6 Best Summer Cocktails to Try

6 Best Summer Cocktails to Try

There’s nothing better than the feeling of drinking a cool, refreshing drink on a scorching hot day… except if it’s a spiked, fruity drink. While the hot weather rages on, here are six easy summer cocktail recipes to cool off with! Each cocktail recipe is one serving – remember to multiply quantities as needed to make multiple drinks.

Rum

Whether its light, dark, or flavored, rum is a summer cocktail staple.

Blue Hawaiian

With pineapple juice and crème of coconut, this sweet and creamy frozen drink is your one-way ticket to tropical relaxation!

Recipe

• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz light rum
• 1 oz blue curacao
• ½ - 1 oz crème of coconut
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a blender and puree on high until smooth. Serve in a chilled highball glass. If you’re not a fan of frozen drinks, give it a try on the rocks.

Optional: garnish with a pineapple slice and maraschino cherry.

Malibu Sunset

One sip of this drink and you’ll feel like you’re on vacation! Combines flavors of pineapple, orange, coconut, and cherry for a beautiful, delicious cocktail.

Recipe

• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz orange juice
• 2 oz Malibu (coconut rum)
• A splash of grenadine

Instructions

Pour the Malibu, pineapple juice, and orange juice into a highball glass over ice. Give it a good stir, drizzle in some grenadine, and you’re done!

Optional: garnish with an orange wheel and maraschino cherry.

Mojito

The Mojito is a classic – but we like to mix it up with some lemon-lime soda! The most refreshing part of this cocktail has to be the signature muddled mint – perfect for sipping by the pool.

Recipe

• 1 ½ oz white rum
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Several mint leaves
• Sprite

Instructions

Add mint leaves, lime juice, and sugar to a highball glass. Use a wooden spoon to muddle the mint leaves at the bottom of the glass. Add ice, pour in your white rum of choice, and top with sprite.

Optional: garnish with a couple mint leaves.

Vodka

Vodka is a great liquor for mixing and can be used to create simple and delicious summer drinks – the Vodka summer cocktail recipes here feature no more than three ingredients!

John Daly

A fun, alcoholic twist on an Arnold Palmer – perfect for a hot day! (golfers come up with some pretty great drinks, huh?)

Recipe

• 1 ½ oz vodka
• 2 oz lemonade
• 2 oz iced tea

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a highball glass over ice. That’s it!

Optional: garnish with a lemon wedge.

Hairy Naval

Although the name may not seem appealing, this delicious cocktail marries the flavors of orange and peach with a swirl of vodka. It will be hard to have just one!

Recipe

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz Peach Schnapps
• 4 oz orange juice

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a highball glass over ice.

Tequila

This is a summer cocktail recipe list, after all – it would be a crime to exclude the margarita!

Margarita

This cocktail combines the fresh taste of citrus with a little sweetness and a salted rim – definitely a classic for a reason.

Recipe

• 1 ½ oz Silver tequila
• 1 oz triple sec
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• ½ oz simple syrup

Instructions

To salt the rim: Use a lime wedge to moisten the rim of a margarita or glass, and dip into a small dish of coarse salt.

We recommend a cocktail shaker for this one. Add all ingredients into the shaker with ice, secure the lid, and shake until frosted. Strain into your salt-rimmed glass and enjoy!

Optional: garnish with a lime wheel. If you’re feeling adventurous, add a splash of pineapple juice, strawberry puree, or both! You can also combine the ingredients in a blender for a frozen version instead.

Remember to drink responsibly. Happy summer!