Cocktail Trivia
Cocktail Trivia: Fun Questions to Stir Up Your Next Party
Let’s be honest once the drinks start flowing and the music hits just the right vibe, your party guests are ready for some fun. But instead of turning to the usual games, why not shake things up (see what I did there?) with a little cocktail trivia?
Whether you’re hosting a laid-back backyard BBQ, a girls’ night in, or a classy evening with charcuterie and candlelight, these cocktail questions are just the thing to keep everyone laughing, guessing, and maybe even learning something new (because who doesn’t want to know which U.S. state made the Margarita its official cocktail?!).
So grab a drink, get cozy, and let’s talk trivia cocktail style.
Why Cocktail Trivia Is a Party Win
If you’ve ever hosted a party where the energy dipped right after dessert or people started checking their phones, you know how important it is to keep things lively. Cocktail trivia is so easy to pull off it doesn’t require props, it works with small or big groups, and you can play it sitting down, standing up, or while sipping that second round of mojitos.
Plus, it’s a great way to include everyone. You don’t have to be a mixologist or a bar regular to enjoy it just curious (or lucky with your guesses)!
How to Play Cocktail Trivia
There are a few ways you can roll with this:
🍸 Classic Quiz Style
Split into teams or go solo. Read each question out loud, give folks 10 seconds to answer, then reveal the correct one. Keep score if you want, or just play for laughs!
🍹 Drinks and Dares
If someone gets an answer wrong, they take a sip (or do a funny dare like “sing a toast” or “name a drink that starts with M”).
🧉 Pass the Bottle
Pass around a shaker or wine bottle. The person holding it answers the next trivia question. Get it right, they pass it. Get it wrong, they sip!
50+ Cocktail Trivia Questions to Stir Up the Fun
Here’s a big ol’ list you can copy, print, or save on your phone. Mix and match depending on your crowd and your drink menu!
Beginner Round (Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy)
- What cocktail is made with rum, mint, lime, sugar, and soda water?
Answer: Mojito - Which cocktail famously contains vodka, tomato juice, and spices?
Answer: Bloody Mary - What is the main spirit in a Margarita?
Answer: Tequila - Which fruit is used to garnish a classic Old Fashioned?
Answer: Orange (and sometimes a cherry) - What does “on the rocks” mean?
Answer: Served over ice - Which cocktail is made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and club soda?
Answer: Tom Collins - What drink do you light on fire for dramatic effect?
Answer: Flaming shots or Blue Blazer - What’s in a mimosa?
Answer: Champagne and orange juice
Intermediate Round (You Know Your Cocktails)
- Which cocktail was famously served at the Kentucky Derby?
Answer: Mint Julep - What’s the primary alcohol in a Moscow Mule?
Answer: Vodka - Which cocktail is named after a New York City borough?
Answer: Manhattan - A Negroni is made with gin, Campari, and what else?
Answer: Sweet vermouth - Which cocktail is known for being served in a copper mug?
Answer: Moscow Mule - What tropical drink is made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice?
Answer: Piña Colada - Which cocktail’s name means “daisy” in Spanish?
Answer: Margarita - In what country did the Caipirinha originate?
Answer: Brazil - What’s the key difference between a Daiquiri and a Mojito?
Answer: A Mojito has mint and soda water; a Daiquiri doesn’t.
Advanced Round (For Your Fancy Friends)
- What’s the base liquor in a Sazerac?
Answer: Rye whiskey (sometimes Cognac) - What is Angostura?
Answer: A type of aromatic bitters - Which cocktail includes egg white for foaminess?
Answer: Whiskey Sour or Pisco Sour - What is the blue color in a Blue Lagoon cocktail from?
Answer: Blue Curaçao - What was James Bond’s famous cocktail order?
Answer: Martini, “shaken, not stirred” - Which cocktail has equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari?
Answer: Negroni - Which drink was called “liquid bread” in medieval Europe?
Answer: Beer - The Bellini was invented in which Italian city?
Answer: Venice - What’s a dirty martini?
Answer: A martini with olive brine added
Fun and Weird Cocktail Facts (Bonus Round!)
- Which U.S. state made the Margarita its official state cocktail in 2023?
Answer: Texas - What cocktail is said to cure hangovers and is often served at brunch?
Answer: Bloody Mary - What cocktail became popular during Prohibition for masking the taste of bad alcohol?
Answer: Gin and juice or anything with citrus and sugar - Which cocktail was named after a 1920s Paris hotel?
Answer: The Ritz Sidecar - Which spirit is made from sugarcane?
Answer: Rum - What drink was created in honor of Queen Mary I of England?
Answer: Bloody Mary - Which cocktail shares a name with a tool used in fencing?
Answer: Foil (just kidding! It’s the Gimlet)
Tips to Make Trivia Night Extra Fun
Keep It Light
This isn’t the SATs it’s a cocktail party. Don’t stress about right answers; if someone says “tequila sunrise” instead of “margarita,” just laugh and move on.
Add Prizes
Pick up some fun little things from the dollar store cocktail-themed napkins, silly sunglasses, or a bottle of fancy mixers. Winners love a little prize!
Go Digital If Needed
Hosting online or have some techy guests? Use Kahoot or a trivia app to make it easy-breezy.
Theme Your Night
Pair your trivia with a cocktail-making station or assign guests a “signature drink” to bring and share. Think “Cosmo & Questions” or “Bubbly & Brainteasers.”
Hosting isn’t always easy we juggle guest lists, snacks, playlists, spills, and somehow still smile through it. But you don’t need to plan a Pinterest-perfect night to make it memorable. Just add a little laughter, some fizzy drinks, and a dash of trivia fun.
So here’s to good drinks, good friends, and a night full of “wait, I totally knew that!” moments.
