Easy to make and easy to remember, the three-ingredient cocktail formula has stood the test of time for a reason. From the Daiquiri to the Negroni, the canon of classics is riddled with triptych cocktails that inspire obsession, while leaving plenty of room for innovation. Case in point: Joaquín Simó’s Midnight Marauder, which swaps each of the Negroni’s three ingredients to make a smokier, gentian-bitter drink that’s true to the equal-parts build of the original; or Tommy Klus’ French Connection, which trades the Boulevardier’s typical Campari for the softer Avèze. Indeed, each piece of the three-ingredient puzzle is an opportunity to apply the Mr. Potato Head approach of drink creation, substituting different ingredients into a timeless template to land on something entirely new. From lesser-known modern classics to unlikely crowd-pleasers, here are some of our favorites of the three-ingredient format.
