The 15 Best Summer Cocktails

What better way to kick off the summer than the 15 Best Summer Cocktails?! These recipes are colorful, delicious, and easy to make cocktails that are perfect for weeknights on the balcony or a backyard BBQ!

It’s that wonderful time of year when I’m surrounded by friends, family, and parties. No, it’s not Christmas time…it’s summertime! It’s the unofficial start of summer this weekend with Memorial Day and I am beyond thrilled for the warm weather. I can finally come out of hiding! Kidding/not kidding.

Actually, I just got back from eight blissful 90 degree days in Mexico. When I returned to Chicago last Monday, it was 55 and raining. After no air conditioning at the resort (it’s eco-friendly), I was honestly happy for the reprieve but my true north quickly realigned and prepared for the return to warm weather this weekend. Other than the sun, yoga, and farm-to-table food at the resort, I really enjoyed the Basil Margaritas and nice cold beers with my big bowls of guacamole and chips. Those evenings were so simple but so enjoyable.

And, I’m going to continue that practice all summer long with the 15 Best Summer Cocktails. This is the first year that I’ve lived in Chicago where I’ve had a full, fenced in backyard. I’ve been waiting for the warmer weather to pop up so that I can start hosting friends over for backyard BBQs and gatherings. My first one is tomorrow in honor of the holiday weekend and I’m making margaritas. But, I also love to have a fresh, easy cocktail on a summer evening laying in the hammock and reading. It’s pure bliss and it’s perfect for an easy, breezy summer. I know what I'm doing this summer. What are you doing? Whatever it is, make sure you have a drink in your hand.

Cheers!

Here are the 15 Best Summer Cocktails:

Aperol Spritz Recipe

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more refreshing and thirst-quenching cocktail than the classic Italian Aperol spritz! It's citrusy, light, bubbly, and tastes like summer. And with just three ingredients, it's an easy cocktail to make at home. The simple 1-2-3 ratio makes it perfect for serving a crowd, too!

4.93 stars (71 ratings)

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Rhubarb Margarita Recipe

Freshen up your next fiesta with this seasonal rhubarb margarita. Tart rhubarb is transformed into a unique and perfectly sweet syrup for this pretty springtime cocktail. It's simple to make and is ready in just 5 minutes!

4.96 stars (45 ratings)

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Pink Lemonade Margarita Recipe

This pink lemonade margarita is a softer, lighter, and friendlier version of a traditional margarita. The flirty pink color looks gorgeous in a glass next to the lime, raspberries, and mint. While it's simple to make, it looks and tastes like a celebration!

4.97 stars (26 ratings)

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Salty Dog Cocktail Recipe

The salty dog cocktail is a refreshing warm-weather drink that's bright and citrusy. It's a surprisingly delicious combination of gin or vodka, grapefruit juice, and salt. With just 3 ingredients, it's easy to make and it's ready in just 5 minutes!

4.96 stars (23 ratings)

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Grapefruit Margarita Recipe

This grapefruit margarita is a light, summery, refreshing take on the classic margarita. The tart taste of grapefruit and lime is balanced with an easy homemade agave or honey simple syrup. It's perfect for patio season, and it's ready in just 10 minutes!

4.89 stars (43 ratings)

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Frozen Negroni Slushy Recipe

This frozen negroni is a slushy version of our go-to cocktail. It's everything we love about the sophisticated classic negroni blended up into an ultra-refreshing drink for summer. It's easy to make with just a handful of ingredients, and it's ready in just 5 minutes!

4.91 stars (22 ratings)

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Blackberry Mojito Recipe

In this refreshing blackberry mojito, fresh muddled blackberries give the traditional drink a fruity twist. The berry's sweet-tart flavor is delightful against the mojito's minty-lime taste. This ice-cold drink is the perfect way to make use of fresh blackberries and mint in peak season. Mix one up for yourself or fix a round for friends, sip back, and enjoy!

4.94 stars (16 ratings)

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Strawberry Mojito Recipe

These strawberry mojitos are easy on the eyes, smell like summer, and the first sip will put a smile on your face! This strawberry mojito recipe blends summer-fresh strawberries, bright herbs like mint and basil, a dash of white rum, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

4.98 stars (40 ratings)

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Margarita Pitcher Recipe

This margarita pitcher is everything we love about the classic sweet-tart cocktail, but party size! It's tangy, cool, and crisp making it perfect for your next warm-weather fiesta. With just three simple ingredients, it's easy to make, and it's ready in just 5 minutes!

4.75 stars (77 ratings)

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Michelada Recipe

This Mexican michelada is easy to make, and goes down easy, too! It's made with beer, clamato, fresh lime juice, hot sauce, and seasonings, then served in a glass with a spicy rim. It's entirely customizable so add more or less of any ingredient to make this drink your own.

4.95 stars (19 ratings)

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Cucumber Margarita Recipe

This cucumber margarita is cool and crisp, making it the perfect cocktail for sipping in the sun. It's easy to make using 5 simple and fresh ingredients, and it's ready in just 10 minutes!

4.92 stars (25 ratings)

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Strawberry Mimosa Recipe

Make brunch more beautiful with a refreshing strawberry mimosa. With fresh strawberry orange juice, honey, and sparkling wine, this cocktail is perfect for any occasion, and it's ready in 10 minutes!

4.95 stars (19 ratings)

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Refreshing Rosé Sangria Recipe

This light and refreshing rosé sangria captures summer in a pitcher and is perfect for any occasion. With the bright colors of fresh lemons, oranges, strawberries, and raspberries, it's as beautiful as it is tasty. It's easy to mix up ahead of time so all you have to do when the time comes is sit back and pour!

4.92 stars (49 ratings)

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