A delicious cocktail can really hit the spot on a hot day. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of easy-to-make summer cocktails you can’t help but love. Cheers!
Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz is a refreshing, easy-to-make cocktail. Check out this recipe from Cookie and Kate.
Ingredients:
- Ice
- 3 oz Aperol
- 3 oz dry prosecco
- 1 oz club soda or unflavored sparkling water
- Orange slice, for garnish
Instructions:
- Add ice to a wine glass until it is nearly full. Pour in Aperol.
- Pour in an equal amount of prosecco, then top off with a splash of club soda. Garnish with orange slice.
Dirty Shirley
You may have enjoyed a Shirley Temple as a kid – or even as a fun mocktail as an adult. If you want to enhance the beloved drink, we invite you to try a Dirty Shirley. Culinary Hill has a recipe we enjoy.
Ingredients:
- Ice
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz grenadine
- 4 oz lemon-lime soda
- Maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice, then add vodka and grenadine.
- Top with soda, then garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Paloma
If you want a flavorful summer drink to share with friends, the Paloma is the way to go. Check out this recipe from Love and Lemons below.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila
- 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice and wedges for garnish
- 2 oz sparkling water
- ½ oz lime juice
- ¼ oz agave nectar or simple syrup
- Coarse sea salt for the rim of the glasses
- Ice
Instructions:
- Rub a grapefruit wedge around the edge of your glass and dip it onto a small plate of salt.
- Mix tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water, lime juice, and agave nectar into the glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with ice. Adjust sweetness to taste. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Strawberry Jalapeño Mint Julep
(image via delish)
If you enjoy a spicy kick to your drink, a must-have this summer is this Strawberry Jalapeño Mint Julep from Delish.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of water
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- 2 jalapeños, halved
- ¼ cup of chopped strawberries
- 8 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 2 oz bourbon
- Ice
- 12 oz seltzer
- Strawberry, for garnish
- Red jalapeño, sliced, for garnish
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, sugar, and jalapeños. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Discard jalapeños.
- In a cocktail glass, muddle strawberries and mint. Add bourbon and 1 Tbsp simple syrup, then fill with ice and top off with seltzer.
- Garnish with mint, strawberry, and red jalapeño slices.
Michelada
If you’ve never had a beer cocktail, let us introduce you to the savory yet refreshing Michelada. Check out Isabel Eats’ recipe here below.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp flaky sea salt
- ¾ tsp Tajin seasoning (or chili powder)
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- ice cubes
- ⅔ cup tomato juice (or Clamato)
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 4 drops Worcestershire sauce
- 4 drops soy sauce
- 4 drops hot sauce
- 12 oz Mexican lager beer
Instructions:
- Mix salt and Tajin seasoning on a shallow plate. Run a lime wedge along the rim of two pint glasses, then dip glasses into the salt mixture to coat the rim.
- Fill both glasses half full with ice cubes.
- Divide the tomatoes, lime, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and hot sauce evenly into each glass.
- Top both glasses evenly with beer. Garnish with lime wedges, and serve.