36 Summer Cocktail Recipes

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Need summer cocktail recipes for pool parties, family barbecues, or just a relaxing beach day? Here’s a collection of 36 of the best summer cocktails ranging from summer cooler drinks to summer punch recipes.

A collection of summer cocktail recipes

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This collection of summer cocktail recipes will ensure you never run out of drinks for the summer. Whether you need ideas for a barbeque or you are just looking to try something new, this list has got you covered with some of the best summer alcoholic drinks! If you need ideas on summer drink accessories, check here.


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Expert Tips for Making Summer Alcoholic Drinks

  • Spiked Raspberry Sweet Tea Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. To serve a larger crowd, simply double the amount of tea bags then dilute with more water in multiple pitchers.
  • Swap Out the Champaign in the Sparkling Champaign Sangria: If this recipe caught your eye but you are not a fan of champaign, swap it out for another 750ml bottle of white wine and a splash of sparkling water.
  • Leave Out The Alcohol: Ditch the alcohol in any of the summer cocktail recipes below for some delicious summer mocktails.
  • Substitute Whiskey for Bourbon: For smoother bourbon cocktails for summer substitute whiskey for bourbon in any of the whisky cocktails.

Vodka Summer Cocktail Recipes

These vodka summer cocktails are the perfect refreshing drinks for summer. These vodka cocktails for summer are loaded with refreshing flavors. You’ll find everything from vodka lemonade cocktails to Dirty Shirley Floats.

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A Spiked Raspberry Sweet Tea garnished with a leaf and fruit
Spiked Raspberry Sweet Tea
There is nothing better on a hot summer day than Spiked Raspberry Sweet Tea! It’s sweet, fruity, and downright refreshing. It’s even better with the added twist of vodka when you need a cocktail for a crowd!
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A Strawberry Moscow Mule garnished with strawberries
Strawberry Basil Moscow Mule Cocktail
This cocktail’s ingredients are super easy to get because strawberries and basil are abundant this time of year. This Strawberry Basil Moscow Mule Cocktail is refreshing & delicious!
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Simple Cocktail Recipes Blackberry Smash - It is a Keeper
Blackberry Smash
This simple cocktail recipe would be perfect for impromptu get togethers. You know, those times when you decide, spur of the moment, to have some friends over. When you’re up against the clock to get things ready, this cocktail will save the day.
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Two Orange Creamsicle Cocktails with orange and white straws
Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
If you like the popsicle, you’ll love this creamsicle drink! This cocktail comes alive with only vanilla vodka, orange soda, and Reddi-Wip.
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A glass of Summer Vodka Fizz garnished with a lemon and mint leaf
Summer Vodka Fizz
Sit back, relax, and beat the heat by enjoying a refreshing Summer Vodka Fizz made with mint simple syrup, lemon, club soda, and vodka!
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2 Lemon Drop Martinis with a lemon garnish
Lemon Drop Martini
A Lemon Drop Martini is a beautifully balanced, refreshingly tart, easy-to-make cocktail and tastes so much better than any bottled lemon drop or beverage at a bar. It’s a delicious drink with the perfect pucker and hint of sweetness.
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2 beautiful Dirty Shirley Floats garnished with a cherry and some limes
Dirty Shirley Floats
A Dirty Shirley Float is a fun way to transform the traditional Shirley Temple into an adult boozy cocktail. With its pretty pink grenadine and bubbly lemon-lime soda, this boozy milkshake is the perfect sweet and refreshing sip for the kid at heart, but with a kick!
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Two glasses and a pitcher of Summer Punch
Summer Punch
A simple, refreshing drink that’s perfect for a summery gathering.
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Ciroc Pina Colada garnished with a lime
Ciroc Pina Colada
Try this delicious Pina Colada recipe using Ciroc Pineapple, lime juice, simple syrup in a shaker with ice and enjoy!
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Whisky Cocktails For Summer Can be Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipes

These whiskey cocktails for summer are delicious, refreshing, and easy to make! Summer cocktails with bourbon and whisky are becoming increasingly popular. From twists on classic whisky sours to Watermelon Whisky, this list has the best collection of summer whisky drinks.

Pomegranate Whiskey Sour
This drink turns the most beautiful color pink! It’s perfectly sweet and tart at the same time – exactly what you want in a whiskey sour.
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Chamomile and Honey Whiskey Cocktail garnished with flowers
Chamomile and Honey Whiskey Cocktail
It’s the perfect throw-together-stick-in-the-fridge-for-later kind of drink. Low maintenance, no fuss.
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Texas Tea
A Texas Tea is a simple twist on the popular mixed drink, Long Island Iced Tea, but this drink includes a shot of whisky-bourbon mixed in. While this easy cocktail recipe can be made in only 3 minutes, it packs a potent punch that’s meant for slow sipping!
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Watermelon Mint Whiskey Smash
Summer is prime time for fresh watermelon and a whisky smash is a great cocktail for highlighting that sweet summer watermelon.
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A Watermelon Whiskey garnished with a lime and watermelon
Watermelon Whiskey
Similar to a Watermelon Whiskey Smash, this Watermelon Whiskey cocktail tastes refreshingly delicious and is perfect for a hot summer day.
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A glass of Blackberry Basil Julep garnished with mint leaves and blackberries
Blackberry Basil Julep
Juleps are made for summer sipping, and this Blackberry Basil Julep celebrates all the best flavors of summer in one julep cup.
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Summer Cocktails With Gin

These summer cocktails with gin are the perfect sweet drinks for a hot day. These gin cocktails include some of the most refreshing drinks to make at home that are perfect for a hot summer day. This section includes everything from a Strawberry Gin Smash to a Grapefruit and Elderflower Cocktail.

Simple Cocktail Recipes Strawberry Gin Smash - It Is a Keeper
Strawberry Gin Smash
This Strawberry Gin Smash is one of the most refreshing summer cocktails. It uses simple ingredients and is easy to make. 
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Gin, Basil and Cucumber Cocktail
Cucumber and basil in a cocktail may seem like a  strange combo to some, but I assure you it is delicious and very refreshing! Especially with gin! 
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Mango Gin Cocktail
The bright yellow color of the cocktail screams summer! In this mango gin cocktail, the mango goes SO well with the gin to make this a perfect summer cocktail.
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Blackberry Gin Fizz
Blackberries, gin, and lemon are the perfect combination in this easy-to-make Blackberry Gin Fizz! A refreshing cocktail to sip on this summer!
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a Georgia Gin Cocktail garnished with an orange
Georgia Gin Cocktail
This refreshing Georgia Gin Cocktail is good in all seasons, especially in the summer.
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Two Grapefruit and Elderflower Cocktails garnished with a mint leaf
Grapefruit and Elderflower Cocktail
All you need are 3 ingredients and about 30 seconds to whip up this classic “Frenchie” cocktail with grapefruit, elderflower, and gin. It’s so simple, yet so refreshing and delicious.
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A bright blue Alaskan Glacier Martini
Alaskan Glacier Martini
This delicious Alaskan Glacier Martini Recipe is made up of vodka, gin, light rum, blue curacao, sweet n’ sours mixer, and topped off with a splash of lemon-lime soda. But the icing on the cake is the sweet and airy meringue cookie “glacier” floating on the top!
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Summer Sangria Recipes

These summer sangria recipes are beautiful and delicious. These simple yet perfect sangria recipes are perfect for one person or a large crowd. This list includes a Rainbow Sangria recipe, a Peach Rosé Sangria recipe, and so much more!

A Rainbow Sangria Cocktail in a pitcher and a glass garnished with a strawberry
Rainbow Sangria
Rainbow Sangria brings the delicious tastes of Spain right to your backyard. It’s the perfect drink to serve at a summer party. It is cool, refreshing, and beautiful!
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Lemon-Lime Sangria
This Lemon-Lime Sangria is deliciously refreshing and packed full of bright citrus flavors! The perfect drink for citrus season!
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A glass of Peach Rosé Sangria garnished with raspberries and peach slices
Peach Rosé Sangria
This Peach Rosé Sangria is an easy-to-make summer cocktail that’s perfect for a party or sipping on the patio on a hot day!
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3 dark red Red Wine Cherry Sangria drinks
Red Wine Cherry Sangria
Red Wine, cherry juice, fruit liqueur, and plenty of fruit make this a beautiful, rich and flavorful sangria. It’s easy, gorgeous and so darn delicious!
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Piña Colada Sangria
This easy 5 ingredient tropical Piña Colada Sangria is a refreshing summer beverage! This boozy sangria punch makes enough to serve a crowd.
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Honeydew and Kiwi White Sangria
This sangria is going to be appropriate all summer long! It’s refreshing, light, and just boozy enough.
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Sweet Tea Sangria
This Sweet Tea Sangria recipe will quickly become of your favorites. It is a perfect cocktail for summer barbecues, brunches, or showers.
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A glass of Sparkling Champagne Sangria filled with fruit
Sparkling Champagne Sangria
This Sparkling Champagne Sangria is a crowd-pleasing bubbly, fruity white sangria that is perfect for any occasion!
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Summer Cocktails With Tequila

These summer cocktails with tequila are all mouthwatering ways to make margaritas. This list includes some of the most refreshing summer mixed drinks. In this section, you’ll find everything from a Classic Margarita to Raspberry Mango Margaritas.

An original margarita topped with a slice of lime.
Classic Margarita
There is nothing like a good Margarita to help kick off the weekend.  Especially when they are a little sweet, a little tart and a little salty.
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Watermelon Grapefruit Margarita
This Watermelon Grapefruit Margarita is one of the best summer cocktail recipes. It is a very light and refreshing cocktail perfect for any sunny day.
Raspberry Mango Margaritas
Fruity and fabulous, these Raspberry Mango Margaritas are swirled together to create the ULTIMATE Summertime drink!
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A short glass of the strawberry margarita on the rocks.
Strawberry Margaritas
This Strawberry Margarita is a very popular summer cocktail. This strawberry-flavored cocktail is bursting with strawberry flavor!
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2 Blackberry Lemonade Margaritas garnished with lemons and blackberries
Blackberry Lemonade Margaritas
These festive, refreshing Blackberry Lemonade Margaritas include fresh blackberry puree, lemonade, and tequila. Tart, lightly sweet, and delicious. A great warm-weather party drink!
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Skinny Coconut Margarita
This Coconut Margarita is the perfect drink for spring, summer, or any occasion really. 
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