25 Refreshing Summer Cocktails to Sip All Season Long
Savor them under the sun!
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As temperatures rise, let your cocktail game follow suit! Summer is all about easy sips and fun in the sun, whether you're poolside with a frosty glass in hand or passing pitchers around at a backyard BBQ. It's the season where drinks get brighter, bolder, and a whole lot more fun. Think zesty margaritas for taco night, fruity sangria for happy hour, or a festive red, white, and blue blend to kick off the 4th in style. Whatever the occasion, there's a perfect pour for every sunny celebration.
Looking to put summer fruits to good use? Try the peach bellini or the white wine spritzer filled with garden-fresh berries. Or if you prefer a cocktail with tequila instead, try watermelon drinks like margarita for a summery twist on a classic drink. Speaking of classic drinks, if you haven't tried an herby mint mojito or a tropical bay breeze cocktail, you'll definitely want to give them a try during the warmest days of the year.
All of these summer cocktails would be fun to serve at your next backyard bash, including frozen drinks like lemonade for the kids or a glass of frosé for the grownups in the house. We've even included a few mocktails like the strawberry lemonade. Then all you have to do is add a few party dips and your favorite grilling recipes, and you'll be ready for a day filled with fun in the sun!
Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Shake up a batch of cosmos for a touch of glam with a tart twist. The pink drink gets its hue and sweet taste from a few simple ingredients, including vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
Get the Cosmopolitan Cocktail recipe.
Sidecar Cocktail
Citrus lovers, this one's for you! This bright cocktail only calls for three ingredients: cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. Garnish your glass with a lemon twist for even more fruity fun.
Get the Sidecar Cocktail recipe.
Paloma
Craving a drink that's as sunny as the day? Shake up a playful paloma! Bursting with tequila, zesty lime juice, a pinch of salt, fresh grapefruit juice, and a splash of grapefruit soda, it’s tangy, fizzy, and effortlessly fun.
Get the Paloma recipe.
Tom Collins
Step into classic cocktail bliss with the ever-refreshing Tom Collins, a bright blend of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bubbly soda water. It's crisp, citrusy, and just the right touch of sweet. Top it off with a lemon wheel and cherry for a pop of color!
Get the Tom Collins recipe.
Strawberry Margarita
Just when you thought the margarita had peaked in summer perfection, enter fresh strawberry purée. It's juicy, it's vibrant, and yes, it takes this classic to the next level. Finish it off with a salty-sweet freeze-dried strawberry rim, and you've got yourself a sip of sunshine.
Get the Strawberry Margarita recipe.
Hurricane Cocktail
Chock full of fruity flavors and rum, this tropical cocktail is a refreshing escape in a glass! It's both tangy and sweet, thanks to passion fruit juice, orange juice, and grenadine.
Get the Hurricane Cocktail recipe.
Bee's Knees
This refreshing cocktail truly is the bee's knees! It's the perfect balance of sweet honey, tart lemon juice, and herbal gin.
Get the Bee's Knees recipe.
Piña Colada
If you like piña coladas and gettin' caught in the rain, make this recipe all summer and plan your escape... to the kitchen to make another batch.
Get the Piña Colada recipe.
Aperol Spritz
Looking to serve a crowd? This trendy option is the way to go. Simply pour Aperol, prosecco, and sparkling water over ice and garnish. And just look at that color!
Get the Aperol Spritz recipe.
Watermelon-Raspberry Frozen Sangria
Sangria on its own is so refreshing on a hot day, but add some ice to the mix, and you have the ultimate summer drink! Unlike traditional sangria, the beauty of this drink lies in the fact that you don't need to wait for the fruit to infuse.
Get Ree's Watermelon-Raspberry Frozen Sangria recipe.
Strawberry Daiquiri
You only need four ingredients for frozen drink heaven: strawberries, sugar, lime juice, and rum. If you want to make them non-alcoholic, you can throw in a splash of rum extract for flavor instead.
Get the Strawberry Daiquiri recipe.
Spicy Jalapeño Margarita
Turn up the heat this summer with a subtle spicy spike. You start with jalapeño tequila and add triple sec, lime juice, and a sugar syrup for the perfect balance of spicy, tart, and sweet.
Get the Spicy Jalapeño Margarita recipe.
Campari Spritz
If you like Aperol but wish it was a little less sweet, try Campari instead! It will give your cocktail a bittersweet and herbaceous flavor that contrasts the juice and prosecco perfectly.
Get the Campari Spritz recipe.
White Sangria
Having trouble choosing between white wine and prosecco? Have a taste of both in the same drink, along with fresh pops of citrus, apple, mango, and strawberry.
Get the White Sangria recipe.
Mojitos
Growing mint in your garden? Try this icy mojito recipe that's loaded with the fresh herbs. There's also plenty of lime juice and a bit of sugar for sweetness.
Get the Mojito recipe.
Frosé
If "frosé, all day" is your summer motto, you don't have to go out to have some. Nope, just make it at home with four simple ingredients that take a whirl in your blender.
Get the Frosé recipe.
Watermelon Margarita
It wouldn't be summer without juicy watermelon! Here, the sweet fruit gets blended into a classic margarita.
Get the Watermelon Margarita recipe.
White Wine Spritzer
Wine lovers will appreciate this refreshing bubbly drink. It combines chilled white wine with sparkling water and fruity ice cubes.
Get the White Wine Spritzer recipe.
Bay Breeze Cocktail
You'll feel like you're on a tropical island (even if you're just in your own backyard) with this fruity drink. The mini umbrellas are optional but highly recommended.
Get the Bay Breeze Cocktail recipe.
Ranch Water
This lightened-up drink is Ree Drummond's go-to cocktail and it's easy to see why. It's refreshing and it comes together in just a couple of minutes!
Get the Ranch Water recipe.
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