Quick answer
The best 90s themed cocktails are the Cosmopolitan, appletini, lemon drop, Long Island iced tea, sex on the beach, Midori sour, mudslide, blue Hawaiian and Jell-O shots. For a party, batch one signature cocktail and one mocktail.
Please drink responsibly, serve alcohol only to adults of legal drinking age, and have plenty of non-alcoholic options.
Classic 90s cocktails
1 Cosmopolitan
1.5 oz citrus vodka, 1 oz orange liqueur, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, 1 oz cranberry juice. Shake with ice, strain into a martini glass, garnish with orange peel.
2 Appletini
1.5 oz vodka, 1 oz sour apple liqueur, 0.5 oz lemon juice. Shake and strain. Garnish with an apple slice.
3 Lemon drop
1.5 oz vodka, 0.75 oz orange liqueur, 1 oz lemon juice, 0.5 oz simple syrup. Shake, strain into a sugar-rimmed glass.
4 Long Island iced tea
0.5 oz each of vodka, gin, white rum, tequila and orange liqueur, 1 oz lemon juice, 0.5 oz simple syrup, topped with cola. Strong, so serve small.
5 Sex on the beach
1.5 oz vodka, 0.5 oz peach schnapps, 2 oz orange juice, 2 oz cranberry juice. Build over ice.
6 Midori sour
1.5 oz melon liqueur, 1 oz lemon juice, 0.5 oz lime juice, topped with soda. Neon green and very 90s.
7 Mudslide
1 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liqueur, 1 oz Irish cream. Shake with ice or blend with ice cream.
8 Blue Hawaiian
1 oz light rum, 0.75 oz blue curaçao, 2 oz pineapple juice, 1 oz cream of coconut. Blend or shake.
9 Jell-O shots
See the FAQ below for the recipe. Make them in every color.
90s-inspired party drinks
10 Electric lemonade
1.5 oz vodka, 0.5 oz blue curaçao, 2 oz lemonade, topped with lemon-lime soda.
11 Grunge (a dark and stormy)
2 oz dark rum, topped with ginger beer and a lime wedge. Name it after your favorite flannel.
12 Pop princess punch
Pink lemonade, vodka and sparkling wine with raspberry sherbet floating on top.
13 Green slime punch
Limeade, orange juice, rum and lemon-lime soda, served in a cauldron.
14 Frozen fruit punch daiquiri
Blend rum, fruit punch and ice, top with a gummy snack.
15 Clear "crystal" spritz
Vodka, elderflower liqueur and soda water, a nod to the clear-everything craze.
Three mocktails
Neon sherbet punch
Sherbet, pineapple juice and lemon-lime soda.
Green citrus cooler
Limeade and orange juice for that famous 90s green.
Clear lemonade fizz
Lemonade and soda water with lemon slices.
| Party size | Batch tip |
|---|---|
| Under 10 guests | Shake to order from a short menu of 3 drinks. |
| 10–30 guests | Batch one signature drink in a dispenser plus a mocktail. |
| 30+ guests | Batch two punches and offer beer, wine and soft drinks. |
Pair with a 90s themed charcuterie board or the full 90s party food menu.
Batch recipes for parties
| Drink | Batch (about 12 servings) |
|---|---|
| Cosmopolitan | 18 oz citrus vodka, 12 oz orange liqueur, 12 oz cranberry juice, 6 oz lime juice; chill and shake to order |
| Pop princess punch | 1 bottle sparkling wine, 4 cups pink lemonade, 8 oz vodka, sherbet on top |
| Green slime punch | 4 cups limeade, 2 cups orange juice, 10 oz rum, 2 liters lemon-lime soda |
Set up a 90s bar
Bar checklist
- Ice (more than you think)
- Shaker and jigger
- Martini and highball glasses
- Neon straws
- Garnishes: lime, orange peel, cherries
- A printed 90s drinks menu
- Water and mocktails
Why the 90s gave us so many famous cocktails
The 1990s were a turning point for cocktails. After decades of simple mixed drinks, bars began reviving classics and inventing new ones, and flavored vodkas exploded in popularity. Pop culture helped: a TV show about four friends in New York made the Cosmopolitan famous at the end of the decade, and fruity martinis like the appletini became symbols of a night out. Neon-colored liqueurs and shooters were everywhere in clubs and college bars.
Building a 90s drinks menu
For most parties, three drinks are enough: one signature cocktail, one punch or batch drink, and one mocktail. Give each a 90s name and print a small menu card in bubble letters. A short menu speeds up service, reduces waste and still feels special.
Pick your signature drink by your crowd. A grown-up dinner party suits a Cosmopolitan or lemon drop. A big house party suits a punch you can make in advance. A 90s prom theme might feature a blue electric lemonade or a neon Midori sour that matches the decor.
Glassware and garnish
Presentation does a lot of the work. Martini glasses instantly signal a late-90s cocktail, while highball glasses with neon straws feel more party. Garnish matters too: an orange peel twist for a Cosmo, an apple slice for an appletini, a cherry for anything pink. For a playful touch, add a gummy fruit snack on the rim.
Making great mocktails
Non-drinkers should not be stuck with water. The same flavors that define 90s cocktails make excellent mocktails: cranberry and lime with soda water for a "virgin Cosmo", pineapple and coconut for a blue-free Hawaiian, or a sherbet punch with lemon-lime soda. Serve them in the same glasses as the cocktails so everyone feels included.
Drinking responsibly at themed parties
Nostalgia parties can get lively, especially with shots. Keep plenty of food on hand, offer water at the bar, make the mocktail genuinely appealing and plan transport home for guests. Smaller glasses and lighter recipes help everyone enjoy the night.
Conclusion
90s themed cocktails range from the classic Cosmopolitan to neon punches. Choose one signature drink and one mocktail, batch them, and print a menu with 90s names. Serve alongside a 90s snack board.
Frequently asked questions
What cocktails were popular in the 90s?
Popular 90s cocktails included the Cosmopolitan, appletini, lemon drop, Long Island iced tea, sex on the beach, Midori sour, mudslide, blue Hawaiian and Jell-O shots.
What is the most 90s drink?
The Cosmopolitan is often called the defining 90s cocktail, helped by its appearance on a popular TV show set in New York at the end of the decade.
What is a good 90s mocktail?
A neon sherbet punch, a "clear" lemonade, or green citrus punch made from limeade and orange juice.
How do you make Jell-O shots?
Dissolve one small box of gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water, stir in 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 cup vodka, pour into small cups and chill for at least 2 to 4 hours until set.
What is a good signature 90s party drink?
A Cosmopolitan for a grown-up party, or a neon punch for a crowd.