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![Summer cocktails: strawberry mojito in glass](jpg/strawberry-mojito-0008.jpg)
Beat the heat with these summer cocktails! Try frozen drinks, spritzes, and fruity pitchers perfect for backyard barbecues and patio sipping. Let summer drink season begin!
When it’s summer, there’s nothing better than a fruity, herby or frozen drink in hand! There are so many ways to drink the flavors of the season: sweet watermelon and juicy peaches, herbaceous mint and basil, and bright strawberries and blueberries.
As two cocktail experts with over 300 cocktail recipes in our library, we’ve reviewed all our drink recipes and found all the best summer cocktails to try!
Types of summer cocktails and drinks
There are classics like the minty mojito and the tangy margarita, frozen drinks like the daiquiri and piña colada, punches like sangria and fruity lemonade recipes, and bubbly drinks like the highball and the spritz.
Really—we want to drink them all! See below to search by category or scroll down to get started on the recipe!
And now…the best summer cocktails!
One of the most iconic summer cocktails is the mojito! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint. Perfect for when summer herbs are in abundance.
Variations: Raspberry Mojito, Strawberry Mojito or Mojito Pitcher Recipe
Bubbly, citrusy, herbal, subtly bitter and lightly sweet: the Aperol spritz is an iconic summer cocktail! This drink blew up in popularity in the 2000’s, but it's an Italian classic cocktail that's been capturing hearts and minds since the 1950's.
Variations: Amaro Spritz, Campari Spritz,
Try this refreshing summer cocktail, the Blueberry Vodka Smash! This pairing of sweet berries, fresh mint, simple syrup and vodka is just the thing for enjoying on the patio or deck. Served over crushed ice, it's a celebration of summer berries!
Ranch Water is a tequila highball made with lime juice and Topo Chico that's blown up into massive popularity as a summer drink! It’s laid-back and like a bubbly, lighter version of the classic margarita, with all the tangy lime but less sweetness and booze.
What could be a better signature summer cocktail than the piña colada? This recipe is the perfect blend of pineapple, lime, coconut and rum. It takes only a few minutes to blend up with only 5 ingredients (plus ice).
Variations: Virgin Piña Colada, Frozen Piña Colada, Painkiller
Another signature summer drink: sangria! There’s not much better than a fruity glass of classic sangria. Add fresh strawberries and it's bold and fruity, and the perfect balance of dry and sweet.
Variations: White Sangria, Rose Sangria, Watermelon Sangria, Peach Sangria, and Red Sangria
Of course, the margarita works anytime. But it's absolutely the most perfect summer cocktail! Here's the classic way to make it: with tequila, lime, orange liqueur, and a salt rim. Perfection!
Variations: Try all our Margarita Recipes (Mezcal, Cadillac, Jalapeño and more)
This icy strawberry daiquiri is the perfect summer drink! This homemade recipe is loads better than a daiquiri mix from the store: all you need are frozen strawberries, limes and rum.
Variation: Frozen Daiquiri, Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri, Banana Daiquiri or Frozen Mango Daiquiri
Meet the Negroni Sbagliato, a mixed up version of the classic cocktail using sparkling wine instead of gin. This Negroni spin-off as taken off in popularity: for good reason! The lightly sweet Prosecco against the bitter Campari and sweet vermouth makes as better balance than the classic.
This rum cocktail is breathtakingly complex, featuring aged rum, orange liqueur, and almond syrup for nutty and vanilla notes against sharp citrus. Float a little dark rum on top, and you get to the core of a Mai Tai: it’s sophisticated, nuanced, and extraordinarily special drink.
The Moscow mule screams summer cocktail, doesn't it? It's fizzy, tangy, looks festive, and it goes down easy. WWith only 3 ingredients and 3 minutes required, it’s perfect to serve for entertaining: or a lazy evening on the patio.
Variation: Watermelon Mule, Mexican Mule, Mezcal Mule, Irish Mule, Gin Gin Mule or Kentucky Mule
The Gin Basil Smash is a modern spin on the whiskey smash, light and herbaceous, pairing peppery basil with botanical gin. This fantastic summer cocktail perfectly captures that feeling of fresh cut grass between your toes and sticky melted popsicle fingers.
Here’s a light and refreshing drink vying for best summer cocktail: the St Germain Spritz! Also known as the Hugo, it's floral and bubbly, full of lightly sweet flavor and effervescence.
Who can turn down a frozen margarita? Meet your new summer entertaining trick: it's seriously tangy, a little bit sweet, and tastes just like the classic drink. For a festive touch, garnish the glass with pink sea salt.
Here's a drink that screams summer cocktail: the tequila sunrise! It’s beautiful and vibrant, with layered colors of a summer sunset. All you need is 3 ingredients: tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. The flavor is refreshingly sweet, with just a hint of tequila.
This spin on the classic mojito is icy and outrageously refreshing: like someone amped up the dial on the mint volume. It immediately jumped to the top of our must-make frozen cocktails list.
Cousin of the classic margarita, this easy cocktail recipe features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime! It's got the perfect summer vibe, and is a refreshing change-up from the margarita.
The Bushwacker is an ideal summer drink: a mashup of a chocolate milkshake and piña colada! It’s lusciously smooth with notes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla. It’s perfect for sipping poolside or as a dessert drink any time you’re dreaming of sun.
This spritz recipe is light and bubbly, tart and citrusy, and the perfect summer cocktail in our opinion. Lillet Blanc is a refreshing fortified wine that is an absolute must for your bar cart! Mix it up with some bubbles, lemon and gin, and you’ve got a breezy light cocktail with summer written all over it.
Variation: Lillet G&T
Here’s a sweet tart summer cocktail that’s perfect for patio sipping: Blueberry Vodka Lemonade! Make up a big pitcher of blueberry lemonade, then spike each drink with vodka. It’s so delightfully tangy and fruity, it’s hard to stop sipping!
Variations: Spike any of our lemonade flavors: try Basil Lemonade, Blueberry Vodka Lemonade, Mint Lemonade, Cucumber Lemonade or Strawberry Lemonade
The best summer cocktails are made with watermelon! This Watermelon Martini features sweet melon with vodka and tangy lime. It’s seriously refreshing, and topped with little watermelon wedge garnish.
Variations: Watermelon Vodka Cocktail, Watermelon Cocktail with Gin, Watermelon Margarita, Watermelon Mule
Here’s a summer cocktail that's light and carefree: a rosé spritzer! This is the perfect way to make a no-fuss summer drink that’s full of refreshing bubbles. Enjoy it over happy hour, for an afternoon on the patio, next to the pool, or at a grilled dinner party.
Variations: Red Wine Spritzer, White Wine Spritzer
Perhaps the perfect frozen summer cocktail is frozen sangria! This variation on the traditional Spanish wine punch is frozen like a slushie. It's sure to be a favorite: red wine-forward and just sweet enough, with a hint of citrus.
This variation on the Gin & Tonic is all about citrusy bubbles! Vodka melds right into the tonic water, making it a refreshing drink perfect for sipping.
Variations: Tequila and Tonic, Whiskey Tonic, or Strawberry Basil G&T
The classic Whiskey Highball is bubbly and perfect for summer! This two-ingredient cocktail originated around the turn of the 20th century and it’s still popular to this day. It’s refreshing and so easy to make: just 2 ingredients!
Love a good Piña Colada? Then here’s the drink for you: the Chi Chi! This Piña Colada with vodka is just as good as the original, in our opinion. Whip it up in a blender and it’s tangy, sweet, coconut-y and tropical: the perfect summer cocktail.
This bubbly and fruity Vodka Spritzer is the quintessential summer drink! It’s just sweet enough with a subtle berry flavor: tangy, refreshing and sparkling all at once. Cranberry juice makes a brilliant red color for a satisfying party drink that you won’t want to end!
Variation: Strawberry Vodka Cocktail
The basil gimlet is the perfect summer gin cocktail for when you have a full bush of fresh basil. This refreshing drink features lime juice, gin, and muddled basil, which gives it a fresh peppery essence.
Variations: Gin Gimlet, French Gimlet, Vodka Gimlet
What's a list of summer drinks without frosé? Frose is a mashup between a frozen cocktail and that quintessential summery pink wine. This one is just sweet enough and is full-flavored from rosé wine and strawberries.
It’s tall, it’s bubbly, and it’s one of the easiest to make cocktails out there. Try the Gin Rickey! This classic cocktail was born in the 1880s and is tangy, bubbly, and irresistibly delicious.
Also try: Lime Rickey, Cherry Lime Rickey or Raspberry Lime Rickey
Here's a classic cocktail that’s perfect for summer: the Americano! It’s the original inspiration for the Negroni and tastes even better, in our opinion. It’s bitter, complex and bubbly all at once!
The ultra strong limoncello lemon liquor is at its best in summer mixed drinks! This spin on the Aperol spritz is full of bright lemon flavor and even better than the original, we think. It’s bubbly and effervescent, with a searing citrus bite.
Also try: Limoncello Mojito or Limoncello Martini
Want a citrusy cocktail with a salted rim that’s not a margarita? Enter, the Salty Dog! This summer gin cocktail’s got a unique name and a beautiful pale pink color. It’s got a light summery vibe with grapefruit and gin.
The classic daiquiri is one of the easiest drinks there is! The 1920's style daiquiri is actually not frozen but served in a coupe glass. Rum cocktails are perfect for summer, and this one is simple to make and ultra refreshing!
Variation: Hemingway Daiquiri
The sweet tart flavor of ripe strawberries only improves this classic cocktail! Muddle some fresh berries right into the cocktail, and it makes a deliciously vibrant drink that’s perfect for summer.
Fruity spins on the margarita are fitting for summer cocktails: as is this mango margarita! This sunny spin on the classic is sweet tart and tropical. It’s sweet, zingy, salty, and it goes down pretty easy.
Variations: Peach Margarita, Watermelon Margarita, Raspberry Margarita, Prickly Pear Margarita, Creamy Coconut Margarita
Here's a perfect summer vodka cocktail: the vodka smash! Tangy and refreshing, it features muddled blackberries, mint, and lime. It's sweet tart with a bit of back-end booziness from the vodka.
Here's a summer gin cocktail that's bubbly and refreshing: a Southside fizz! A cousin of the Southside Cocktail, this gin cocktail features bright citrus, herbaceous mint, and fizzy soda water. It’s tart and fizzy: essentially a Tom Collins plus a Mojito!
Looking for a sunny spin on a tropical drink? Try the mango daiquiri! This spin on the classic daiquiri is frosty and refreshing, with an intoxicating sweet tart flavor. In fact, we took one sip and exclaimed in delight!
Here’s a final bubbly summer cocktail that’s calling your name: the Cucumber Collins! It’s a spin on the Tom Collins stars cucumber and fresh basil, that peppery herb of the season. It’s got a tangy sweet flavor, a cucumber basil essence and a load of bubbles!
More summer drinks
Want summer drinks by alcohol type? Here are a few more collections of summer cocktails grouped by spirit:
- Got a bottle of vodka? Try these 20 Summer Vodka Cocktails.
- Got gin? Go for 10 Summer Gin Cocktails or Simple Gin Cocktails.
- Round up your rum for 15 Summer Rum Cocktails.
- Want to use bourbon? Try these 12 Summer Bourbon Cocktails.
- Blend up these frosty 10 Must-Try Frozen Alcoholic Drinks.
Frequently asked questions
Fresh fruits like citrus, berries, and melons add vibrant flavor and a touch of sweetness. Herbs like mint and basil provide a lovely aromatic touch. Sparkling water, iced tea, and coconut water offer light and bubbly bases.
Sangria, punch, and large-batch cocktails are perfect for groups. Try a margarita pitcher or mojito pitcher! Look for recipes that can be prepped in advance and served over ice throughout the party.
Absolutely! Mocktails mirror the flavors of summer cocktails but without the alcohol. Experiment with sparkling water, fresh juices, fruit purees, and herbs to create refreshing and delicious alcohol-free options. Or try a Virgin Margarita, Virgin Pina Colada, Virgin Mojito, or Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri.
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40 Best Summer Cocktails
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
Here’s a classic mojito recipe, perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
Ingredients
- 6 mint leaves, plus additional for garnish
- 3 ripe strawberries, plus more for garnish
- 2 ounces white rum
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup or maple syrup
- 4 ounces soda water
Instructions
- Slice the 3 strawberries in half. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves. Add the strawberries and muddle again. Add the rum, lime juice and simple syrup and fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold.
- Place ice into a glass, and strain in the liquid. Top off the glass with soda water. Garnish with additional mint leaves and sliced strawberries.
Notes
Pitcher variation: Muddle 1 pint strawberries (24 berries). Then add to this Mojito Pitcher recipe, and garnish with additional sliced strawberries.
To convert to ounces, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
More types of cocktails
There are lots more great cocktail recipes to try outside of these summer cocktails! Here are some of our best summer drink collections:
- Sour Cocktails All the very best sours: Boston Sour, Sidecar, even the Margarita and Mojito.
- Lemon Cocktails or Lime Cocktails The best cocktails to make when you’re craving citrus! Includes so many classics.
- Gin Cocktails All the classics: Gin Fizz, Gin and Tonic, and more!
- Bourbon Cocktails Try these bourbon greats: the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and more.
- Champagne Cocktails These cocktails are light and bubbly! Perfect for celebration.
- Cranberry Cocktails Vibrant cranberry cocktails are so refreshing, like Vodka Cranberry and Sea Breeze.
- Frozen Alcoholic Drinks Cool off with Frose or Frozen Sangria.
I used to enjoy your website and recipes a lot. Now I’m just frustrated by the incessant barrage of pop up ads. I’m no longer interested in visiting your website or receiving your emails.
We’re sorry to hear this! Ads are how we are able to provide high-quality, free recipes to the public as a small family-run business. If you prefer, you can buy our cookbook for ad free recipes! We have a new cookbook launching this fall as well. Here are the links! A Couple Cooks Cookbook (the new one, coming October 2024!) or Pretty Simple Cooking (2018, available now!).
love all of these, thank you I’m half way through summer before I saw these so have to make up for lost time!
great compilation
please can y’all make a cocktail recipe book?
your recipes are the best!
One day!
What a great list!! Where to start??!