Our Most Refreshing Summer Cocktails

Cucumber-Lime Infused Gin and Tonic Recipe

The crisp mixture of cucumber and lime is made complete with a splash of gin and tonic for the ultimate summertime sipper.

Berry Limoncello Recipe

Raspberries and strawberries really brighten up the flavors in one this berry cocktail. Serve it up at a party for a perfectly summery and refreshing sip.

Sugars 18g (est. added sugars 17g)

Strawberry Hibiscus Cooler Recipe

With or without the vodka, this sweet-tart drink deserves a spot at brunch.

Blackberry Pisco Sours Recipe

Pisco is a South American grape brandy popular in Peru and Chile. If you can't find it in your area, feel free to substitute white tequila, grappa, or vodka. Don't be alarmed by the strength of this new classic; it's a cocktail that's meant to be sipped and savored.

Thai Basil-Ginger Spritzer Recipe

Paired with peppery ginger, the anise flavor of Thai basil gives you a highly refreshing summer sipper.

Marionberry Mojito Recipe

Exceptionally juicy and slightly tart, marionberries are perfect for this fizzy summer refresher. You can also use regular blackberries.

Orange-Infused Rum Gimlets Recipe

If you enjoy fruity and light, this refreshing summer cocktail is your new BFF.

Mai Tai Tout

This classic rum-based cocktail recipe, infused with the citrus flavors of orange curaçao, orange juice, and lime juice, is the perfect drink to enjoy at the beach–or when you're dreaming of being there.

Bottled Negronis Recipe

Paired with peppery ginger, the anise flavor of Thai basil gives you a highly refreshing summer sipper.

Kane's Peppery Bloody Mary Tout

It's hard to beat the spicy bite of a good bloody mary on warm summer mornings. Seasoned with fresh basil, cilantro, and chives, this drink received the highest rating from Southern Living's test kitchen.

Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade Recipe

Serve this sparkling lemonade as the perfect, thirst-quenching cocktail for a summer celebration. Elderflower liqueur is sweet, delicate, and floral, like nectar from a spring bouquet.

Garden Cocktail Recipe

This fresh summer cocktail is a fun spin on the classic Bloody Mary.

Watermelon-Lime Soda Recipe

Watermelon and lime pair beautifully in this exceptionally cool cocktail. Zingy ginger is the secret ingredient that will make people ask, "What tastes SO good in here?"

Sparkling Sangria Recipe

Flavor this cava-and-brandy-based sangria with blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, nectarine, and apricot nectar for a sweet summer cocktail that tastes as good as it looks.

Mojito Cooler Recipe

Five ingredients are just a few minutes of prep time are all that stand between you and this refreshing classic cocktail.

Fritz's Sonoran Sunset Recipe

Prickly pear syrup adds a sweet note to the grapefruit and tequila mixture. If your local store doesn't carry prickly pear syrup, you can order it online or substitute grenadine.

Pomegranate-Key Lime Vodka Cocktails Recipe

Marry the flavors of pomegranate and Key lime for a light, fizzy cocktail that not only looks beautiful, but also tastes delicious.

Ultimate Rum Punch Recipe

Bring the flavor of the Caribbean to your backyard barbecue with this festive concoction. Golden rum and coconut rum combine with apricot brandy and the juices of pineapples, oranges, and grapefruits. Garnish this summer-in-a-glass cocktail with lime wedges.

Planter's Punch Recipe

Welcome guests with the traditional greeting drink of the Caribbean. Use fresh juices, and let guests garnish according to their preferences–sliced pineapple, cinnamon sticks, cherries, and a sprinkle of nutmeg are a few of our favorite toppers.

Blackberry Cocktail Recipe

Combine fresh blackberries, cucumber slices, lime juice, gin, club soda, sugar, and fresh mint for an ultra-summery, fruity escape.

Honeydew Mimosas Recipe

Use a traditional breakfast fruit as the base for this frosty sipper. Blend the melon with ice and sugar, then mix with a bottle of sparkling wine for a refreshing summer combo.

Tequila Mojitos Recipe

Spiff up the classic mojito by substituting tequila for rum in this guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Our online reviewers had one unanimous note: Double the recipe!

Blueberry Thrill Recipe

Sweet blueberries infuse spicy gin for summer's most refreshing cocktail sipper. For a fizzy cocktail, pour gin, cardamom syrup, and lemon juice over crushed ice in a glass; top with chilled club soda.

Watermelon-Mint Margarita Recipe

Try a new twist on a classic margarita with watermelon and mint flavors.

Lemon-Mint Sparklers Recipe

This refreshing summer drink is great with or without bourbon. Make a non-alcoholic batch for the kids, then use leftover simple syrup to whip up a boozy version for the adults in your crowd.

Basil Tonics Recipe

Vodka, fresh basil, simple syrup, and tonic water are all you need for these refreshingly easy cocktails. They're also a wonderful way to use basil leaves from an herb garden.

Sweet Heat Arnold Palmer Recipe

The trick to layering beverages is to add liquids to the glass in order of most to least dense. We put most of the sugar into the lemonade (the denser liquid)­, so be sure to swirl before swigging.

Mint Julep Sweet Tea Recipe

This iced cocktail features combines the best of two classic Southern drinks: the mint julep and sweet tea.

Seaside Sunrise Recipe

Take it to the beach! Blend bright juices and passion fruit rum, and then top with bubbly for a tropical twist on a mimosa.

Vera Kollans Cocktails Recipe

This drink is Greg Best's twist on the classic fizzy lemonade cocktail, Tom Collins.

Limoncello Mojito Recipe

Combine lemon juice, mint, and Limoncello (lemon liqueur) to create this fresh summer mojito.

The SL Mint Julep Recipe

Our go-to recipe for the quintessential Derby-day drink

Dark 'n Stormy® Recipe

Add rum and ginger beer to an ice-filled highball glass, stirring to combine. Garnish with a sugar cane stick and a lime wedge.

Salty Water Recipe

Beach trip, anyone? Be sure to bring along fresh watermelon and strawberries to whip up this tasty oceanside sipper.

Blood Orange Mimosas Recipe

We love the color blood oranges give this classic brunch cocktail. A dash of bitters adds depth. Look for orange bitters--such as Fee Brothers or Stirrings--at liquor stores or specialty grocers. ­The sugar cube dissolves as you sip, balancing the bitters and giving off bubbles for a festive touch. Juice the oranges and keep chilled up to a day ahead.

Honey-Lemon Spritz Recipe

Slap the verbena leaves lightly between your palms before you garnish to release essential oils.

Season Creep Cocktails Recipe

For this drink, Best uses yellow Chartreuse--an herbal liqueur flavored with saffron and honey. Substitute Strega, an Italian herbal liqueur, if you wish.

Watermelon-Jalapeño Margarita Recipe

For a spicy garnish, combine salt and chili powder in a saucer. Dip rims of glasses in lime juice or water, and dip in salt mixture to coat.

Christopher Robin Recipe

WIth honey and fresh lemon, this refreshing citrus drink will have you wishing every season was Summer.

Smoky Old West Recipe

In an old-fashioned glass, combine water, sugar, and bitters, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add orange peel and press against bottom of glass with bar spoon to release oils. Add whiskey and ice cubes to fill glass and stir briefly to mix.

Ginger Pineapple Punch (Lebouroudjee) Recipe

This intensely flavored punch is nonalcoholic but great as a cocktail; just add sparkling water and rum.

Forest Negroni Recipe

Fill a cocktail-mixing glass about two-thirds with ice cubes and add ingredients to mix together. Strain over a large ice cube into an old-fashioned glass, and garnish with a bay leaf.

Gin and Coconut Water Recipe

Add lime juice and coconut water to a glass of gin, and stir in Angostura bitters to get a nice rosy color.

Fluke Sunset Recipe

Top with pomegranate juice and garnish with a lime slice.

Pink-a-Colada Recipe

Brighten up a refreshing cocktail with fresh fruit and edible flowers.

The Bernie Paloma Recipe

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders recently served up a speech complete with a custom cocktail. Made with Vermont maple syrup, fresh fruit juices, and silver tequila, the now-famous cocktail was developed by Washington bartender Miguel Marcelino Herrara.

Cucumber-Mint Tequila Tonic Recipe

Cucumber-Mint Tequila Tonic is the perfect warm weather cocktail. Made with fresh mint and cilantro leaves and chopped cucumber, it's refreshing and fabulous.

Citrus-Honey Beer Shandy Recipe

This ultra-refreshing beer cocktail is perfect for sipping poolside, especially if you can find those mini paper umbrellas. Cheers!

The Blush Lily Recipe

Our version of Churchill Downs' Oaks Lily

Bourbon-Peach Limeade Recipe

Freeze fresh peach and lime slices on a parchment-lined pan, and drop a few into your drink for a frosty garnish.

Basil-Thyme Gimlet Recipe

In this drink, gin is infused with the savory freshness of basil and thyme.

Skinny Cucumber-Lime Gin and Tonic Recipe

This refreshing and effervescent drink is like summer in a glass. Diet tonic water and lime juice combine for a great low-carb alternative that doesn't have a strong aspartame aftertaste. For the coldest drink possible, make sure your glass is full of ice before you strain the mixture over it. 

Super Skinny Margarita Recipe

When you're in the mood for the perfect sweet-and-sour skinny margarita, fake and sugary pre-made mixes won't cut it. This skinny margarita recipe is fresh and flavorful without being dense in carbs and calories. Freshly-squeezed juices are worth the extra effort, adding the perfect touch of acidity and sweetness. If you're opposed to using stevia as sweetener, swap it with agave nectar for even more authentic flavor. You can also freeze and blend this recipe for frozen skinny margaritas. But don't be fooled—while they may be skinny, there's nothing wimpy about these real deal margaritas.

Skinny Strawberry Vodka Lemonade Recipe

Looking for a sweet cocktail without all the sugar? This low-carb drink is sweet and tangy with a subtle flavor of fresh strawberry. If strawberries aren't your favorite, you could substitute any summer fruit here for a spiked light cocktail. 

Salty Dog Slushes Recipe

The Salty Dog has no flaws, but turning it into a slush makes it the most wonderful and festive summertime cocktail ever. The bitterness, sweetness, salt, and booze come together to make a subtly sweet pink and frosty delight. You can even keep frozen grapefruit juice cubes in the freezer and whip a few drinks up to amaze friends (or yourself).  If you'd like to experiment, this would also make a mighty fine granita. 

Grapefruit Beergaritas Recipe

This fruity beer cocktail falls somewhere between a shandy, a margarita, and a radler. Serve with citrus slices and a half-salted rim, if you'd like, or omit the salt for a straight-up refreshing sipper.