Cheers to Summer With These Refreshing Cocktail And Mocktail Recipes

Woodford Reserve Spire cocktail

Summer sun is here again, and it’s officially the season of barbecues, pool parties and rooftop soirees. That means it’s time to whip up a batch of your favorite cold cocktail and entertain friends, family, or even just yourself.

Whether you’re a cognac drinker or a creamsicle lover, a whiskey drinker or someone who prefers to abstain from alcohol all together, we’ve gathered some delightful summer cocktail and mocktail recipes to tickle your fancy and enliven your next event.

See also: 12 Wines Perfect For Summer Sipping

Try one or more of these concoctions on for size, and let the good times roll.

D’Usse & Lemonade

From the great minds at D’Usse comes a refreshing twist on the childhood favorite. Mix it with any of your favorite fruit flavors for an extra-special burst of summer.

Ingredients:

• 1½ parts D’Usse VSOP Cognac
• 4 parts lemonade
• For Strawberry Lemonade: add 1 part fresh strawberries
• For Blueberry Lemonade: add 10 fresh blueberries

Directions: Add D’Usse, lemonade and fruits (if using) into an ice-filled highball glass and mix.

Mango Chile Mojito

This refreshing beverage is a winner with the seltzer lovers, and Bacardi’s mango chile flavor rum adds a kick of heat to your summer soiree.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz Bacardi Mango Chile
• ¾ oz lime juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• 1½ oz soda water
• 8-10 mint leaves

Directions: Pour lime juice and simple syrup into a tall glass. Add mint and use a bar spoon or muddler to press the mint leaves. Pour in crushed ice, Bacardi Mango Chile and stir. Top with soda water and garnish.

The Coco Blanco at The Surf Lodge

From our friends at Casamigos and the fine folks over at The Surf Lodge in The Hamptons, this recipe uses Vita Coco Coconut Water to help you hydrate even while getting your party on.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz of Casamigos Blanco
• 4 oz of Vita Coco Coconut Water
• ¼ oz of Agave
• Lime

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain and serve over low ice. Garnish with a lime.

Berry Fiddich Fizz

Who said whiskey wasn’t a summery drink? This recipe from Glenfiddich west coast ambassador David Allardice uses the storied Scotch-maker’s 12-year variety to craft a bright sip with blueberries, simple syrup and lemon soda.

Ingredients:

• 1½ parts Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
• 1 part Blueberry Juice
• ½ part simple syrup
• 3 parts Italian Lemon Soda

Directions: Serve in a highball glass filled with ice, and garnish with a lemon twist.

CosNOpolitan

Seedlip makes some of the best non-alcoholic spirits in the business, and this recipe for a delightfully fruity NA cosmo will please all the sober-ish girlies at the fete.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Seedlip Grove 42
• 1 oz. organic cranberry juice
• ½ oz. lime juice
• ½ oz. simple syrup

Directions: To make your own simple syrup, combine equal parts warm water and sugar. Stir to dissolve, and cool before use. To craft the cocktail, add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

Blueberry Sparkler Recipe

One more mocktail for your menu, this one from the Topo Chico crew, using its line of flavored Sabores seltzers. Enjoy this throughout the night to stay sober, or enjoy one between cocktails to keep the party going longer.

Ingredients :

• 1 Blueberry Topo Chico Sabores 
• 1 cup fresh blueberries 
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 
• ½ cup water 
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 
• Ice 
• Lemon slices and additional blueberries, for garnish

Directions: In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries are soft and the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes.  Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the blueberry mixture to cool for about 10 minutes.  Once cooled, use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the blueberry mixture into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids and set the blueberry syrup aside.  In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 ounce of the blueberry syrup, and lemon juice. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until chilled, about 15-20 seconds.  Fill a glass with ice and strain the mocktail mixture into the glass.  Top off the glass with sparkling water and give it a gentle stir to mix.  Garnish with lemon slices and additional blueberries, if desired.  Enjoy your refreshing Blueberry Sparkler! 

1800 Coco Creamsicle

Speaking of childhood favorites, what’s better on a hot summer day than a delicious creamsicle? We think this coconut flavored creamsicle cocktail from 1800 Tequila is the only thing that’s got that sweet treat beat.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. 1800 Coconut Tequila
• ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz. fresh orange juice
• ½ oz. vanilla syrup

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with a salt rim and lemon wheel.

Grand Margarita

Looking to put a funky twist on the traditional margarita? Grand Marnier has a rich alternative that’ll add real dimension to your summer sips.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
• 1 part tequila
• ½ part fresh lime juice
• Ice cubes
• Lime garnish

Directions: Fill a wide, shallow dish with 2 to 3 mm of fine salt. Cut a lime in half at the width, and rub it around half of the rim of a margarita glass. Cut a thin, crosswise slice from one of the lime halves for garnish. Holding the glass upside down, dip the wet half delicately into the salt. Shake the Grand Marnier, tequila and lime juice with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into your glass, and apply lime garnish to the rim.

Woodford Reserve Spire

Bourbon is great to warm your bones in the colder months, but mixed with some lemonade and cranberry juice, it becomes a real summer hit. Try this recipe from Woodford Reserve and see what we mean.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 2 oz. lemonade
• 1 oz. cranberry juice

Directions: Add ingredients to a mixing glass and stir. Pour over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Now that your summer cocktail menu is set, finish getting ready for the party with one of our favorite SPFs, a spritz of our favorite summer scents, and a design from one of our favorite summer nail trends!