25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (2024)

Sunny days and warm evenings, cookouts and pool parties—these are the things we look forward to most during the summer. The best way to complete the picture? A frosty co*cktail.

The ideal summer co*cktail is refreshing, fruity, and well-balanced. You can enjoy it while soaking up the sun by the pool, in a hammock, or at an elevated outdoor dinner party. It's cool enough to counteract the hottest summer afternoons, but light and easy enough to make without a lot of fussy mixing and measuring. (And trust us: It doesn't come from a can.)

Add the ingredients for these for smoky, sweet, and spicy margaritas, refreshing sangrias, tropical, beach-inspired blends, and frosty frozen co*cktails to your at-home bar for a summer full of satisfying sips.

How to Set Up a Self-Serve Bar for Easy Outdoor Entertaining

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Habanero-Hibiscus Sour

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (1)

A traditional pisco sour gets a spicy, tropical twist with the addition of an aromatic syrup made with habanero chiles and dried hibiscus flowers.

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Spiced Pineapple co*cktail

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (2)

A small amount of chili powder added to a blend of pineapple juice, pineapple cubes, agave, and tequila provides a welcome dose of spice in this sweet and frosty summer co*cktail.

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La Paloma Cooler

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (3)

Platinum tequila, Mexican grapefruit soda, and lime juice are a laid-back alternative to a traditional margarita. This co*cktail also calls for an eye-catching garnish: half a lime, hollowed out and filled with a shot of tequila.

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Peach-and-Mint Frappes

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (4)

Frozen peaches (used in place of ice cubes) make this vodka-based drink slushy and cool. It's easy to make a virgin version of this frappe by simply subbing water for the spirits.

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Summer Spritzes

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (5)

Making the perfect spritz is easy once you know the formula. Practice makes perfect with three of our summer co*cktail favorites: Pineapple-Cucumber Spritz, Hibiscus-Ginger Spritz, and Spicy Grapefruit Spritz.

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Aperol Jasmine Spritz

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (6)

Enjoy the season in true Martha style with a variation of her favorite co*cktail, the Aperol spritz, inspired by the classic gin-based Jasmine co*cktail.

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Citrus Mule

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (7)

Invite a breath of summer into the usual Moscow mule by making it with a lime, lemon, and an orange, and just a hint of mint.

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Mango Mojito

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (8)

Splash some sunshine into a basic minty mojito with the addition of fresh mango. This recipe also works beautifully with other fruits, such as strawberries or pineapple.

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Pimm's Cup

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (9)

This classic English summer co*cktail evokes images of croquet lawns and white linen. Pimm's, a gin-based herbal liqueur, works in harmony with ginger ale, fresh mint, cucumber, and strawberries.

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Lemon Mezcal Margarita

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (10)

The traditional margarita gets a smoky twist thanks to the mezcal used to make this delicious drink; don't forget the unexpected salt-and-pepper rim.

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Boozy White Sangria

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (11)

Macerated fruits including pineapple, honeydew, grapes, and kiwi soak together in this delicious drink. Best of all, it only takes 15 minutes to prepare.

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Shaken Piña Colada

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (12)

Nothing says beachfront happy hour quite like a piña colada. Ours is shaken, not blended, and the taste transports you to a tropical island.

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Strawberry Daiquiri

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (13)

A tried and true summer co*cktail classic, this boozy smoothie relative can be made in a myriad of ways. If you get tired of the strawberry flavor, try our Pineapple-Mint iteration.

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Modern Mai Tai

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (14)

Enjoy this summertime favorite—which includes four different types of alcohol— beside the pool or on the beach for the ultimate in relaxation.

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Sour-Cherry Cordial

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (15)

Rumored to be a favorite of President George Washington, this sour cherry co*cktail is a timeless refresher made with fresh, in-season fruit.

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Watermelon-Tequila Refresher

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (16)

Not only will this drink hit the spot on a hot day, but it requires only five ingredients: Watermelon, sugar, ice, lemon juice, and tequila.

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Blue Hawaiian

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (17)

Whip up this tiki-inspired drink the next time you're dreaming of a tropical vacation. The blue hue and frozen consistency will keep you as cool as a salty ocean breeze.

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Spiked Elderflower Lemonade

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (18)

Give a kid-friendly beverage an adult twist with vodka and Elderflower Cordial, for a drink that's sweet, refreshing, and just a little tart.

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Sumac-Mint Fizz

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (19)

Sumac, a citrusy spice, is the base for the simple syrup in this tasty drink. Add a dash of alcohol of your choosing to give it a boozy finish.

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20of 25

Ginger Caipirinhas

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (20)

This iconic Brazilian co*cktail is made with cachaca, a spirit derived from sugarcane, fresh muddled ginger, and lime.

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Pineapple-Raspberry Bellini

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (21)

Amp up your summer brunch menu with this refreshing take on a bellini, made with sparkling white wine, raspberries, pineapple juice, seltzer, and vanilla extract.

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Limoncello Sparkler

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (22)

Toast to the summer days ahead with this light, bright co*cktail. Prosecco, limoncello, and a sprig of fresh rosemary blend savory and sweet flavors for a complex, grown-up take on lemonade.

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Pineapple Highball

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (23)

This tiki-inspired summer co*cktail uses a vanilla-and-star-anise syrup, white rum, and seltzer—plus maraschino cherries for a dose of sweetness.

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24of 25

Cucumber-Ginger Fizz

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (24)

A ginger-infused simple syrup complements vodka, limes, sparkling water, and ribbons of fresh cucumber in this drink—an obvious match for sweltering August afternoons.

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Melon Mule

25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (25)

A homemade infusion of vodka with melons and mint provides the base for this rejuvenating take on a Moscow mule.

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25 Summer co*cktail Recipes to Make All Season Long (2024)
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