Gaillano L’Autentico to a shot glass.
- Pour the espresso on top of the Galliano with a steady hand to create a gorgeous layered look.
- Top the drink with your heavy cream, and it is ready to serve!
Forbidden Apple
The Forbidden is a drink that you don’t see very often – this is due to how seldom people already have the ingredients needed for this drink on hand. If you don’t have what you need, this combination can lead to a spirit hunt as you track down the key ingredients, but believe me when I tell you that it is a cocktail worth the hassle!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Calvados
- 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
- ½ oz. Grand Marnier
- 4 oz. chilled champagne
How to Make It
- In a champagne flute, combine the Calvados with the Angostura bitters and the Grand Marnier.
- Fill the rest of the glass with the champagne.
- Garnish if you prefer, or forget the garnish and start drinking!
Snap Crackle Drop
The Snap Crackle Drop is a unique cocktail that will leave you reminiscing over the old Rice Krispies commercials. This fun cocktail is best when served without ice, and it is sure to capture the heart of anyone with a soft spot for tequila!
Ingredients
- 1 and ½ oz. Don Julio Reposado Tequila
- 7 dashes Angostura
- 1 lime wedge
- 4 twists of black pepper
How to Make It
- Pour the tequila into a glass.
- On a small plate, stir the black pepper into the bitters to make a paste.
- Paint one side of the lime wedge with the bitters paste.
- When “showtime” comes, take a bite out of the paste-covered lime wedge and sip the tequila.
Butterbeer
The Harry Potter lover in your life will recognize this mixed drink as a favorite drink in the Wizarding World! Be advised, though, this is a sweet drink that you want to sip throughout the evening rather than drinking it all down in one sitting.
Ingredients
- 1 oz. vanilla vodka
- 1 oz. butterscotch schnapps
- 6 oz. cream soda
- Butterscotch syrup
- Butterscotch whipped cream
How to Make It
- In a chilled mug, combine the vanilla vodka with the butterscotch schnapps and the cream soda.
- Add a dollop of your whipped cream on top of the mix.
- Top with a drizzle of butterscotch whipped cream for an added touch of sweetness.
New Year Sparkler
If you are ready to ring in the new year, or if you just want to spoil yourself with something that includes Champagne, this is the perfect drink for just that kind of occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 oz. berry flavored vodka
- 31 ½ oz. chilled champagne
- 1 ½ oz. Pomegranate juice (cranberry will work in a pinch)
- Fresh raspberries for garnish
How to Make It
- Combine the red juice and vodka in an icy champagne flute.
- Top the glass off with your champagne.
- Use the fresh raspberries to garnish the drink and to add a brighter splash of color.
So there you have it: seven cocktails that are sure to make your next party a smashing success, no ice required! Mix up one (or all!) of these recipes and enjoy the good times with friends and family. Bottoms up!