10 Best Summer Cocktails & Mocktails
For that summer buzz.
by KATE WALKER ★ JULY 19, 2020
POV: It’s the picture perfect summer day, there are no clouds in sight, and the heat is creeping into the high-80s. What do you need? Cocktails! Whether you’re at a party, summer barbecue, or just chilling at home, cocktails are a must-have at any event. If you’re under 21, you can still get in on the fun with our mocktail recipes that will not disappoint (...or like, just don’t tell Mom). Besides, it’s not summer unless you have an ice-cold drink in your hand, so keep on reading to learn about our go-to recipes.
Credit: bbcgoodfood.com
As if mojitos aren’t delicious enough on their own, blueberries will take this summer cocktail to the next level.
Ingredients:
100g blueberries
3 lemons, chopped
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 mint sprigs, leaves picked
350ml white rum
600ml sparkling water
Instructions:
Put the blueberries, lemons, and sugar in a jug and muddle. Bruise the mint leaves and add them to the jug with lots of ice. Pour over the rum and sparkling water and stir together.
Credit: willfrolicforfood.com
Not only is this mocktail delicious, but it’s also good for you! This drink has fresh grapefruit juice, kombucha, and rosemary, adding a subtle note of herbs.
Ingredients:
1 cup 100% grapefruit juice
1 cup unflavored kombucha, ie GT's Trilogy
1 teaspoon maple syrup + more to taste
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
optional: pure sparkling water
Instructions:
In a pitcher, combine the grapefruit juice, kombucha, and maple syrup. Stir to combine. Fill two glasses with ice and pour the drink mixture over the top. Rub each sprig of rosemary between your hands to help release the oils on the leaves. Pop a spring in each glass and enjoy!
Credit: Marie Claire (courtesy of Sparkling Ice)
With this cocktail, each sip will transport you to the beaches of Spain.
Ingredients:
1 peach, sliced
½ orange, sliced
¾ cup peach brandy
1 bottle white wine, chilled
Instructions:
Place peaches, oranges, cranberries, and brandy in a pitcher then lightly muddle (mash the fruits). Add wine and Sparkling Ice Classic Lemonade and stir. Serve over ice and garnish with a peach slice.
Credit: garlicandzest.com
A twist to the classic lemonade and you only need three ingredients.
Ingredients:
Passion Fruit Syrup
Lemon Juice
Sparkling Water
Instructions:
Fill a glass with ice, and simply add the passion fruit syrup and lemon juice. Top with sparkling water and stir to combine.
Credit: acouplecooks.com
What screams “summer” more than a margarita? A frozen margarita.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup tequila reposado
1/3 cup fresh lime juice (2 limes)
1/3 cup orange juice (1 orange)
2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup
1 cup of cold water
Best Margarita Salt or kosher salt, for serving
Instructions:
Place all the ingredients in a container, and freeze overnight. The day of serving, place the frozen ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and fluffy. Place salt on a plate and wet the rim of the glasses; dip the rims into the margarita salt. Pour the drink mixture in the glass and serve.
Credit: Pinterest
Enjoy this sparkling and zesty ginger-flavored mojito without the alcohol.
Ingredients:
Fresh ginger (2-inch piece), thinly sliced, plus more for serving
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
24 ounces ginger beer
8 ounces seltzer
Lime wheels and mint sprigs, for serving
Instructions:
In a large bowl, muddle fresh ginger, mint leaves, and lime juice. Stir in the ginger beer. Strain into a pitcher, pressing down on solids. Stir in seltzer. Serve mocktail over ice with lime wheels, more ginger slices, and mint sprigs.
Credit: Pinterest
Because it wouldn’t be an article about cocktails without including a Pina Colada.
Ingredients:
3 cups pineapple juice
3 shots Malibu rum
½ cup coconut cream
Ice
Tropical fruit, for garnish
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour the mix into a glass filled with ice, and top with whatever tropical fruit you have lying around.
Credit: marthastewart.com
A non-alcoholic take on a gin & tonic that combines flavors from the Mediterranean, the refreshingness of muddled cucumber, and spice from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s “fever-tree.”
Ingredients:
3 mini-cucumber slices
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice for muddling, plus one lemon slice for squeezing
4 ounces Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic water
1 sprig fresh rosemary
Instructions:
In a rocks glass, muddle 1 mini-cucumber slice and fresh lemon juice. Top with ice, 2 more mini-cucumber slices, Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic water, a squeeze from one slice of lemon, and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Credit: brit.co
With this recipe, you won’t even taste the whiskey. What else could you ask of a cocktail?
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups orange juice
1 cup bourbon
1-1 1/2 cups triple sec
1/2 cup lemon juice
3 cups Sprite
Instructions:
In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients except Sprite. Stir well. Chill the mix and add Sprite before serving. If you’d like, add sliced lemons and oranges.
Credit: Pinterest
If you love ginger as much as I do, this mocktail will become your newest obsession.
Ingredients:
4 cups Brooklyn Crafted Lemon Lime Ginger Beer
1 cup club soda
3 tbsp lime juice
.25 cup grenadine
Instructions:
Stir the ginger beer, club soda, lime juice, and grenadine in a pitcher. Pour the mixture in a tall glass with ice, and garnish with lime rounds and or maraschino cherries.
This summer, branch out from your go-to cocktail and experiment with any of the 10 drinks listed above! Wherever you are, cocktails are a fun and easy way to set the tone for a great time. Whether your above or below 21, these recipes are a must-have and will transform any summer event (even that consists of watching Netflix by yourself).
Cover photo credit: Pinterest