Grab Your Cooler: We Found 20 Summer Cocktails Perfect for Drinking on the Beach
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When I think about summer, my body and brain are overwhelmed with two senses: the feel of sand between my toes, and the taste of a good (read: cold) cocktail on my tongue. (Typically something with bubbles, but I'm not one to discriminate.) If you ask me, beach days and boozy beverages go together like peanut butter and jelly, or hangovers and bagels. They just make sense in conjunction—especially when you're sharing with friends. Long story short: the perfect drink on the perfect summer day is a beautiful, beautiful thing. (In moderation, of course...don't drink and dive!)
Of course, I want beautiful things for you, which is why I put together this list of 20 beach drinks sure to make any day spent on the sand *that* much better. It's got a variety of different yummy options that anyone, of any skill set, can make—no mixology course required. Scroll down for a perfect paloma, a creamy colada, an umami margarita, and a not-too-bitter Aperol Spritz. Then, grab your cooler and some SPF—we're changing the Taylor Swift song to Buzzed at the Beach.
Smoky Aperol Margarita
Rim your glass with lime juice and Tajin, then set aside. To a shaker, add ½ ounce lime juice, 1 ounce Mezcal, ½ ounce Cointreau, and ¾ ounce Aperol. Shake for 15 seconds and pour over ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lime wheel!
Recipe from The Spritz Effect
RumHaven Colada
Add 2 ounces RumHaven, 2 ounces pineapple juice, 1 ounce coconut cream, and ½ ounce fresh lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake vigorously. Strain cocktail into an ice-filled Collins glass. Top it off with a pineapple and cherry garnish.
Recipe from RumHaven
Mumm Napa Raspberry Rosé
Muddle 1 lime (cut into wheels), ½ part raspberries, and a sprinkle of sugar. Rest until sugar is dissolved. Strain using fine mesh strainer. Add 1 part compote and 5 parts Mumm Napa Brut Rosé to a glass. Garnish with additional raspberries and lime wheels.
Recipe from Mumm Napa
Malfy Sorbet Bubbly Lemonade
Add 1½ ounces Malfy Gin Arancia, 1 scoop lemon sorbet, ¾ ounce lemon juice, ¾ ounce honey syrup, and 1 mint sprig into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill and combine the ingredients. Double strain into your cocktail glass. Top with 3 ounces prosecco and garnish with mint sprigs and blood orange slices.
Recipe from @beautifulbooze/Malfy Gin
Cazadores Avocado Margarita
In a blender, add 1½ ounces Cazadores Blanco tequila, ¼ ounce avocado, 1 ounce simple syrup, 1 ounce fresh lime juice, and 1 slice serrano chile with ice and blend. Serve in a margarita or rocks glass with a celery salt rim. Garnish with an avocado or pepper.
Recipe from Cazadores
Lillet Rosé Spritz
Shake 3 parts Lillet Rosé and 3 parts tonic water with ice, and strain into a white wine glass filled with ice. Garnish with either slice of grapefruit and/or orange.
Recipe from Lillet
Blackberry G&T
Pour 1½ ounces Aviation American Gin and ½ ounce blackberry liqueur into glass filled with ice and top with 3 ounces tonic water. Gently stir and garnish with blackberries and mint sprig.
Recipe from Aviation Gin
Palm Springs Paloma
In a shaker tin, combine 1½ ounces 818 Tequila Blanco, 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice, ½ ounce fresh lime juice, ¼ ounce hibiscus tea, and ½ ounce agave. Shake and strain over ice. Top with club soda and a lime wedge.
Recipe from 818 Tequila
Passion Fruit Tangerine Tequila Cooler
In a glass, muddle 1-2 sections of fresh tangerine until all the juice is extracted, and top with crushed ice. Pour ½ ounce tangerine juice (or orange juice) and 1½ ounces blanco tequila over the ice. Add 3 ounces of Health-Ade Passion Fruit Tangerine Kombucha to your glass and stir well. Garnish with a tangerine slice. Optional: add in a scoop of passion fruit for extra flavor.
Recipe from Health-Ade Kombucha
The JoJo
Add 1½ ounces Sunny Vodka, 1 ounce lemon juice, ¾ ounce Mixolojuice strawberry syrup, ½ ounce St. Germain, and 1 dash Peychaud Bitters to a shaker. Shake and double strain into glass. Top with prosecco. Garnish with candied strawberry.
Recipe from Sunny Vodka
Cocorita
Pour 1½ ounces 21Seeds Valencia Orange Tequila, 1 ounce pineapple juice, 1½ ounces non-pink coconut water, and ½ ounce tangerine juice or orange juice into a shaker with ice. Quick shake and pour over fresh ice.
Recipe from 21Seeds
Out of Hibernation
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in 2 ounces honey lavender syrup, 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce cranberry juice, 1 ounce pineapple juice, 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce rum, 1 ounce tequila, and 2 dashes of tiki bitters. Shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds then strain the drink into an empty honey jar filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of lemon or a sprig of lavender, if desired.
Recipe from Fantasy Lab Las Vegas
The ‘3-2-1’ Aperol Spritz
In a stemmed balloon glass full of ice, combine 3 parts of Cinzano Prosecco followed by 2 parts Aperol. Add 1 part or a splash of soda water, stir gently if needed and garnish with an orange slice. The end result should be a uniform, perfect orange color.
Recipe from Aperol
Cucumber Rosérita
Add 3 muddled cucumber slices, 1 ounce lime juice, and ¾ ounce agave syrup to a shaking tin and muddle well. Add 1½ ounces Maison No. 9, 1½ ounces tequila blanco, and ice to the tin and shake well. Strain over fresh ice in a glass with a salt rim (or chili salt for a kick) and garnish with fresh cucumber.
Recipe from Maison No. 9
Blood Orange Gin Fizz
To a shaker, add ¾ ounce simple syrup (you can make this by simmering equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves), 1 ounce lemon juice, 2 ounces gin (you can sub almost any spirit you prefer here to customize this cocktail to your preferences!), and 1 egg white (can sub for ¾ ounce aquafaba). Dry shake without ice for 15 seconds, then shake with ice for 15 more seconds. Pour into a chilled glass and top with club soda. Garnish with dried florals and enjoy!
Recipe from The Spritz Effect
Patrón Silver Ranch Water
Combine 1½ ounces Patrón silver and ¾ ounce lime juice in a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with a 12-ounce bottle of your preferred sparkling mineral water and stir gently to combine. Optional: ¾ ounce Citrónge orange liqueur, which you can add with the tequila and lime juice, if you’d like.
Recipe from Patrón
Fleur de Rosé
Chill ¾ part hibiscus syrup over ice (or refrigerate). Strain into coupe or flute. Top with 4 parts GH Mumm Grand Cordon Rosé and 1 part club soda. Garnish with edible hibiscus flower.
Recipe from GH Mumm
Nolet's Silver Watermelon Mint Slushy
Cut a large watermelon into ice cube-sized chunks (approx. 1½ inches). Place cubes on a parchment or waxed paper-lined tray spaced apart and freeze for 2 hours or just until frozen. If you’re not using them for a while, put cubes in an airtight container and store them in the freezer.
Now, you're going to want to make your lime syrup: Combine 1 cup sugar, ¼ cup fresh lime juice, 1 bunch of fresh mint, and ¾ water in a medium saucepan and heat on medium until sugar dissolves. Let sit while cooling. Once cooled, strain into a container with a lid and refrigerate.
When that's done, add watermelon chunks to a blender with ½ cup of lime syrup (the total amount should be approximately 6 cups). Blend until the consistency is that of a slushy. Add 1 cup Nolet's Silver Gin and stir. Pour into a glass, and garnish with watermelon, mint, and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds.
Recipe from Nolet's Gin
Negroni Sbagliato
Stir 1 part Campari and 1 part 1757 Vermouth di Torino Rosso in a glass with ice. Top with 1 part prosecco. Garnish with an orange slice.
Recipe from Campari
Layback Spritz
Combine 1½ ounces Lobos 1707 Tequila Reposado, 1 ounce Ramazotti, 3 ounces sparkling rosé, and 1 ounce club soda in a glass with ice and stir slowly. Garnish with dried lemon wheel and thyme sprig.
Recipe from Lobos 1707
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