The summertime is all about fun in the sun while enjoying that rare cool breeze across your skin that feels like everything on a hot day. And summer cocktails encapsulate this feeling with ice-cold drinks that have fun and light flavors that transports you to your favorite beach destination.
Some good mixed drinks can really take a hot, sweaty day and turn it into a refreshing time spent outdoors.
The summer drinks on this list range in flavors too so you’ll have everything from fruity to savory and everything in between.
You don’t have to have these good drinks over ice either, some of them are frozen to really cool you down on a hot day.
As the sun shines brighter and the days get warmer, you may find yourself craving a refreshing drink to cool down and unwind. Summer cocktails are the perfect way to quench your thirst and elevate your social gatherings, offering a delightful fusion of flavors and creative presentations. These delicious concoctions embrace the season’s best fruits, herbs, and spirits, ensuring your taste buds are treated to a true summer experience.
You don’t have to be a mixologist to create mouthwatering summer cocktails. With a little inspiration and a few basic skills, you can whip up incredible drinks for your friends and family in no time. From poolside parties to backyard barbecues, these tantalizing beverages are sure to impress your guests and become the highlight of any warm weather gathering.
So when you’re looking for some cool drinks to take away the heat, lean on this list of 36 good cocktails that work anytime during the summer.
You’ll find classic summer alcoholic drinks like a mojito and margarita but you’ll also find lesser known refreshing drinks like a southside fizz or limoncello.
Make note of your favorite fun drinks below so that way, when it starts getting hot, you have some recipes you can try immediately.
Enjoy the best summer cocktails below and if you really want a fun summer go ahead and try them all!
The grehound is great for summer because it’s made with grapefruit juice.
And it comes in a tall glass that is perfect for holding more ice cubes, which is important when you want something cool that doesn’t get watered down fast.
You’ll love the taste of this one because it’s sweet and tart all at once and can definitely give your hangover a punch.
A Moscow mule has been around for a long time and it’s perfect for the summer months because not only does it taste refreshing but it also comes in a copper mug.
This drink doesn’t take long to make at all so feel free to bust this one out when you have some guests over.
Sangria might not seem like the perfect hot weather drink because it has a lot of wine but when you add in some lemonade and fruit, you’ve got a great, refreshing summer drink.
If you’re looking for good sangria recipes to choose from then you can find one here.
I recommend this recipe because it’s easy to make but it also packs in major flavor with the brandy and ginger ale.
The tequila sunrise is made with tequila, grenadine, and orange juice which gives it a very refreshing fruity flavor.
It’s a more festive drink so I usually reserve this recipe for the weekend when I have more time to make it up.
The advantage of making this drink is that you can use any tequila you like but during the summer, I recommend using fresh-squeezed orange juice instead of the fake stuff.
The gin and tonic is one of the all-time classic summer cocktail recipes but if you don’t like gin, try this vodka tonic version instead!
The vodka tonic is made with some fresh lime juice and tonic water, but you can make homemade tonic water, which uses a lot less sugar than the store-bought stuff.
This drink is so easy to make you can whip up a couple of them in a matter of minutes.
When you want your spritzer to have a little more class, try this rosé spritzer recipe.
The rosé in the drink will give it a little more sophistication than using straight-up club soda, so you can serve it to guests when they come over for drinks during the summer.
This is one of those summer mixed drinks you can find in fancy restaurants but I prefer to make mine at home with less expensive wine.
Limoncello is a lemon liquor so it goes perfectly in a summertime drink.
It’s best to use limoncello spritz when you have some fresh lemons on hand or you can stick to regular ole’ vodka with just a splash of lemon juice if that is what you have on hand.
You can also use this recipe as an excuse to use your leftover poolside lemonade and turn it into a grown-up drink by adding in some limoncello.
Lillet is a French aperitif that has been around for centuries.
It’s made from Bordeaux wines and flavored with citrus fruits and herbs like rosemary, citrus peel, and thyme.
You can make this summer cocktail by mixing lillet with some red wine and fruit juice like orange juice. It’s an easy drink to mix up and it has a distinctive, savory flavor.
Basil goes well in any drink during the summer because it adds an herbal taste that is really refreshing.
This gimlet recipe uses basil to help balance out the strong flavors of vodka and lime juice.
Most people don’t know that you can grow basil in your garden or even indoors on a sunny windowsill so there is no excuse for not having fresh herbs to use every day.
You’ll love the way this drink makes you feel after downing one or two.
St Germain is one of the best mixers on the market and you can’t go wrong by mixing it with some bubbly or sparkling water and then adding in some lemon and grapefruit juice.
A highball is when you mix liquor and a non-alcoholic beverage like juice or club soda.
This drink is perfect for summer because it’s light and very easy to make.
I like to use brown liquor in highballs but you can also try this drink with bourbon, gin, or rum. You can even add fruit slices into the glass if that’s your cup of tea!
A bay breeze is a drink that is similar to a Cape Cod and it’s perfect for summer because it uses grapefruit juice.
There are some bartenders who like to add creme de cassis (black currant liqueur), but you don’t have to in this recipe since the fruity juice already has such a distinct flavor.
You make a gin rickey by mixing gin, lime juice, and club soda.
You can add a little extra sugar when making this drink so it has a touch of sweetness too. The key is that you don’t mix in the sweetener until right before you serve the drink because it will start to settle at the bottom if left for too long.
This cocktail takes less than five minutes to make and it’s always a good idea to have some on hand in the fridge when you want a light drink.
The Americano is an old drink that was actually the inspiration behind the classic negroni.
This cocktail is also known as Milano-Torino because you mix Campari (from Milan) and sweet vermouth (from Turin). It’s very easy to make and you will never miss out on making this drink when you have the chance.
Instead of having a liquid on a cold day, why not freeze your rose to create a delicious summer cocktail called a frose.
This drink will keep you cool no matter the temperature and you can even make some big batches and stick them in the freezer for when a guest needs seconds.
Our 40+ BEST Easy Summer Cocktails (+Summer Mojito)
These recipes are sure to please. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
