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When the mercury starts climbing and the sun refuses to set before 8 PM (hey, we’re not complaining about that part), there’s nothing quite like a perfectly crafted cocktail to help you unwind after a long day of entertaining your kids who are out of school for the summer. But to be honest, we’re pretty tired by the time cocktail hour rolls around, and the last thing busy parents want to do is muddle through a complicated recipe that requires ingredients you’ve never heard of and techniques that would make even a seasoned bartender sweat.
That’s where these refreshingly simple summer cocktail recipes come in. We’re talking about drinks that taste like they came from a beachside bar but can be whipped up in your kitchen in just a few minutes and with minimal effort. From zesty citrus spritzes that scream “vacation mode” to herb-infused concoctions that’ll have your tastebuds dancing, these recipes prove that refreshing summer cocktails don’t need to be fussy to be fabulous.
A version of this article was originally published July 2017.
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Hugo Spritz
Image Credit: Enza's Quail Hollow Kitchen. Enza, the creative genius behind Enza’s Quail Hollow Kitchen blog, describes this drink as the “perfect summer cocktail” and credits the recipe to an Italian bartender named Roland Gruber. It’s full of light, floral notes, and is the refreshing cocktail you need on a hot summer day.
Get the recipe from Enza’s Quail Hollow Kitchen
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Tropical Tahitian Punch
Image Credit: Nielsen Massey. We may not be able to go on the tropical vacation of our dreams this summer, but we can drink a cocktail that makes us feel like we’re on one. The secret ingredient? Really good Tahitian vanilla.
Get the recipe from Nielsen Massey.
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Watermelon Frosé
Image Credit: Nielsen Massey. This summery cocktail is bursting with flavor. Specifically, two flavors you probably wouldn’t expect — rose water and lemon extract!
Get the recipe from Nielsen Massey
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Spicy Citrus Sangria
Image Credit: The Gourmet Gourmand. Kick your classic sangria up a notch by adding a little spice.
Get the recipe from The Gourmet Gourmand.
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Sweet Tea Cocktail
Image Credit: Leite's Culinaria. Can you think of anything that’s more quintessentially summer than sweet tea? Yeah, we couldn’t either.
Get the recipe from Leite’s Culinaria.
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Gin & cucumber basil smash
Image Credit: Kitchen Sanctuary This refreshing cocktail is like drinking spa water with a kick!
Fresh basil leaves are muddled with cucumber and topped off with gin, simple syrup and a splash of tonic water. It’s the perfect drink for a sunny afternoon.
Get the recipe from Kitchen Sanctuary
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Pineapple punch
Image Credit: A Beautiful Plate This crowd-pleasing cocktail is loaded with fresh pineapple and citrus fruits and has a spicy kick from the ginger beer.
Use a high-quality, lower-sugar ginger beer for a nice, strong gingery kick.
Get the recipe from A Beautiful Plate
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Skinny jalapeño-watermelon margaritas
Image Credit: Ambitious Kitchen Fresh watermelon juice acts as a natural sweetener in these easy and lighter summer margaritas.
Plus, it’s the perfect way to use up that leftover watermelon from last night’s BBQ.
Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen
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Bourbon peach slush
Image Credit: Recipe Runner All you need for these adult slushies is to throw the ingredients together in a blender and drink! Now that’s a summer cocktail I can get behind.
Get the recipe from Recipe Runner
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Spicy raspberry paloma
Image Credit: Heather Christo This cocktail has a lot going for it — heat from the Fresno chilis, tart grapefruit juice, fresh raspberries and of course tequila!
Bonus: It’s colorful, summery and super-easy to make.
Get the recipe from Heather Christo
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Blackberry gin & tonic
Image Credit: Spoon Fork Bacon Having friends over? Mix up a pitcher of these for a summery twist on a classic gin and tonic.
It’s the perfect drink to sip while you wait for the grill to heat up.
Get the recipe from Spoon Fork Bacon
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Cherry-ginger spritz
Image Credit: Foxes Love Lemons This cocktail is kind of like a cross between a Moscow mule and an Aperol spritz.
Muddled cherries add a bright tartness to this light and refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for day drinking.
Get the recipe from Foxes Love Lemons
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Aperol spritz
Image Credit: Hedonistit The Aperol spritz is synonymous with summer, and if you haven’t tried one yet, get on it!
Do as the Italians do and sip this three-ingredient aperitif (pre-dinner cocktail) al fresco with a bowl of potato chips.
Get the recipe from Hedonistit
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UnionIC
Image Credit: Courtesy of Mezcal Unión. What better to accompany your summer barbeque than a smokey, mezcal cocktail?
Here’s what you’ll need:
2 oz. of Mezcal Unión Joven
7 green grapes
0.5 oz. rosemary syrup
1 oz. of lemon juice
3 oz. of tonic water
Mix the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, pour it into a glass and garnish with some rosemary and grapes.
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Pineapple Express
Image Credit: Courtesy of Mezcal Unión Joven. Is there anything more quintessentially summer than the pineapple? No, there is not. Here’s what you’ll need for this thirst-quenching beverage:
1½ oz. of Mezcal Unión Joven
3½ oz. of tonic water
1 oz. of pineapple juice
0.5 oz. of Blanco Vermouth
0.5 oz. of lemon juice
Mix these ingredients together in a shaker, pour over ice and garnish with a wedge of pineapple.
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Summer shandy
Image Credit: Spoon Fork Bacon Beer cocktails don’t always get the love they deserve, but they’re refreshing as hell on a hot day and oh-so simple to make.
Use a light wheat beer like a hefeweizen-style beer in this delicious summer shandy cocktail.
Get the recipe from Spoon Fork Bacon
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Red, White & Berry Crush
Image Credit: Courtesy of Smirnoff Red, White & Berry. You need at least one red, white and blue cocktail during the summer, right? We love this one from Smirnoff because it has fresh berries and sweet, summer lemonade. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
1.5 ounces Smirnoff Red, White & Berry
4 ounces raspberry lemonade
2 ounces lemon-lime soda
Fill a tall glass with crushed ice, add the vodka and raspberry lemonade, then top it off with lemon-lime soda. Stir gently to combine and arnish with lemon wedges and fresh raspberries.
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Spiked pear-lavender lemonade
Image Credit: Sugar & Cloth What’s more summery than a glass of lemonade?
The unique flavors of pear and lavender spice up this vodka-spiked lemonade.
Get the recipe from Sugar & Cloth
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