By Brydon Conti
Now that the days are getting longer (and hotter), we all need a good drink by the end of them. Something to help relax and cool off, and what could do the trick better than a well-crafted cocktail? The following is a list of my favorite easy and refreshing summer cocktails.
The one golden rule of creating any great drink is to use fresh ingredients. Fresh-squeezed fruit juices elevate cocktails to something truly special. If you’re in a pinch, you can use high-quality bottled juice — like 100% cranberry juice, rather than something like Ocean Spray. Once you try a Vodka Cran (or Cape Codder or Cosmo) made with real cranberry juice, you will never be able to go back.
I have also made sure to keep these recipes simple and versatile. Each recipe listed features a different base liquor. So whether you’ve had a bad experience with whiskey and now can’t stand to smell it, or have sworn off tequila since college, there’s still something here for you. There are also upgraded alternatives noted at the end of each section that can help you totally transform these cocktails with just a few different ingredients.
A quick note: many of these drinks call for simple syrup, which is just equal parts sugar and water stirred until dissolved. No boiling necessary. Or swap out with honey for a more unique flavor.
1. Classic Margarita (Tequila) What’s a summer cocktail list without a margarita?
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz triple sec (or Cointreau)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz agave syrup (or honey)
- Ice
Instructions: Add all to a blender, blend until smooth, pour into a salt/sugar-rimmed glass, and garnish with a lime wheel.
Upgrade: Add 1 cup frozen pineapple for a Frozen Pineapple Margarita, topped with a pineapple slice.
2. Watermelon Mojito (Rum) A one-in-a-melon cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- ½ cup fresh watermelon
- 6–8 mint leaves
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz simple syrup (or honey)
- Club soda
- Ice
Instructions: Muddle watermelon and mint. Add rum, lime juice, and syrup. Shake, strain over ice, and top with soda. Garnish with mint and a watermelon wedge.
Upgrade: For a Campari Mojito, swap watermelon for 1½ oz Campari and use tonic water instead of soda for a sophisticated, bitter Italian spin.
3. Gin Fizz (Gin) Like lemonade, but more fun!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup (or honey)
- Club soda
- Ice
- Optional: cucumber slices, basil or rosemary
Instructions: Add gin, lemon juice, syrup, and ice to a shaker. Shake and strain into a glass. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wheel.
Upgrade: For a Cucumber Basil/Rosemary Gin Fizz, muddle 3–4 cucumber slices and a couple of basil leaves (or rosemary). Then garnish with the chosen herb and a cucumber spiral.
4. Blueberry Spritz (Vodka) Blue-tiful and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz simple syrup (or honey)
- ¼ cup blueberries
- ½ oz lemon juice
- Sparkling water or Prosecco
- Ice
Instructions: Muddle blueberries with syrup. Shake with vodka and lemon juice. Strain and top with sparkling water or Prosecco. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Upgrade: Add lavender syrup and garnish with a sprig of lavender for a fragrant Blueberry Lavender Spritz.
5. Peach Bourbon Smash (Whiskey) Millions of peaches. Peach Bourbon Smashes for me.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ ripe peach, sliced
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup (or honey)
- 4–5 mint leaves
- Ice
Instructions: Muddle peach, mint, and syrup. Add bourbon and lemon juice, shake with ice, and strain over crushed ice. Garnish with a peach slice and mint.
6. Classic Piña Colada (Rum) Another essential summer classic.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 oz coconut cream (Coco Lopez)
- 1 oz heavy cream (optional)
- 6 oz fresh pineapple juice
- ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks
- Ice
Instructions: Blend everything until smooth. Pour into a chilled glass and garnish with pineapple and a cherry.
Upgrade: For the Cafe Colada, a banana and coffee spin, add 0.5oz banana liqueur and 0.5oz coffee liqueur before blending.
7. Long Island Iced Tea (Vodka, Rum, Gin, Tequila) Because why have one drink when you can have five in a single glass?
Ingredients:
- ½ oz vodka
- ½ oz white rum
- ½ oz gin
- ½ oz tequila
- ½ oz triple sec
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup (or honey)
- Cola (to top)
- Ice
Instructions: Combine all ingredients except cola. Shake or stir, pour over ice, and top with cola. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Upgrades: For the Tokyo Iced Tea add ½ oz Midori and top with lemon-lime soda instead of cola. For the Blue Long Island swap Midori for ¾ oz Blue Curaçao.
8. The Hack (Your Choice!)
Effortless, delicious, endlessly customizable.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz liquor of your choice (Vodka for me)
- 1 scoop/packet of instant iced tea mix (4C Green Tea)
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Ice
Instructions: Add everything to a blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with a lemon slice. That’s it — cheers!
Whether you’re planning a party or just looking to kick back, these cocktails will bring a splash of summer to your glass. So grab your shaker, a bluetooth speaker, and some sunglasses. It’s time to sip all through the season.
Illustrations by Michelle Perez @michiperezart