30 Summer Cocktails That Anyone Can Mix Up at Home
We’re allllll about mulled wine and buttered rum in the winter. But once the hot weather hits and the days are long, we crave refreshing, fruity libations almost instantly. Here are 30 summer cocktails to shake up at home this season, from an authentic piña colada to a frozen Aperol spritz.
RELATED: How to Make a Homemade Margarita Like a Total Pro
1. Portable Summer Sippers
No one should be forced to play bartender at their own soiree. Set these premade coolers made with raspberry vodka and fresh lime juice out in a bucket of ice instead and join the party.
2. Grapefruit Radler
Who knew grapefruit juice and wheat beer were soulmates? Up the summer ante by using a fruit-forward brew, like citrusy Blue Moon.
3. Frozen Aperol Spritz
Frosé is so five years ago (albeit delicious). This alternative stars bubbly prosecco, Aperol and fresh orange and lemon juices instead.
4. Boozy Lemonade Granita
Summer’s official drink, all grown up. Spike it with your choice of vodka or gin, then go the extra mile by serving it in hollowed-out lemons.
5. Sangrita
Bottle of red, meet tequila. This mashup between a margarita and sangria is mind-blowingly citrusy and refreshing. Don’t even get us started on the pretty lime sugar rim.
6. Piña Colada
If you’re wondering how to make this iconic rum-based cocktail the *right* way, take it from the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The drink was invented there, after all.
7. White Sangria with Peaches and Berries
Aka the easiest way to quench a crowd’s thirst. Start with frozen peaches and raspberries to cut back on chilling time.
8. Brazilian Breezer
This gem requires a bit of hindsight (the pineapple-infused tequila and coconut rum will need a week’s worth of patience), but it’s so, so worth the wait.
9. Watermelon Agua Fresca Mimosas
Champagne is the optimal choice here, but feel free to use any dry sparkling wine, like brut cava. (BTW, this is the easiest way to cut a watermelon.)
10. Bloody Mango Cocktail
Looks like Mary hopped a flight to a tropical island to live her best life. Think a simplified, vodka-based bloody with the addition of fresh lemon juice, mango nectar and a dash of sriracha.
11. Beer Margarita
We thought there was no better companion for a barbecue than a cold Pilsner-style beer…until we tried one with tequila, lime juice and agave, that is. A Mexican lager would work, too.
12. The Lono Tiki Cocktail
Named for the Hawaiian god of fertility, this cocktail boasts silver, coconut and dark rums, hazelnut liqueur and all the tropical fruit.
13. Grapefruit Wine
And you thought rosé couldn’t possibly get more delicious. It’s as easy as combining the wine of your choice, grapefruit juice and simple syrup.
14. Queen’s Park Swizzle
This mix of lime, mint and rum is dangerously close to a mojito, save for the Angostura aromatic bitters.
15. White Sangria Ice Pops
Fact: Cocktails just taste better on a stick. Plus, the combination of white grape juice and white wine is light enough in color that all the fresh fruit is visible, making for an Insta-worthy presentation.
16. Peach Sun Tea and Bourbon Cocktail
This Southern-style sipper is sweetened with maple syrup before it’s spiked with bourbon and peach brandy.
17. Summer Bellinis 3 Ways
The O.G. base of orange juice and Champagne is easy. The tough part is choosing which twist to try first: blackberry thyme, raspberry peach or strawberry lavender.
18. Watermelon Limoncello Prosecco Slushies
Bust out the blender to turn frozen, cubed watermelon into the most refreshing elixir known to man.
19. Strawberry Melon Elderflower Pimm’s Cup
Pimm’s is a gin-based spirit infused with spices, orange and herbal botanicals. So, pairing it with fresh summer produce and St-Germain is just plain genius.
20. New Orleans Hurricane
A timeless rum cocktail that’s tropical, sweet and pretty darn irresistible. Might we suggest washing down a shrimp po’ boy with it?
21. Strawberry Peach Sweet Tea Julep Pitcher
This crowd-pleaser has Derby Day written all over it. It’s got classic ingredients like mint and bourbon, along with fresh fruit juices and green tea.
22. Easy Coconut Lime Margaritas
In case classic margs tend to be too acidic for your taste, the addition of coconut milk and ginger ale should sweeten the earthy tequila and tart lime juice.
23. Blood Orange Thyme Paloma
Speaking of iconic tequila drinks, the paloma is traditionally made with grapefruit juice. This recipe trades one citrus flavor for another by substituting blood orange soda (because bubbles never hurt).
24. Sweet Bourbon Peach Lemonade
Three ingredients + five minutes = an impressive cocktail that’s prime for your next barbecue.
25. Rosé Raspberry Lavender Spritzer
Have you ever had Hangar’s Rosé Vodka? The blush-colored spirit with notes of apple, cranberry and sweet pea blossom tastes divine with the raspberry-lavender syrup, but feel free to substitute plain vodka or omit it completely.
26. Cucumber Mint Gimlet
The original gimlet has stood the test of time for one main reason: It only requires *two* ingredients. In addition to gin and lime juice, this gimlet also gets fresh cucumber and mint.
27. Smashed Berry Rosé Spritz
Not only does it have wine and tequila, but this pitcher recipe is also destined for your 4th of July party. Just look at those star-shaped nectarines.
28. Tropical Wine Slushies
Pro tip: Always use frozen fruit for blended cocktails, including this Moscato number. That way, you won’t have to dilute the drinks by adding plain ice.
29. Raspberry Daiquiri
Odds are you’ve sipped your fair share of strawberry daiquiris, but raspberries offer a unique, sweet-tart flavor to silver rum that’s well worth a try.
30. Strawberry Moscow Mule
Infuse your own strawberry vodka by combining the spirit and hulled berries in a jar and letting them sit for up to three days.
RELATED: How to Make a Strawberry Daiquiri at Home (It’s Easy, We Promise)
