Aperol Spritz
A sparkling, refreshing aperitif with orange bitters.
Ingredients: Aperol, prosecco, soda water. Serve over ice with an orange slice.
Cocktail collection
Party Starter Cocktails That Get the Night Moving cocktails.
Party Starter Cocktails That Get the Night Moving is all about the drinks you reach for when you want the evening to feel like it has properly started. These are not slow, thoughtful cocktails for sitting quietly in the corner. They are the ones that bring a bit of buzz to the room, get people talking, and make everything feel more fun from the first round onwards. Bright flavours, familiar favourites, a bit of colour, a bit of sparkle, and drinks that people are genuinely pleased to see coming their way.
This collection works because it leans into cocktails that feel social. You have refreshing, easy crowd-pleasers, a few bolder party staples, and the sort of drinks that always seem to get people saying, “go on then, I’ll have one of those too.” Some are crisp and citrusy, some are fruity and playful, some bring a little bit of theatre, and some have enough kick to keep the mood going. Together, they make sense for birthdays, house parties, pre-drinks, celebrations, or any night where the goal is energy rather than elegance.
If you want cocktails that feel fun, recognisable, and built for a good atmosphere, this is a strong place to start. These are the drinks that help break the ice, lift the tempo, and turn a casual get-together into a proper night.
This collection works because it leans into cocktails that feel social. You have refreshing, easy crowd-pleasers, a few bolder party staples, and the sort of drinks that always seem to get people saying, “go on then, I’ll have one of those too.” Some are crisp and citrusy, some are fruity and playful, some bring a little bit of theatre, and some have enough kick to keep the mood going. Together, they make sense for birthdays, house parties, pre-drinks, celebrations, or any night where the goal is energy rather than elegance.
If you want cocktails that feel fun, recognisable, and built for a good atmosphere, this is a strong place to start. These are the drinks that help break the ice, lift the tempo, and turn a casual get-together into a proper night.
Recipes in this collection
Party Starter Cocktails That Get the Night Moving recipes
Browse every active cocktail currently linked to this collection.
Blue Lagoon
A vibrant blue cocktail with vodka, blue curacao, and lemonade, served in a highball glass with a citrus garnish.
Ingredients: Vodka, blue curacao, and lemonade combine to create a tangy and refreshing cocktail with a bold blue colour.
Confetti Spritz
Confetti Spritz combines Prosecco with Blood Orange Liqueur, Berry cordial, and Sparkling Wine, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Prosecco, Blood Orange Liqueur, Berry cordial, and Sparkling Wine.
Cosmopolitan
A stylish cocktail with cranberry and lime juice.
Ingredients: Vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, triple sec.
Crimson Disco
Crimson Disco combines Rum with Cranberry liqueur, Orange cordial, and Sparkling Wine, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Rum, Cranberry liqueur, Orange cordial, and Sparkling Wine.
East 8 Hold-Up
A vivid modern vodka cocktail combining pineapple and passion fruit with lime and the bittersweet orange bite of Aperol.
Ingredients: 45 ml vodka; 15 ml Aperol; 20 ml pineapple juice; 15 ml fresh lime juice; 7.5 ml rich sugar syrup; 5 ml passion fruit syrup.
Electric Sunset
Electric Sunset combines Tequila with Orange syrup, lime juice, and Grenadine cordial, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Tequila, Orange syrup, lime juice, Grenadine cordial, and Soda Water.
Enzoni
A modern gin-and-Campari sour softened by muddled fresh green grapes, lemon and sugar.
Ingredients: 5 fresh green grapes; 30 ml London dry gin; 30 ml Campari; 20 ml fresh lemon juice; 15 ml rich sugar syrup.
Espresso Martini
A rich, coffee-flavoured cocktail with vodka and espresso.
Ingredients: Vodka, fresh espresso, coffee liqueur, and sugar syrup.
Festival Fizz
Festival Fizz combines Vodka with Raspberry syrup, lime juice, and Lime Cordial, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Vodka, Raspberry syrup, lime juice, Lime Cordial, and Soda Water.
Firefly Cooler
Firefly Cooler combines Vodka with Elderflower Liqueur, lemon juice, and Cucumber slices, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, lemon juice, Cucumber slices, and Soda Water.
Harbour Lights
Harbour Lights combines Rum with Pineapple syrup, lime juice, and Lime Cordial, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Rum, Pineapple syrup, lime juice, Lime Cordial, and Soda Water.
House Party Punch
House Party Punch pairs Rum with Orange juice, Passion fruit syrup, and lime juice for a bright, sharply balanced cocktail with a clean finish.
Ingredients: Rum, Orange juice, Passion fruit syrup, and lime juice.
Late Night Disco Punch
Late Night Disco Punch pairs Rum with Pineapple juice, Lime Syrup, and lime juice for a bright, sharply balanced cocktail with a clean finish.
Ingredients: Rum, Pineapple juice, Lime Syrup, and lime juice.
Long Island Iced Tea
A strong, refreshing cocktail combining multiple spirits with a hint of citrus and cola.
Ingredients: Vodka, Gin, White Rum, Tequila, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice, Cola. Serve over ice.
Margarita
A zesty drink featuring lime and tequila.
Ingredients: Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, salt rim. Serve chilled.
Mojito
A refreshing cocktail with mint, lime, and rum.
Ingredients: Mint, lime, rum, sugar, and soda water. Serve over ice.
Moscow Mule
A refreshing cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime, served in a signature copper mug.
Ingredients: Vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.
Neon Lemonade
Neon Lemonade combines Vodka with Lemon Syrup, lemon juice, and Blue curacao cordial, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Vodka, Lemon Syrup, lemon juice, Blue curacao cordial, and Soda Water.
Paloma
Paloma is sharp, lively and properly structured, with Tequila, Grapefruit soda, Lime juice and Salt giving the drink a clearer flavour story and a more useful reason to make it.
Ingredients: Tequila, Grapefruit soda, Lime juice, Salt. Serve over ice.
Pina Colada
A tropical blend of pineapple, coconut, and rum.
Ingredients: Rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream. Blend with ice.
Pornstar Martini
A fruity, passion fruit-flavored cocktail, served with a shot of prosecco.
Ingredients: Vanilla vodka, passion fruit puree, lime juice, sugar syrup, and prosecco.
Rum Punch
A generous tropical rum punch with pineapple, orange, lime and grenadine. Colourful, fruity, balanced and built for sharing.
Ingredients: Rum, Orange juice, Pineapple juice, Lime juice, Grenadine
Screaming Orgasm
An unapologetically rich 1980s dessert cocktail combining vodka, coffee liqueur, amaretto, Irish cream, cream and milk.
Ingredients: 37.5 ml vodka; 37.5 ml coffee liqueur; 37.5 ml amaretto; 37.5 ml Irish cream; 37.5 ml cream; 37.5 ml whole milk.
Sex on the beach
A fruity, vodka-based cocktail with peach schnapps and tropical flavours.
Ingredients: Vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
Slow Comfortable Screw Against The Wall
A deliberately over-the-top long drink layering vodka, Southern Comfort, orange juice, sloe gin and Galliano.
Ingredients: 45 ml vodka; 15 ml Southern Comfort; 90 ml fresh orange juice; 15 ml sloe gin; 15 ml Galliano.
Starlight Sling
Starlight Sling brings together Gin and Cherry liqueur and Pineapple modifier in a focused cocktail that is easy to understand but far from one-note.
Ingredients: Gin, Cherry liqueur, Pineapple modifier. Serve well chilled.
Sundown Tiki
Sundown Tiki pairs Dark rum with Passion Fruit Juice, Orange syrup, and lime juice for a bright, sharply balanced cocktail with a clean finish.
Ingredients: Dark rum, Passion Fruit Juice, Orange syrup, and lime juice.
Sunset Reception
Sunset Reception combines Vodka with Peach liqueur, Raspberry cordial, and Sparkling Wine, finishing with a lively, refreshing lift.
Ingredients: Vodka, Peach liqueur, Raspberry cordial, and Sparkling Wine.
Tequila Sunrise
A vibrant, fruity cocktail made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, served in a tall glass to showcase its sunrise effect.
Ingredients: Tequila, orange juice and grenadine.
Tokyo Iced Tea
A vivid green Long Island Iced Tea variation built from five spirits, melon liqueur, lime and lemon-lime soda.
Ingredients: 15 ml white rum; 15 ml gin; 15 ml vodka; 15 ml reposado tequila; 15 ml triple sec; 15 ml green melon liqueur; 30 ml fresh lime juice; 50 ml chilled lemon-lime soda.
Tropical Tailwind
Tropical Tailwind pairs Rum with Mango juice, Coconut syrup, and lime juice for a bright, sharply balanced cocktail with a clean finish.
Ingredients: Rum, Mango juice, Coconut syrup, and lime juice.