Are you bored with Margaritas? Do Daiquiris or Mojitos elicit a sigh? Is a Frosé so… last year? Well, don’t let the same old drab cocktails take the sparkle out of your last few summer gatherings.
We’ve found 10 fabulous summer cocktails (plus a couple of ‘mocktails’) to put that sparkle back into your summer. They’re good for sipping on the porch, entertaining a few friends, or pleasing a crowd.
Here are our top picks for your summer enjoyment:
How does an icy cold cocktail on a stick sound? When it’s made with fresh lime, cucumber, mint, sugar, and gin, we think it sounds deliciously cold and refreshing. There’s also a little bit of unflavored gelatin powder in the mix so you can savor the chill for a few extra minutes without it melting.
This cocktail deliciously combines the cool, summery flavors of cucumber and watermelon with fresh limes, simple syrup, and Cucumber Vodka. Add a little extra ‘zest’ by rimming the glasses with a mixture of equal parts salt and sugar plus freshly grated lime zest.
What do you get when you combine a traditional Tom Collins with the refreshing tartness of Limoncello? You get a Limoncello Collins, of course! Just combine fresh lemons, mint, club soda, gin, and Limoncello for a pitcher of lemony goodness that’s perfect for sharing.
Drink your dessert in the form of this luscious, cold and creamy float. It’s made with vanilla ice cream, heavy cream (for extra creaminess, of course!), sugar, bitters, cherry soda, sweet vermouth, and bourbon.
This drink mixes a serrano chile with cherries, mint, lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda, and white rum. Can you take the heat?
Strawberry Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail
What do you get when you combine muddled strawberries, lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters, and ginger beer with Kentucky Bourbon? A refreshing cocktail with just the right amount of fruit and fizz!
This cocktail is as beguiling as the gentle rocking of ocean waves. It combines a surprising mixture of cucumber, cilantro, lime juice, simple syrup, and sea salt with vodka for a drink that goes down as smoothly as a day of summer sailing.
Wait! Don’t get off that sailboat until you’ve tried this mixture of fresh pineapple and lime juices, simple syrup, aged rum, and Campari. Top it off with a sprinkle of sea salt and a slice of dried pineapple for a drink that’ll have you hollering ‘Ahoy’.
This blonde version of the traditionally red Spanish punch is made with fresh orange juice, orange and lemon zest, Thai basil, simple syrup, club soda, Pinot Grigio, and a generous splash of brandy.
Celebrate a favorite summer fruit by mixing the juice from pureed and strained watermelon with lime juice, simple syrup, blueberries, mint, and silver tequila. Yum!
‘Mocktails’
Sweet, creamy, rich, and tangy with a caramelized finish… Mixing chai sun tea, passion fruit, and sweetened condensed milk creates a refreshing ‘mocktail’ that gets its tangy bite from a surprising ingredient – balsamic vinegar!
This non-alcoholic take on the popular sangria punch combines muddled blueberries and mint with simple syrup and fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
Which of these drinks will become your new summer favorite? Have fun finding out!
