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30 Best Memorial Day Drinks to Start Summer Right

The long weekend starts with spritzes!

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memorial day drinks
C.W. Newell

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Memorial Day weekend is your early invitation to summer, serving as an ideal time to soak up the sunshine with friends. While it may not be the season's official kickoff, it's the perfect excuse to fire up the grill. And no festive Memorial Day feast is complete without something cool and refreshing to sip on. That's where these delicious Memorial Day drinks come in!

Whether you're serving up burgers and hot dogs or your favorite kebabs, check out the summer cocktails on the list ahead. You'll find plenty of margarita recipes, strawberry cocktails, watermelon drinks, plus a red, white, and blue cocktail to match the American flag. (It is a patriotic holiday, after all.) Of course, you can always serve soft drinks, wine, or beer for your summer cookout. But if you really want to make the day special, try a michelada or white wine spritzer instead!

Hosting a big backyard barbecue for the family? Take Ree Drummond's approach on how to make batch cocktails—sangria or spiked Arnold Palmers are all big batch drinks that are easy to make ahead of time. Or blend up a frozen lemonade that can be made with or without the alcohol so everyone in the family can enjoy. Whatever your weekend has in store, you'll want to be sure to have plenty of Memorial Day appetizers to snack on while you sip these summery drinks.

1

Tropical Punch

memorial day drinks tropical punch
Ryan Liebe

This tropical punch only requires four ingredients: orange juice, ginger ale, pineapple juice, and maraschino cherries. The orange slices are an optional garnish, but so cheery!

Get Ree's Tropical Punch recipe.

SHOP PITCHERS

2

Freezer Door Margaritas

memorial day drinks freezer door margaritas
C.W. Newell

Stash a batch of these make-ahead margaritas in your freezer, and be rewarded with ice-cold cocktails all summer long! When the margarita cravings hit on Memorial Day, simply shake the bottle, salt the rim of a glass, and pour one out.

Get Ree's Freezer Door Margaritas recipe.

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3

Strawberry Sangria

strawberry sangria memorial day drinks
Con Poulos

Strawberry season is in full swing, so let these juicy gems steal the spotlight! Mix up this crowd-pleaser ahead of time with rosé and a splash of orange-flavored vodka, then let the flavors mingle to perfection.

Get Ree's Strawberry Sangria recipe.

4

Campari Spritz

campari spritz memorial day drinks
Caitlin Bensel

If you're a fan of the Aperol spritz, say hello to its zestier relative. Campari adds a bolder, more bitter twist, but a splash of orange juice brings just the right balance of sweetness and sparkle.

Get the Campari Spritz recipe.

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5

Marg-a-Ree-ta

margareeta memorial day drinks
Con Poulos

When the heat kicks in, Ree's twist on the classic margarita is just the thing to chill things out. Infused with crisp cucumber and fresh cilantro, it's a cool, garden-fresh sip made for sunny days.

Get Ree's Marg-a-Ree-ta recipe.

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6

Strawberry Limeade Punch

strawberry limeade punch memorial day drinks
C.W. Newell

If you didn't get around to serving this punch for Easter, then you'll definitely want to try it for Memorial Day. Seasonal strawberries, tart lime, and a kick from ginger ale make it fun for all.

Get the Strawberry Limeade Punch recipe.

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7

Watermelon Sangria

watermelon sangria memorial day drinks
con poulos

You only need three ingredients for this summery drink: sweet watermelon, rosé wine, and sparkling champagne. Not to mention, it makes a big enough batch for your whole crowd!

Get Ree's Watermelon Sangria recipe.

8

Lemonade Floats

lemonade float memorial day drinks
David Malosh

This family-friendly drink take sweet-tart lemonade to the next level! Each glass is topped off with a scoop (or two) of lemon sorbet. It would taste good with a splash of vodka, too!

Get Ree's Lemonade Floats recipe.

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9

Piña Colada

pina colada memorial day drinks
Will Dickey

Even if your Memorial Day weekend doesn't consist of a trip to the beach, you can still enjoy tropical flavors in your own backyard! The rum-based drink is a frosty combination of pineapple and coconut.

Get the Piña Colada recipe.

10

Frosé

frose wine memorial day drinks
Caitlin Bensel

Summer is rosé season and there's no better way to kick it off than with a frozen version of the pretty pink wine. It also has plenty of fruity flavor from the strawberry puree.

Get the Frosé recipe.

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11

Aperol Spritz

aperol spritz memorial day drinks
Will Dickey

This trendy cocktail is like a burst of sunshine in both color and flavor. There's a slight bitterness to the Aperol that balances out the sweetness and bubbles from the prosecco.

Get the Aperol Spritz recipe.

12

Shirley Temple

shirley temple memorial day drinks
Caitlin Bensel

Who didn't drink this mocktail as a kid? It's sweet and sparkling, and it feels like a special treat. Just don't forget the signature cherry on top!

Get the Shirley Temple recipe.

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13

White Sangria

white sangria memorial day drinks
Caitlin Bensel

White wine lovers can enjoy sangria, too, with this recipe that's made with both dry white wine and prosecco. It's light, refreshing, and still loaded with fruit.

Get the White Sangria recipe.

14

Strawberry Lemonade

strawberry lemonade memorial day drinks
Caitlin Bensel

This family-friendly drink combines fresh strawberry puree with lemon juice and water. It's a natural way to get that bright pop of color. Of course, you can always add a splash of vodka or tequila if you want to make it a cocktail!

Get the Strawberry Lemonade recipe.

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15

Spiked Arnold Palmer

spiked arnold palmer memorial day drinks
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Part tea, part lemonade, and totally refreshing—this drink gets a boozy twist with the addition of bourbon. It's something you can sip on while lounging on the porch or in the backyard.

Get the Spiked Arnold Palmer recipe.

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16

Tom Collins

tom collins memorial day drinks
Will Dickey

This classic cocktail is citrusy, sweet, and a little bit herbaceous from the gin. It's typically served in a Collins glass which is taller and narrower than other glasses to keep the bubbles from escaping.

Get the Tom Collins recipe.

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17

Strawberry Daiquiri

strawberry daiquiri memorial day drinks
Caitlin Bensel

This frozen cocktail just screams "summer vacation!" The sweet strawberries blended with lime juice and rum will have you feeling ready for the long weekend in no time.

Get the Strawberry Daiquiri recipe.

18

Red, White, and Blue Cocktail

red white and blue cocktail memorial day drinks
Will Dickey

This patriotic drink is a great way to celebrate the men and women in uniform. It's made with tequila, watermelon juice, and a bit of grenadine for color. Plus, there's blue sanding sugar on the rim and honeydew stars to garnish.

Get the Red, White, and Blue Cocktail recipe.

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19

Mojito

mojito memorial day drinks
Will Dickey

This classic drink is so refreshing during the warmer days of the year. The combination of rum, mint, sugar, lime juice, and club soda is simply perfect.

Get the Mojito recipe.

20

White Wine Spritzer

white wine spritzer memorial day drinks
Caitlin Bensel

This cocktail is perfect for when you want a glass of wine but also some fruit! It's light and bubbly which is perfect for a warm summer day.

Get the White Wine Spritzer recipe.

SHOP GLASSES

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