It’s finally summer—time to break out your favorite cocktail recipes and spend hours in the sun with friends and family. The right cocktails can be the perfect addition to your next seasonal get-together by the pool or on the patio. And instead of over-complicated drinks that take up too much of your valuable relaxation time, you need simple and refreshing options to choose from. The best cocktails are easy and delicious when made with high-quality liquor and ingredients. Make sure to search “the best liquor shop near me” to find local businesses or alcohol delivery services that will provide the best liquor in your area. Take a look at these six essential cocktail recipes for your next summer party.
Mint Julep
The Mint Julep is as Kentucky as bourbon, racehorses, and fried chicken. It’s sweet, minty, smooth, and refreshing. A staple at the Kentucky Derby, it’s taken off all over the U.S. as a sort of American-style mojito.
To make a mint julep, you’ll need:
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2.5 parts bourbon
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4 to 5 mint sprigs (leaves only)
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2 sugar cubes (or 1/2 part simple syrup)
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Mint sprig to garnish
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Crushed ice
Begin by placing your mint leaves and sugar or simple syrup into a cocktail glass. Muddle well to dissolve the sugar and release the oil and aroma of the mint. Add your choice of bourbon, then add the crushed ice. Stir well until the glass becomes frosty. Garnish with your mint sprig, then serve.
Mojito
On a sweltering summer evening, nothing hits quite like a mojito with its refreshing burst of mint and fantastic, fizzy flavor. This classic cocktail is sure to impress your party guests, no matter what their alcoholic preferences are.
To make a mojito, you’ll need:
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2 ounces simple syrup (add equal parts sugar and water into a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved, then chill)
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2 sprigs mint, plus more for serving
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2 ounces white rum
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¾ ounce fresh lime juice
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Club soda (for serving)
Muddle your simple syrup and 2 mint sprigs in a cocktail shaker. Add rum and lime juice. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold. Then strain the liquid into a glass filled with ice. Top off with club soda, garnish with mint, and enjoy.
Aperol Spritz
Want to be instantly transported to summertime in Italy? Then go for the traditional and bubbly aperol spritz cocktail. It looks like a golden orange sunset and tastes just as wonderful. As with all of these cocktail recipes, you can play around with the ratio until it tastes exactly the way you like it.
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3 ounces prosecco
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2 ounces Aperol
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1 ounce club soda
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Orange slice for garnish
It’s unbelievably simple to make—just add the prosecco, Aperol and club soda to a wine glass filled with ice and stir. Garnish with an orange slice to sip on this bold, citrusy delight.
Piña Colada
The popular piña colada is well-known in both musical culture and as a summertime cocktail. So if you like piña coladas, then this recipe is sure to impress. Originally invented in Puerto Rico and directly translated to “strained pineapple,” this cocktail is one of the simplest to make.
To make a piña colada, you’ll need:
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2 ounces light rum
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1 1/2 ounces cream of coconut
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1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
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1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
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Pineapple wedge for garnish
Add the rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple and lime juices to a shaker or blender with ice and shake vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a juicy pineapple wedge.
Red Sangria
What’s more of a crowd-pleaser than a carafe (or two) of beautiful red sangria? Sangria dates back to the Middle Ages through Spain and Portugal. It was originally aged wine mixed with fruit and spices, such as cinnamon, then evolved into regional recipes. The most common version of sangria is light and bubbly with addition of seltzer water and quite a perfect ratio of wine to brandy. Pro-tip: You don’t necessarily want to use your best wine for sangria since you’ll be mixing other ingredients into it. Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are top contenders for this mixed drink.
To make red sangria, you’ll need:
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1 (750-ml.) bottle red wine
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1 c. orange juice
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1/2 c. brandy
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1/4 c. granulated sugar
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1 orange, sliced
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1 apple, sliced
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1 (12-oz.) can seltzer
In a large pitcher, mix together wine, orange juice, brandy, and sugar. Stir in your fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve, preferably 2 hours. Top off with seltzer before serving.
Whisky Highball
One of the most famous of two-ingredient cocktails is the unembellished yet satisfying whisky highball. The secret to crafting this simple drink is focusing on the quality of the liquor. In other words, quality overtakes all when making the ultimate whisky highball. No cocktail shakers or fancy ingredients required!
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2 ounces whiskey
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4 ounces club soda, chilled
Add the whiskey into a highball glass with ice. Top with club soda and stir gently and briefly to combine. That’s all there is to it.
