8 Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes to Keep You Cool All Season

Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by Prissila Murillo

The nostalgia of summer brings to mind fireworks, cooling foods, and dazzling summer cocktails. Cocktails give any budding bartender the ability to create some beautiful and tasty summer drink recipes that are sure to be a hit. In addition to these boozy delights, there are tons of nonalcoholic drinks as well that can be aesthetic showstoppers in mason jars or other fun glassware. Follow along and see which summer drink recipes inspire you to make your refreshing summer cocktails.

Vodka Base  

Well-known for having fewer calories than most liquor, vodka makes for a lovely base, so take a gander at these delectable cocktails!

Summer Drink Recipe: Vodka Gimlet      

This take on a classic is simply two parts vodka to one-part lime juice. Add in some simple syrup, and you have a very refreshing drink with fewer calories.

Summer Drink Recipe: Vodka Tonic

Another low-calorie drink is the Vodka tonic, with one part vodka and three parts tonic. To add a little pizzazz here, add some orange slices, cucumber, or berries.

Summer Drink Recipe: Summer Mule

This drink is often taken in a copper mug, which is used to keep it colder than most glassware can. It can take a few spins, but start with this base that’s listed below. In addition, you do not want to use a cocktail shaker for this drink, as the carbonation from the ginger beer is what really sets this drink apart and helps it to go down ever so smoothly!

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka
• 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lime juice
• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) ginger beer

For the garnish: lime wheel or wedge, fresh mint (if desired)

In order to make an even more summery drink, you can try adding watermelon juice or even tequila to replace the vodka. The garnishes can also vary from cherries to smoked rosemary or whatever else sets your summery heart ablaze.

Tequila Base

Tequila is the well-known party liquor of choice for its classic ability to blend smoothly into any drink. Below are some amazing drinks that will be sure to spice up your time!

Summer Drink Recipe: Margaritas

Oh, Margaritas, how you enchant us with your delightful and fruity ways! Whether you love things sweeter or a bit tarter, margaritas will be sure to delight you. First, you need to decide if you want a frozen margarita or one “on the rocks”; either way it comes out delicious!

Combine your tequila with lime juice and Triple Sec. Shake all your ingredients and then potentially add some more flavor with jalapeños and simple syrup. Here is a list of some things to really enhance your margarita experience:

• Strawberry mixer
• Any berries as a topper
• Fruit juices to add sweetness
• Lavender and honey
• Orange juice and maple syrup
• Craft beer for a unique “Beergarita”
• Amaretto

Do whatever your heart desires with this tequila, as it pairs so nicely with so many flavors. For example, if you want to get a bit fancier, this raspberry-peach margarita is especially refreshing and delicious.

Rum

We might know it as the drink of choice of pirates and perhaps of the islands in general. Rum is a wonderful liquor that adds sweetness to a drink without any overpowering additions. Look below for some yummy variations!

Summer Drink Recipe: Raspberry Lemonade Mojito Mixer

This refreshing mojito allows you to feel hydrated and refreshed from sparkling water and mint. Mojitos are the perfect summer drink that leaves you ready to take on whatever fun shenanigans you may have planned!

• 2 oz of rum
• 15 mint leaves
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• 6 oz Dasani Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade

Garnish: raspberries, mint, lime wedge

Other variations to this mojito involve taking out the sparkling water and adding juice like pineapple or some other tropical blend. You can also add mint into ice cubes and place those into the drink as well. Don’t be afraid to add more liquor or even make little mini jello shots with this recipe! 

Mocktails Summer Drink Recipes

Alcohol can be such a yummy treat, but of course, any proper host or hostess knows that having nonalcoholic drinks is critical to a successful party. Below are some beautiful recipes that contain no alcohol but immense flavor.

Summer Drink Recipe: Lavender Lemonade

Lemonade is that nostalgic drink that will always remind us of cute nostalgic lemonade stands in the summer. Lemonade is the perfect combination of sweet, tart, and maybe just a bit sassy. Below, find a delectable treat that will surely enhance any drink!

• A small handful of freshly picked and rinsed lavender flowers or a tablespoon of dried lavender flowers
• 1 cup white, granulated sugar
• 2 cups of boiling water for the infusion
• 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups or more of cold water
• Ice
• Cinnamon on top

*** If you really want that lavender taste and color, you can add some purple food dye and buy lavender infusions that enhance your drink. Finally, you can add a sprig of lavender to the final product to serve.

There are also so many other ways to make this lemonade flavorful, such as adding honey instead of cane sugar for sweetness. Below are other ways to make some tropical goodness:

Add :

• Any fruit juice to mix in with your lemonade.
• Tropical fruits like pineapple and mangoes are not only for aesthetics but also for a yummy taste.
• Some carbonation for more of a punch for your taste buds.
• Spices, such as basil or even smoked rosemary, for a unique flavor.

Summer Drink Recipe: Kombucha Mocktail

Adding some probiotics to your summer drink recipes doesn’t mean you are going to give up taste! In reality, you are enhancing your summer cocktail and adding some much-needed health benefits. Below find some luscious ways to create a kombucha mocktail!

• 1 cup 100% grapefruit juice
• 1 cup unflavored kombucha, like GT’s trilogy
• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup + more to taste

Optional: pure sparkling water

One of the best things about is the recipe is that if you change the juice and kombucha used, you get an entirely different drink. For example, using ginger berry kombucha with grape juice will create a beautiful purple drink that will almost be too stunning to drink!

Summer Drink Recipe: Blackberry Mint Express

This yummy drink can also serve as a healthy drink for your guests. While often many people may be trying to watch their calories, this drink is refreshing AND low on the calorie range! As always, you have the power to tweak this amazing recipe!

• 8 fresh blackberries, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup honey
• A handful of fresh mint leaves (about 10), plus more for garnish
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups seltzer water

To really enhance the blackberry taste, be sure to mash the blackberries into your drink. You can either leave the bits and pieces in the drink for an aesthetic effect or strain them out if you are using a shaker to mix everything up. In addition, using flavored seltzer like blueberry or blackberry will amp up the flavor in this drink without increasing calories!

Summer is the season to indulge yourself. Even with new limitations on social gatherings, there’s still an opportunity to show off your drink creations. Now more than ever is the time to relax a bit, enjoy life, and try our summer drink recipes. Sometimes that enjoyment will come from flowers and herbs frozen in ice cubes as they float in your favorite summertime drink. And there are plenty of other tasty summer drinks that you could try, such as smoothie beers. You might even like to learn about brewing a smoothie beer so that you can make your own creations. Happy creating! 

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