Originally published July 2021
Summer is here, and as with food, it’s the best season for cocktails (in my humble opinion)! Summer cocktails are infinitely more fun when themed around seasonal berries, stone fruit, or fresh herbs. The weather’s ripe for a stream of refreshing bubbles or thick, frozen purees with just the right amount of sweetness. You don’t even need alcohol: mocktails are king in summer, too. These refreshing summer drinks are best enjoyed outdoors, whether in your backyard, on a restaurant patio, or poolside.
Here are my favorite classic cocktail recipes to sip this season.
You’ll see each basic recipe listed first, plus some creative variations to get your wheels moving. Enjoy!
1. Mojito
The mojito is a traditional Cuban cocktail that works in any season, but it’s even better in the summer when fresh mint abounds. You’ll need a large handful of mint leaves, as well as white rum and sparkling water. Mix it up by mixing in berries or peaches for extra flavor.
Recipe: Classic mojito
Variations: Try the Strawberry Mojito, Raspberry Mojito, Peach Mojito, or Virgin Mojito
2. Aperol Spritz
A spritz is another perfect champagne cocktail to beat the heat. The most popular is the Aperol spritz, but you can make it with lots of other alcoholic beverages! The main idea? A 3-2-1 ratio of sparkling wine (also known as prosecco), liqueurs, and soda. A little citrus makes this drink very refreshing.
Recipe: Aperol Spritz
Variations: Saint-Germain Spritz, Lillet Spritz, Amaro Spritz, or Limoncello Spritz
3. Spritzer
Mist looks like a mist, but it’s a completely different concept! Mix wine and soda, and you’ve got a spritzer! This concept has been around since the 1800s, and for good reason: it’s so easy and refreshing. Use any wine you prefer.
Recipe: White Wine Spritzer
Variations: Rosé Spritzer
4. Highball
The highball is the definition of refreshing: alcohol plus lots of bubbles! There are all sorts of variations on the concept of mixing alcohol with sparkling water. The whiskey highball dates back to the early 1900s. A trendy new look you may have heard about? Farm water!
Recipe: Vodka soda
Variations: Highball whiskey, tequila soda, farm water
5. Jane Ricky
Reiki is like highball but with gin and lemon juice! The classic Gin Ricky was invented around the 1880s. It has since evolved into a popular form as a mocktail, a concept that is endlessly customizable.
Recipe: Gin Ricky
Variations: Cherry Lime Ricky, Raspberry Lime Ricky, or Lime Ricky
6. Shandi
Shandy is to beer what wine spritzer is to wine! Have you ever made chandi at home? It is a British drink dating back to the mid-19th century. Originally the beer was mixed with ginger ale or ginger ale, but today it is mixed with lemon soda or sparkling lemonade. This Summer and Grapefruit Shandi (recipes linked below) is updated in a classic style with fresh lemon juice and grapefruit juice for a refreshing twist.
Recipe: Classic Shandy
Variations: Summer Shandy, Grapefruit Shandy
7. Crush the whiskey
The classic whiskey crush dates back to the 1880s as a cool summer drink in the Victorian era! Since then, many variations have developed. Try it with any alcoholic beverage, and mix it with fresh berries for a distinctive flavor.
Recipe: Whiskey crush
Variations: Gin Basil Smash, Berry Vodka Smash, Blackberry Bourbon Smash
8. Moscow Mule
One of the most popular cocktails in the country, the Moscow Cocktail features the classic combination of lemon and ginger beer. This has produced countless variations using different alcoholic beverages. The watermelon version is the perfect taste for summer!
Recipe: Classic Moscow Mule
Variations: Mexican Mule, Kentucky Mule, Gin Mule, Watermelon Mule
9. Frozen daiquiri
The frozen daiquiri is a little ’90s, but we’re here for it! The classic Daiquiri is made with lemon, rum and simple syrup, but freeze that and you’ve got the resort and restaurant classic. It’s incredibly refreshing and easy to make as a mocktail too. All you have to do is mix the ingredients, add a garnish or two if desired, and enjoy!
Recipe: Strawberry Daiquiri
Variations: Frozen Lemon Daiquiri, Strawberry Daiquiri
10. Sangria
Last in this roundup of summer cocktails is a cocktail that you can make in a large pitcher. Sangria! This Spanish wine punch has been soothing people for centuries. General ingredients include fruit, sugar, wine, brandy, triple sec, sparkling water or sparkling water (optional). There are so many variations of fruit that are perfect for the season.
Recipe: Red Sangria
Variations: White Sangria, Pink Sangria, Watermelon Sangria, Strawberry Sangria
For more refreshing summer cocktails…
Browse by alcoholic drinks with vodka, rum or gin.
Sonia is the author of the award-winning food blog A Couple Cooks and the cookbook Pretty Simple Cooking. The two, along with her husband, Alex, are leading voices in the field of plant-based eating, and authors of a recipe series with the Washington Post Food Journal called Voraciously: Plant Powered. Appeared on the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Sonja seeks to inspire adventurous eaters to make the world a better place one bite at a time.
