This post features the top 10 summer cocktails!
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What a joy it is to gather summery, seasonal ingredients to shake up a refreshing, delicious cocktail! The slow pace of summer, paired with its ease, makes this the perfect season to enjoy a cold summer cocktail while admiring the wandering lightning bugs (or are they “fireflies” to you?). We’ve got such a beautiful list of this season’s top 10 summer cocktails to enjoy! I can’t wait to find out what you pick!
Without further ado, let’s choose your next favorite summer cocktail, serving you total chill on those starry summer evenings!
Hopefully you’re no longer wondering, “What are the best top 10 summer cocktails?” or “what is the best drink during summer?” because at this point, you know we’ve got you!
Top 10 Summer Cocktails In This Post:
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The Pineapple Princess
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Passionfruit Martini
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Tropical Crush Cocktail
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The Jungle Bird
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Rosé Spritzer
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Frozen Italian Paloma
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Watermelon Lavender Daquiri
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Scallywag
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Honey Apricot Basil Spritz
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Halekulani Cocktail
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*BONUS* Sgroppino (limoncello, Prosecco, lemon sorbet)
Barware options if you’re in need of an update:
- Shaking up summer with this sweet lemon cocktail shaker
- THIS ADORABLE pink & green double jigger shot glass and matching cocktail glasses!
- Colorful acrylic wine glasses that are perfect for outside sipping
- These mixing stirrers will make both your bar and your drink complete
1. The Pineapple Princess
The Pineapple Princess is a playful riff on a margarita. Simply muddle pineapple and lime together, and add tequila, Aperol, and orange liqueur. Shake for 30 second and voila! A punchy, tropical (not too sweet), drink in your hand for outside enjoyment. If you don’t want to take the time to muddle the fruit, you can use bottled pineapple and lime juice to make this super duper simple. What a beautiful balance of flavors.
2. Passionfruit Martini
Just looking at this passionfruit martini makes gives me thoughts of Miami! The vanilla vodka & vanilla syrup rounds this out beautifully — and this is served with a shot of bubbly on the side. Mind blown. Also, fun!
More summer sipping inspiration:
3. Tropical Crush Cocktail
Let’s tropical crush it up, boo! I love all the fruit layers in this one — it’s a quintessential poolside summer sipper. So, whether you are actually by a pool, beach, or chillin at home, this will serve absolute summer vibesss with guava, coconut rum, coconut LaCroix, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice. The grapefruit juice is definitely important here to help cut the sweetness of the other ingredients.
4. The Jungle Bird
We’ve got dark rum, we’ve got pineapple, we’ve got lime, we’ve got Campari — and simple (syrup, that is)! I can almost smell the fruity notes. I’d like this Jungle Bird in my hand please.
5. Rosé Spritzer
You know it, I know it — there has to be a rosé drink somewhere on this list. Is it even summer if there’s no rosé?! A spritzer is simple: it’s your alcohol of choice, plus a bubbly (often Prosecco), plus club. This one calls for rosé (obvs), blood orange soda, and club. Easy peasy! Garnish with sliced fruit if you have it!
6. Frozen Italian Paloma
Say no more. Just look at this beautiful play on a Paloma! I’ll take two, please!
Cocktails inspired by August’s garden:
7. Watermelon Lavender Daquiri
Watermelon in cocktail form is just a super fun proposal. Add some lavender, and we’ve got a cool vibey drink to offer guests, or keep to ourself! If you’re not a lavender or flowers-in-my-drink person, just leave it out!
8. Scallywag
Elderflower is a great early summer flavor (but also, amazing ALL OF THE TIME). If you make cocktails from time-to-time, you likely have all these ingredients on hand. Love that for you. Sounds like it’s a Scallywag kind of night!
9. Honey Apricot Basil Spritz
Going hard with the apricot and I’m here for it. The Honey Apricot Basil Spritz features this gorgeous stone fruit we don’t often think to eat fresh, as well as basil, which just *is* summer. Grab some honey from the local farmers market, and you’ve got a beautifully crafted summer drink!
Sips for all seasons:
10. Halekulani Cocktail
I do enjoy a fruity cocktail that includes grenadine. I’m not sure if it’s a bit of the childhood nostalgia, but it feels really playful to me. This recipe calls for demerara syrup, which is just simple syrup made with demerara sugar, rather than white sugar. It will give the drink a bit more depth, but simple will work just fine if that’s what you have.
Ummmmm… and how about one more *BONUS* cocktail!…
The Sgroppino!
I had to do it. Like, look at this beauty in a glass! Sgroppino is easy, it’s bright, it’s refreshing, it’s stunning in a simple sort of way… it’s summer in a glass. Friends — it’s a scoop of lemon sorbet, a shot of limoncello, and Prosecco. IT’S ESSENTIALLY AN ADULT PROSECCO FLOAT! Clearly it’s a yes from me. Also, I love the Duralex-like glass they use (on the website page) — I use these all the time for coffee, water, cocktails, per my faves!
Cheers to breezy Summertime Sipping!
Do any of these drinks stand out to you as one you want to try? The next time I host, I’m absolutely offering Sgroppino as a digestif. And, I DO have all the ingredients on hand for the Scallywag, so that’s coming my way tonight! I hope you are feeling inspired to break out your favorite glass and shaker, and enjoy some quiet time on the porch, or grab a friend and cheers to that wonderfully light feeling that only summer can bring. Salud to you!
More sweet summer inspiration:
Thank you for being here!
Please share if you make a drink, your personal favorite drink, or anything else that’s inspiring you lately!
This post featured the top 10 summer cocktails!
