8 Summer Drink Recipes – Cocktails and Mocktails

I don’t fancy myself a seasonal drinker, but I can’t deny that some cocktails taste better in the summer. Something about muddling a strawberry in the winter just doesn’t give the same satisfaction. Here are six summer drink recipes (technically eight) that will help you enjoy the  bright summer days even if you’re still stuck on your own bar stool instead of enjoying a patio with friends.

It will be helpful to have a shaker, muddler, and strainer not to mention something to juice your fruit. There are cocktail kits on Amazon that include the works, but you might already own one or all of the pieces. You can always just make do with whatever’s in the kitchen as well!

Daiquiri Three Ways

Traditional Daiquiri Recipe

• 2 oz white rum
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 2 tsp simple syrup*

Shake with ice to chill; strain into chilled glass. Garnish with lime.

Floridita Daiquiri

• 2 oz white rum
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp maraschino liqueur
• 1 tsp simple syrup

Shake with ice to chill; strain into chilled glass. Garnish with lime.

Hemingway Daiquiri

• 2 oz white rum
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/4 oz maraschino liqueur
• 1 tsp simple syrup (optional)

Shake with ice to chill; strain into chilled glass. Garnish with lime. 

*To make the simple syrup: combine 1:1 ratio of water to sugar in a pan. Heat on low until honey is fully dissolved. Cool in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

Kentucky Buck

• 2 oz Wild Turkey bourbon
• 2 oz ginger beer
• 3⁄4 oz lemon juice
• 1⁄2 oz simple syrup (see above)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 chopped strawberry

Muddle strawberry with simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add bourbon, lemon juice, and bitters. Shake with ice then strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a strawberry.

Watermelon Cooler

• 1.5 oz vodka
• 2 oz ginger beer
• 2 oz fresh watermelon juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Combine vodka, watermelon juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with watermelon.

 Virgin Piña Colada

Virgin Mojito

• 12 mint leaves
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz honey simple syrup*
• sparkling water
• 2 blackberries (optional)

Muddle mint leaves (and optional blackberries) with lime juice and honey simple syrup (cut syrup in half if using blackberries) in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into ice-filled glass. Top with sparkling water.

*To make the honey syrup: combine 2:1 ration of water to honey in a pan. Heat on low until honey is fully dissolved. Cool in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

Virgin Watermelon Cooler

• 2 oz fresh watermelon juice
• 2 oz ginger beer (non-alcoholic version)
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Combine watermelon juice and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with watermelon.