If you’ve found yourself at a family or friend’s house for Thanksgiving without any pre-planned adult beverages, don’t panic. There might be a liquor cabinet nearby, which can save the day. With just a few basic ingredients, you can whip up delicious drinks that will make the family conversations flow more smoothly.

You can rely on an old cocktail-making adage: “one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, and four of weak.” Here’s how to interpret that:

• One: Citrus juice (like lime or lemon)
• Two: Sweetener (like simple syrup)
• Three: The spirit of your choice
• Four: A diluter such as soda water (optional)

For example, a simple drink can be made with:

• ½ ounce lime juice (one)
• 1 ounce simple syrup (two)
• 1½ ounces spirit (three)
• 2 ounces soda water (four)

Feel free to tweak these proportions based on your preference for tartness or sweetness. Here’s a selection of classic cocktails you can prepare quickly:

Daisy

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces vodka, gin, tequila, or light rum
• 1 ounce fresh-squeezed citrus juice
• ½ ounce fruit syrup
• Garnish with a lemon, lime, orange, or cherry

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake, strain, and serve over ice with garnish.

Sour

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces whiskey, Scotch, aged rum, or gin
• 2 ounces fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• ½ ounce aquafaba or egg white
• Garnish with citrus

Directions: Shake the first four ingredients until foamy, strain over ice, and garnish.

Smash

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces vodka, gin, rum, or whiskey
• 1 ounce fresh juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Herbs like mint or basil
• Sparkling water

Directions: Shake first three ingredients with ice, add herbs and gently shake again. Serve with soda water and garnish with herbs.

Classic Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces brandy, rum, tequila, whiskey, Scotch, or gin
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 3 dashes of bitters

Directions: Combine in a mixing glass with ice, shake, and strain over ice in a rocks glass.

With these recipes, you can mix up some fantastic drinks even at the last minute! The key is to enjoy the process and adjust according to taste. Cheers to making the most of your Thanksgiving!