9 Freezer Door Cocktails for Easy Hosting

If you love effortless entertaining ideas, you might have heard of freezer door cocktails by now. We’re loving this spin on classic batched cocktails for summer, the holidays, and other times of the year when gatherings are plentiful. Because let’s be honest, hosting friends and family is a lot less overwhelming when you have a fun, ready-to-clink option hiding out in the freezer door. So, let’s take a look at this viral TikTok trend and how you can apply it at home. 

What is a Freezer Door Cocktail?  

If the term is brand-new to you, a freezer door cocktail is an all-in-one pre-mixed drink that is mixed right in the liquor bottle. The great thing about this method of batching cocktails is that it can be whipped up ahead of time and left in the freezer until your guests arrive. You should be able to pour six to eight servings of your favorite cocktail from one bottle, which makes it ideal for party cocktails.  

This genius idea has kind of been free-floating in the food and drinks zeitgeist since the early-2000s but has really made a splash on TikTok lately thanks to the now-viral how-to videos of J.M. Hirsch, who posts under the handle of @177milkstreet. 

Read next: 25 Creative Cocktail Party Menu Ideas

The Key to Making Perfect Freezer Door Cocktails  

Before you try your hand at freezer door cocktails recipes for your next outdoor cocktail party or surprise birthday party, there are a few things you need to bear in mind.  

Similar to the scientific precision involved in baking, achieving the perfect chilled state for mixed drinks in the freezer requires a thoughtful approach. According to Hirsch, it’s crucial to find the delicate equilibrium between preventing freezing and maintaining a refreshing chill.  

Most liquors, like vodka, gin, and tequila, tend to freeze at approximately -16°F (-9°C). However, when incorporating sweeteners or watery elements like juice, the freezing point is elevated, inching closer to the common 0°F (-18°C) setting of home freezers. Striking that balance becomes essential to avoid the undesirable outcome of a frozen or slushy cocktail. 

Here are a few more tips from The Mixer team:  

• Use high-proof liquor. This will help to prevent the cocktail from freezing solid. 
• Decant the liquor you pour off into a spare bottle or decanter to use in other cocktails.  
• Use fresh ingredients. This will give your cocktail the best flavor. 
• Don’t underfill the bottle or container. This will leave too much room for air, which can cause the cocktail to freeze solid. 
• Stir or shake the cocktail before serving. This will help to distribute the ingredients evenly and prevent the cocktail from becoming too slushy. 

More party inspo: 8 Cocktail Party Ideas & Your Planning Checklist 

1. Freezer Door Old Fashioned   

Our go-to Old Fashioned recipe gets an ABV upgrade with this pre-Prohibition take on the classic, but it yields a stylish sipper nonetheless:  

• Pour off 2 oz from a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon 
• Add 1 oz simple syrup 
• Add a few generous shakes of bitters (half a teaspoon) 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer  
• Pour over fresh ice and serve when you are ready 

2. Freezer Door Manhattan  

To make the freezer door version of a Manhattan:  

• Pour off 4.5 oz of Wild Turkey Rye 101 
• Add 4 oz Cinzano Vermouth Rosso 
• Add 0.5 oz Maraschino cherry syrup  
• Finish it off with a generous dash of bitters 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer  
• Pour over fresh ice, garnish with a Maraschino cherry, and serve

3. Freezer Door Espresso Martini 

A typical Espresso Martini would be made with freshly brewed, cooled espresso, but that would cause the drink to freeze solid, so J.M Hirsch recommends using instant espresso powder instead. Here’s his easy freezer door Espresso Martini recipe:  

• Pour off 10 oz of a bottle of SKYY Vodka 
• Add 3.5 tablespoons of instant espresso powder 
• Add 9 oz coffee liqueur 
• Add 1 oz water 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer 
• Pour over fresh ice and serve when you are ready 

4. Freezer Door Negroni  

The spirit-forward Negroni is another cocktail that works exceptionally well in a freezer door. Here’s the recipe:  

• Pour off 16 oz from a bottle of Bulldog Gin 
• Add 7 oz Campari 
• Add 7 oz Cinzano Vermouth Rosso 
• Add a few drops of orange bitters 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer  
• Pour into chilled glasses, garnish with an orange twist, and serve when you are ready 

5. Freezer Door Martini  

Love serving a classic Gin Martini, but not keen to play bartender all night long? Here’s the easy ready-to-pour version to keep in the freezer:  

• Pour off 11 oz from a bottle of Bulldog Gin 
• Add 7 oz Cinzano Vermouth Bianco 
• Add 4 oz water 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer  
• Pour into chilled glasses, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve when you are ready   

6. Freezer Door Margarita  

Ah, the festive Lime Margarita – no line-up of ready-to-drink party drinks would be complete without it. Here’s how you do it:  

• Pour off 10 oz from a bottle of Espolon Tequila Blanco 
• Add 5 oz fresh lime juice 
• Add 4 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur 
• Add 1.5 oz agave syrup 
• Add a pinch of salt or two 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer until guests arrive 
• Pour it over fresh ice, garnish with a lime wedge, and serve 

More Margarita magic: What is the Best Margarita Recipe? 10 Ways to Make a Margarita  

7. Freezer Door Cosmopolitan  

The freezer door version of a Cosmopolitan is made using cranberry juice concentrate to keep it from freezing solid. Here is the recipe:  

• Pour off 9 oz from a bottle of SKYY Vodka 
• Add 3 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur  
• Add 2 oz water 
• Add 1 oz of cranberry juice concentrate 
• Add 0.25 oz lime juice 
• Add a few shakes of orange bitters 
• Add 1.5 oz simple syrup 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer  
• Pour over fresh ice and serve when you are ready 

8. Freezer Door Daiquiri  

The Daiquiri is having a moment in the limelight, with the Lime Daquiri, Banana Daiquiri, and Strawberry Daiquiri leading the popularity pack. Here is a freezer door version of the Lime Daiquiri to enjoy in a flash.   

• Pour off 7 oz from a bottle of Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum 
• Add 3.5 oz fresh lime juice 
• Add 2 oz water 
• Add 1.5 oz simple syrup 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer  
• Pour over fresh ice and serve when you are ready 

9. Freezer Door Vesper Martini

To make a freezer door version of James Bond’s other favorite cocktail, the dapper Vesper Martini, do the following:  

• Pour off 10 oz from a bottle of Bulldog Gin 
• Add 2.5 oz SKYY Vodka 
• Add 5 oz Cinzano Vermouth Bianco 
• Cap it, give it a good shake, and store it in the freezer  
• Serve when you are ready, and add some ice if preferred