Fun Summer Cocktails: Cool Down with Great Sips

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Nothing says summer better than a refreshing cocktail. Here are a few summer cocktails with easy cocktail recipes from around the world.

Nothing says summer better than a refreshing cocktail. From around the world or across the street, here are a few summer cocktails you can make for yourself—or plan a visit to these great locations and order one to celebrate summer.

Sparkling Cocktails

Anne-Lise Jouenne is a 27-year-old mixologist from Caen, France. Jouenne embodies elegance and passion in her profession. With over 800,000 social media followers, she is a prominent figure in the bar industry. She joined forces with Domaine Terra Vecchia to create two delicious summer cocktails—the Terra Rosa and Le Frescu.

Terra Rosa Sparkling Rosé Cocktail

Terra Rosa is a symphony of summer flavors—Terra Vecchia sparkling rosé wine, gin, raspberry liqueur, and lime juice—perfect for a warm evening hanging with friends.

Ingredients

2 cl (¾ oz) Gin
1½ cl (½ oz) Raspberry Liqueur
2 cl (¾ oz) Lime Juice
8 cl (1/3 cup) Terra Vecchia Sparkling Rosé Wine
Fresh raspberries and a lime wheel for garnish

Preparation

Fill a large wine glass with ice.
Pour in the gin and lime juice.
Add raspberry liqueur.
Top with Terra Vecchia Sparkling Rosé wine.
Gently mix with a spoon.
Garnish if desired.

Le Frescu Sparkling Cocktail

Anne-Lise Jouenne crafted this refreshing drink using Terra Vecchia sparkling white wine. With its vibrant freshness brought to you by its authentic flavors—Corsican Limoncello, fresh lemon juice, and fresh mint—you’ll be transported to Europe to enjoy a Corsican summer in a glass.

Ingredients

4 cl (1 2/3 oz) Corsican Limoncello
2 cl (¾ oz) Lime Juice
8 Leaves Fresh Mint
8 cl (1/3 cup) Terra Vecchia Sparkling White Wine

Preparation

Lightly crush the mint and place it in a large wine glass.
Fill the glass with ice.
Pour in the Cosican Limoncello and fresh lemon juice.
Top off with Terra Vecchia sparkling white wine.
Add a slice of lemon and a mint sprig, if desired.
Gently mix with a spoon,

Frozen Summer Cocktails

Frozen cocktails always seem to elicit oohs and ahhs at any gathering. Before you start whipping up your frozen summer cocktails, ensure that you follow these tips:

Freeze your fruit to make your drink thicker and colder without needing to add extra ice
Chill your alcohol in the freezer so the ice doesn’t melt when you make the drinks
Use a high-powered blender and keep ingredients below the 2/3 line
Use simple syrup instead of granulated sugar (make it by dissolving equal parts sugar and water)
Use crushed ice because it blends easier and doesn’t overwhelm blenders

Frozen Bourbon Dreamsicle

This delicious drink uses Jeptha Creed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. Made from Bloody Butcher Corn, Malted Rye, and Malted Barley, it will add depth to your summer drink—I mean, bourbon and ice cream!

Ingredients

2 oz Jeptha Creed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
3 oz Ice Cream Base
3 oz Orange Juice
2 Dashes Vanilla Extract
Two Scoops of Ice (around 8 to 10 oz)

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a blender over ice.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a chilled glass and top with whipped cream and an orange slice.

Sorel Strawberry Slushie

This is a little bit like a strawberry daiquiri but with a depth of flavor you won’t find in your typical daiquiri. The key is the Sorel Liqueur. Sorel blends Moroccan hibiscus, Nigerian ginger, Indonesian cassia, Brazilian cloves, and Indonesian nutmeg to create a beautiful red liqueur (thanks to the hibiscus) with an earthy spice.

Ingredients

1½ oz Sorel
½ oz Dark Rum
1 oz Simple Syrup
½ oz Lime Juice
8 Frozen Strawberries
Mint

Preparation

Combine all ingredients except mint in the mixer.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass and garnish with mint.

Kokomo Colada

The Kokomo Colado, made with Club Kokomo Spirits Barrel Finished Rum, kicks the typical piña colada into high gear. The Club Kokomo Tahitian Rum brings the flavors of Tahiti to the Caribbean. They start with the Artisan White Rum, a blend of demerara can sugar rum distilled in Jamaica. Then, they let whole Tahitian vanilla beans impart their flavors without any added sugars or flavoring.

Ingredients

2 oz Club Kokomo Tahitian Vanilla Rum
1½ oz Coconut Cream
1½ oz Pineapple Juice
5 Chunks of Fresh Pineapple
16 oz Ice

Preparation

Add all the ingredients to a blender.
Blend for 30 to 45 seconds or until smooth.
Pour into a hurricane glass, collins glass, or red cup.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Keeper’s Heart Aperitif

Keeper’s Heart Irish + American Whiskey is exactly that—a blend of Irish whiskeys with American Rye whiskey. This recipe uses Orange Oleo, which is simply orange oil. You can purchase it for use in cocktails, or make your own using a simple recipe.

Ingredients

700 ml (3 cups) Keeper’s Heart Irish + American
100g (3½ oz) Orange Oleo
575g (3 cups) Giffard Aperitif Syrup
280g (1¼ cups) Cane Sugar
100g  (3½ oz) Rosa Vermouth
500g (2 cups) Grapefruit Juice

Preparation

Whisk whiskey, sugar, and grapefruit juice until sugar is dissolved.
Add all other ingredients.
Load into a blender with ice or free before serving.

Frozen Treats: Daiquiri Ice Pops

It’s fun to sip on a summer cocktail, but what about a frozen boozy treat? Here is a fun adult popsicle ideal for a hot summer day. The recipe uses the beautiful Dos Maderas 5+3 Double-Aged Rum, which is aged and has a bit of smoke to it. Enjoy these ice pops, and don’t forget to sip the rum while preparing them.

Ingredients

2 oz Dos Maders 5+3 Rum
Zest of One Fresh Lime
½ cup Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
1 cup Simple Syrup

Preparation

Set aside your popsicle molds (roughly 3 to 4 oz size).
Prepare Simple Syrup by dissolving ½ cup sugar into ½ cup boiling water. Let cool.
Zest one lime and juice one lime.
Combine all ingredients in a pitcher or other container with a spout.
Stir ingredients.
Pour into individual popsicle molds.
cut individual lime slices to garnish each popsicle.
Place lime slice at the end of each mold.
Place a wooden stick in each mold.
Freeze overnight (18 to 24 hours).

Tequila Mojito

Who says a mojito has to use rum? In this take on a classic mojito, swap out a good Reposado Tequila for the rum and enjoy a fun summer refresher.

Ingredients

1½ oz Reposado Tequila
¾ oz Cheeky Lime Juice
¾ oz Cheeky Simple Syrup (amp up the minty flavor with Cheeky Mint Syrup instead of the Simple Syrup)
Mint leaves and spring for garnish
Seltzer

Preparation

Add mint and simple syrup directly to the glass and muddle gently.
Add tequila, lime, and ice, top with seltzer, and stir.
Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig.

5-Minute Fresh Citrus Cocktails for Summer

I love citrus in a summer cocktail. It’s refreshing and light, and you can bring in everything from lemons and limes to more unique citrus flavors and mix those with some fruit, and it’s summer in a glass. Here are a few 5-minute citrus cocktails for the summer.

Sardinian Lemonade

This light and bright cocktail uses Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin made with Sardinian citrus.

Ingredients

1 oz Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Sardinian Citrus
¾ oz Lemon Juice
4 oz Ginger Beer
Ruby Red Grapefruit Wedge for garnish

Preparation

Combine gin with lemon juice in a highball glass.
Top with ginger beer.
Garnish with a ruby red grapefruit.

Oaxaca Spritz

While we usually think of agave and tequila, the GAD Agave Gin Receta Oaxaqueña is an Agave Gin. The local Oaxacan recipe uses juniper and seven other botanicals, macerated with agave, and then triple distilled. It’s a balance of avocado leaf, yerba santa, and juniper.

Ingredients

1 ½ oz GAD Agave Gin Receta Oaxaqueña
1 oz Lemon Juice
2/3 oz Agave Honey
María & Bernardo Sparkling Wine

Preparation

Add the ingredients into a tall glass with ice.
Top off with sparkling wine and slightly mix.
Garnish with a slice of lemon.

Spanish Daiquiri

This quick Spanish Daiquiri uses Dos Maderas 5+3 double-aged Spanish rum. This is a quick cocktail that you can sip poolside all summer.

Ingredients

1 ½ oz Dos Maderas 5+3 Spanish Rum
¾ oz Simple Syrup
¾ oz Lime Juice

Preparation

Shake the ingredients with ice.
Strain over crushed ice in a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lime wheel.

Riunite Lambrusco Spritz

I was surprised to see Riunite on the shelves and in advertisements recently. This was my mom’s favorite wine from my childhood (I remember the old jingle… Riunite on ice, how nice!). It’s making a comeback because of its light, fruity, fun vibe. This Spritz, using Riunite Lambrusco, is a fun summer cooler.

Ingredients

1 part Riunite Lambrusco
1 part Maschio Prosecco DOC
Lemonade or a Squeeze of Lemon

Preparation

Put ice in a large wine glass.
Add equal parts of the Lambrusco and Prosecco.
Top with a splash of lemonade or squeeze of fresh lemon.
Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Summer Gin Cocktails

I always said I wasn’t a gin fan. It was probably tasting my mother-in-law’s glasses of mostly gin on ice and relating that to the taste of turpentine or lighter fluid. However, I’ve discovered there are some lovely gins, filled with beautiful aromatics. One of the gins I enjoy is Gray Whale Gin. Gray Whale is a small-batch California distillery that uses hand-zested limes from Temecula, fresh mint from Santa Cruz, almonds from the Capay Valley, wild foraged juniper berries from Big Sur, fir from a Sonoma Valley tree farm, and kombu sea kelp wild harvested from the Mendocino Coast. Here are some fun summer cocktails you can make with Gray Whale Gin—and imagine yourself on a journey down the California coast.

Punch by the Ocean

This is a great punch recipe to take to the beach or pool on a hot summer day—perfect for sharing with friends.

Ingredients

8 parts Gray Whale Gin
4 parts Lillet Rouge or Cocchi Rosa Vermouth
4 parts Watermelon Puree
4 parts Fresh Lemon Juice
6 parts Ginger Beer
Fresh Mint for Garnish

Preparation

Combine all ingredients except ginger beer into a large drink vessel.
Fill with crushed ice and top with ginger beer.
Briefly stir to combine.
Garnish with mint.

French 75

I love a French 75 because it’s a bit elegant. Gin and Prosecco—what more do you need?

Ingredients

3 parts Prosecco
1 part Gray Whale Gin
½ part Fresh Lemon Juice
½ part Simple Syrup
Lemon Twist for Garnish

Preparation

Combine all ingredients except Prosecco in a shaker and shake vigorously with ice.
Strain into a champagne flute.
Top with Prosecco.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

Summer Elderflower Spritz

This drink combines Gray Whale Gin with white vermouth, elderflower liqueur, and Prosecco or Cava for a fun and floral take on a classic spritz. You can top with soda water for extra refreshment.

Ingredients

1½ parts Gray Whale Gin
½ part Carpano Bianco
½ part Elderflower Liqueur
2 parts Prosecco or Cava
Club Soda (optional)
Lemon Twist for Garnish

Preparation

Put ice in a large wine glass.
Add all ingredients except Club Soda.
Top off with Club Soda, if desired.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

Blackberry Refresher—JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

If you visit JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, order the Blackberry Refresher while you check out the views of the Texas Hill Country or float along the resort’s lazy river.

Ingredients

4 Blackberries
¾ oz Simple Syrup
¾ oz Lemon Juice
2 oz Ranger Creek .36 Bourbon

Preparation

Muddle blackberries in the bottom of the glass.
Top blackberries with crushed ice.
Add lemon juice, simple syrup, bourbon, and ice in a shaker tin. Shake.
Strain the mixture into the glass over the crushed ice.
Watch and enjoy as the blackberry bleeds into the caramel color of the bourbon mixture.

The High Noon

Celebrate summer with The Botanist Gin from Scotland. This gin features 22 hand-foraged botanicals and is refreshing for summer. This drink features Elderflower Liqueur, one of my all-time favorite spirits—you can read more of my favorite recipes featuring St-Germain here.

Ingredients

1.5 oz The Botanist Gin
¼ oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
¾ oz Elderflower Liqueur
6 oz Tonic Water
Grapefruit for garnish

Preparation

Pour The Botanist Gin, Fresh Grapefruit Juice, and Elderflower Liqueur into a highball glass.
Add ice.
Top with tonic water.
Garnish with grapefruit peel.

Milan Margarita at The Sicilian Butcher in Phoenix

I have fallen in love with Italy, and nothing says summer like Italy, exploring the boutiques and restaurants in Milan. If you can’t reach Milan, head to Arizona and order the Milan Margarita at The Sicilian Butcher. This is a fun blend of the Desert Southwest and everything great about Italy. The cocktail combines tequila, pineapple, rosemary, agave, lime juice, and Campari.

Of course, The Sicilian Butcher also combines skilled butchery with creative dishes. Enjoy hand-rolled meatballs, fresh-made pasta, and more. It sounds like perfection for a summer evening in Arizona. The Sicilian Butcher is at 15530 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 160, in Phoenix, AZ.

Dahlia Punch with Tipperary Whiskey

I don’t usually think of whiskey as a summer drink, but this is completely a summer drink. Tipperary Distillery is a boutique single malt Irish Whiskey producer in rural County Tipperary, Ireland. Tipperary paired with Bumblebee Flower Farm to create some fun summer cocktails. Here’s one of my favorites.

Ingredients

Bumblebee Rose Petals
1 part Tipperary Whiskey
½ parts Bumblebee Dahlia Cordial
2 parts Soda Water
Marjoram
Dahlia and Rose to garnish

Preparation

Infuse the Tipperary Whiskey with rose petals overnight.
Add the rose-infused Tipperary Whiskey to a punch bowl with ice, soda water, marjoram, and Bumblebee Dahlia Cordial.
Stir and garnish with a floating dahlia and rose.
Serve in your favorite punch glasses.

Choose a 15-calorie Skinny Fresh Strawberry Mojito Option

Summer cocktails only get better if they’re guilt-free. With Jordan’s Skinny Mixes, you can create 15-calorie cool drinks for this summer.

Ingredients

4 oz Jordan’s Skinny Mojito Mix
1.5 oz Strawberry Rum
Splash Club Soda
Fresh Strawberries
Fresh Mint
Ice

Preparation

In a tall cocktail glass, muddle strawberries and mint.
Fill with ice.
Add 4 oz Skinny Mojito Mix, 1.5 oz strawberry rum, and a splash of club soda.
Stir and enjoy!

The Green Mexican from Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe

Head to the newly opened Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe resort for some fun summer relaxation. This all-inclusive specializes in meticulously crafted artisanal cocktails.

Ingredients

1 oz Tequila
½ oz Midori
2 oz Orange Juice
½ oz Lemon Juice
Dash of Syrup

Preparation

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice.
Shake well.
Serve in a tall glass.
Garnish with orange slice or fresh mint sprig, if desired.

The Acapulco from Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe

Another fun summer cocktail brought to you by Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe. Remember not to skimp on the tequila. Opt for a top-shelf tequila even in a cocktail for the best flavor! This one blends that amazing tequila with fresh juices—grapefruit, pineapple, and lemon—to bring that taste of the tropics to your summer, no matter where you find yourself.

Ingredients

½ oz Tequila
1 ½ oz Grapefruit Juice
½ oz Pineapple Juice
½ oz Lemon Juice
Ice
½ oz Syrup

Preparation

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice.
Shake well
Serve in a rocks glass.
Garnish with a lemon or pineapple wedge, if desired.

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The Best Margarita Recipes
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As you celebrate summer, these cocktails will help you cool down and kick off your season just the right way. Looking for a few more cocktail recipes? Check out these additional summer cocktails. You have no excuse for not whipping up a cool, refreshing drink this summer. Cheers!