25 Summer Cocktails

25 summer cocktail recipes

What are you sipping this weekend? My best friend is coming to town to celebrate her birthday, and we’ll be clinking some homemade cocktails. Since we’re in the thick of summer heat, I’m highlighting my favorite cocktails for warm days.

All 25 of these drinks are refreshing, many are fruity, and none are syrupy sweet. From brunch drinks to low-key cocktails with bubbly club soda, fruity margaritas to classic Moscow Mules, you’ll find it here. I added some non-alcoholic “mocktails” at the end that are suitable for adults and kids alike.

If you’re looking for fresh and healthy food recipes for summer weekends, check out this roundup. I think we might fire up the grill to make my favorite veggie burgers and corn on the cob for elotes. Cheers!

Brunch Cocktails

best bellini recipe

1) Fresh Bellini

These bellinis are made with real, fresh peach purée. Simple and delicious.

2) Kir Royale

Kir Royales are made with Champagne and a splash of French berry liqueur. They’re a great excuse to drink straight bubbly before noon.

3) Homemade Bloody Mary

These Bloody Marys are my attempt to recreate store-bought Zing Zang mix. Success!

4) Mimosa or Mimosa Bar

You can never go wrong with a mimosa. Never.

Classic Summertime Cocktails

best mojito recipe

5) Aperol Spritz

Bubbly and refreshing, the Aperol spritz is a little boozy, a little sweet, a little bitter, and a little hydrating. It’s a winner.

6) Mai Tai

This classic Tiki cocktail comes from the Aloha Kitchen Cookbook, and it skips the sugary syrups.

7) Mint Julep

Mint Juleps aren’t just for Derby days. I make mine with real maple syrup instead of simple syrup, which is easy to do and tastes amazing!

8) Mojito

Minty rum mojitos are like summer in a glass. Ahhhh.

9) Moscow Mule

I taste-tested all the ginger beers to figure out how to make the best Moscow Mule. Here it is.

10) Tom Collins

Like grown-up lemonade, Tom Collins cocktails are irresistibly citrusy, fizzy and refreshing, with herbal notes from the gin.

Gin, Served Up

bee's knees cocktail recipe

11) Basil Gimlet

As you’ll see, gin + citrus + herbs is truly a winning combination. If you’re not usually a gin drinker, try it with Hendrick’s and you might change your tune.

12) Bee’s Knees Cocktail

These cold lemon-honey-gin drinks are so nice on a warm summer evening.

13) Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet

Crushed cucumber and St-Germain elderflower liqueur yield a truly lovely gin gimlet. If you enjoy this one, also try my Cucumber Mint Gimlet.

14) Classic Martini

The martini is an all-season cocktail. Serve it with olives (make it dirty, if you’d like) or a twist of lemon (arguably more refreshing).

Margaritas & The Like

This mezcalita recipe is made with fresh orange juice, lime juice, and of course, mezcal! Get this #cocktail recipe at cookieandkate.com

15) Fresh Margarita (AKA “Skinny”)

These are my go-to margaritas. Use fresh-squeezed lime juice and orange juice (no Cointreau), quality tequila, and just a tiny bit of sweetener for the best margarita you’ve ever had.

16) Frozen Blueberry Margarita

Blueberries in a margarita? Absolutely.

17) Frozen Strawberry Margarita

These fruity batch margaritas are designed for frozen strawberries.

18) Honeydew Margarita

If you have a ripe honeydew, turn it into a margarita!

19)Mezcalita

The mezcalita is the margarita’s smoky cousin.

20) Pineapple Cilantro Serrano Cocktail

This little number is like an herbal, spicy-sweet pineapple margarita. If that’s your jam, you’re going to love it.

21) Spicy Cucumber Margarita (Love Real Food, page 128)

Cooling cucumber shaken with a spicy fresh jalapeño slice a truly irresistible margarita. Finish it off with a spice blend around the rim.

22) Spicy Watermelon Margarita

Ripe watermelon and jalapeño finish up our list of margaritas. These are so fresh and fun!

Sangria

best red sangria recipe

23) The Best Red Sangria

I don’t throw around “the best” lightly. This sangria is wonderful, thanks to the careful selection of wine varietal and the combination of fruit.

24) Strawberry Rose Sangria (Love Real Food, page 137)

This refreshing sangria features ripe sliced strawberries, Honeycrisp apple, orange and St-Germain elderflower liqueur.

25) Watermelon White Sangria

Watermelon, nectarine, raspberries and lime really take a bottle Sauvignon Blanc to the next level.

Bonus: Mocktails

sparkling hibiscus mocktail recipe

Cold Brew Iced Tea

Similar to cold brew coffee, the cold brewing method yields less bitter iced tea. It’s smooth and delicious.

Frozen Mint Lemonade

This spin on lemonade was inspired by a frozen drink in Morocco. It’s very cooling on a hot afternoon.

Pink Drink

A knock-off of Starbuck’s “Pink Drink,” made with strawberries, orange juice, hibiscus tea and coconut milk.

Refreshing Hibiscus Mocktail

Hibiscus tea mixed with bubbly club soda, a squeeze of lime, and a splash of honey simple syrup.

Summertime Aguas Frescas

Fun fruity drinks made simply of fruit blended with water, lime juice and a bit of sweetener.

Watermelon Juice

Cold homemade juice made with sweet, ripe watermelon is a real treat (it’s so easy, too).

More resources you might appreciate: 23 healthy make-ahead breakfast recipes, 45 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You might also like my monthly seasonal produce guides and healthy kitchen essentials. View all roundups and resource posts here.

HELLO, MY NAME IS

Kathryne Taylor

I'm a vegetable enthusiast, dog lover, mother and bestselling cookbook author. I've been sharing recipes here since 2010, and I'm always cooking something new in my Kansas City kitchen. Cook with me!

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Comments

  1. kathryn truepenny says:

    I am wanting to make your banana breat/muffins. But as I live in England, I would appreciate guidance on which flours here in the UK would best compliment the recipe. I have read that our all-purpose flour is not as strong as the American one, so apparently we need to add a little more to the recipe. Adapting American recipes can sometimes not always work as our ingredients differ. I am also interesting in making the pumpkin muffins. I lived in America for a few years and pumpkin pie was my favourite dessert ever! Many thanks,

    1. Kate says:

      Hi! The whole wheat flour should be the same and accessible from what I understand. I’m using U.S. measurements so be sure to convert to metric, unless you have U.S. cups handy. Since you lived int America, you should be familiar. I hope this helps :)