Sip These Cooling Summer Cocktails
Stay cool and relaxed with any one of these tasty, easy to make, and refreshing mixed drinks this season.
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Summer weather calls for shorts, sandals, and plenty of beach days. While you’re out there laying down spikes on the volleyball court or working on your tan, the hot summer sun can take its toll. Sometimes, there’s no better way to beat the summer heat than with an ice-cold cocktail. Now, when you’re hot and parched, not just any cocktail will do. You’re looking for something refreshing. Something bubbly. Something that sends cooling vibes throughout your body. If you’ve been searching for that perfect hot weather drink, look no further. Here’s a list of 10 of the best summer cocktails to explore and enjoy all season long.
Sangria
A cool glass of sangria is the perfect patio sipper. At its core, sangria is a Spanish concoction that combines red wine, a little brandy, and a whole bunch of fresh-chopped fruit. You can use a variety of different fruits, but one of the most enjoyed blends includes orange, apple, and lemon. One key point to keep in mind is that you need to let the fruit marinate with the wine in the fridge for a few hours to get the best fruit flavor.
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Margarita
The margarita is a perfect summer cocktail pairing with everything from spicy jalapeño to sweet watermelon (image from Getty).
This classic summer cocktail pairs nicely with warm days, cool nights, and plenty of chips and salsa. A traditional margarita features your favorite tequila along with some lime juice, combined with a bit of an orange liqueur called triple sec. To cool down really quick, bust out the blender and make yourself a little adult slushie. If you’re tired of the classic flavor, play around with different fruit juices or unique tequila variations like a smoky mezcal.
Gin and Tonic
As the name suggests, this summer cocktail is a simple one. Combine gin and tonic. Oh, and a hearty squeeze of lime.
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Don’t let this simplicity fool you, though. A gin and tonic still has a ton of complex and refreshing flavor. Gin is a heavily botanical spirit made with piney juniper berries and different varieties will accentuate certain flavors more than others. So, the best way to tweak your flavors is to explore new brands. The effervescence from the tonic water is also a welcome, refreshing kick in the summer heat.
Piña Colada
You don’t have to be basking on a beach to enjoy this deliciously cold summer cocktail (image from Getty).
Looking for that island vibe? Head right for a piña colada. This rum-based drink prominently features coconut and pineapple flavors and is often blended with ice, making it one of the kings of summer cocktails. Pro tip: frozen pineapple will keep your drink cooler, so you won’t have to worry about diluting everything down with too much ice.
Mint Julep
Perhaps you’ve seen people drinking this cocktail wearing large, showy hats. The mint julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby (hence the derby hat reference) and is a delightful companion to summer fun. With a bourbon backbone (of course), the julep emphasizes a bunch of heavily muddled mint along with a touch of simple syrup sweetness to deliver a refreshing and balanced cocktail. Poured over a mound of crushed ice, the mint julep will be a summer drink you keep coming back to.
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Aperol Spritz
Are you looking for a romantic summer cocktail? Perhaps something hailing from the ‘Old World’? Well, our friends from Italy have a fantastic summer drink that is sure to make your heart skip a beat. The Aperol spritz showcases its namesake aperitif, a unique boozy concoction of rhubarb, and a host of other botanicals. Combined with some bubbly prosecco, soda water, and fresh orange, this just might be the summer cocktail that you didn’t know you needed.
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Mojito
Nothing refreshes and cools quite like mint does and the mojito delivers on bold mint, mixed with fresh lime (image from Getty).
If I had to choose one summer cocktail that embodies the word, “refreshing,” it would have to be a mojito. To make this supremely cooling cocktail, fresh mint is muddled and shaken together with fresh lime juice, light rum, and a touch of sugar. Top it all off with some fizzy club soda and your tongue will be dancing in no time.
Watermelon Basil Cooler
The complexity of sweet fruitiness and herbal aromatics come together beautifully in a watermelon basil cooler. A great option for parties, you’ll make these coolers by blending half a watermelon with vodka and triple sec. Pour the mixture over watermelon balls that you’ve made out of the other half, garnish with basil leaves, and voila!
Mai Tai
Cherry, pineapple, and a little almond syrup make this drink equal parts sweet and refreshing (image from Getty).
Take a trip to tiki town with one of the most beloved island-themed cocktails: the mai tai. As any fan of tiki bars knows, the secret to great tiki drinks is to use a blend of different rums along with a carefully selected variety of fruit juices. The mai tai does this perfectly by combining both light and dark rum (non-spiced), pineapple and lime juice, triple sec, and an almond syrup called orgeat. Garnish with a hefty spear of fresh pineapple and you’ve got a perfect summer cocktail in hand.
Hurricane
If you’re not driving anywhere, the hurricane is a summer cocktail with both a kick and a punch. Maybe an elbow somewhere in there, too. Boasting a hefty four ounces of rum, the hurricane is one of (if not the most) popular drinks on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Combined with passionfruit, orange, and lime juice and with a splash of grenadine, this tipsy drink is deceptively delicious.
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That perfect summer cocktail is a cooling and refreshing complement to all of your warm-weather fun. Most of these drinks go great with other cool summer snacks like fruit and ice cream. Most can also be adapted to incorporate club soda to add that fizz you crave if you prefer carbonated beverages.
