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Lennert Weibull
Sunny days and warm evenings, cookouts and pool parties—these are the things we look forward to most during the summer. The best way to complete the picture? A frosty cocktail.
The ideal summer cocktail is refreshing, fruity, and well-balanced. You can enjoy it while soaking up the sun by the pool, in a hammock, or at an elevated outdoor dinner party. It's cool enough to counteract the hottest summer afternoons, but light and easy enough to make without a lot of fussy mixing and measuring. (And trust us: It doesn't come from a can.)
Add the ingredients for these for smoky, sweet, and spicy margaritas, refreshing sangrias, tropical, beach-inspired blends, and frosty frozen cocktails to your at-home bar for a summer full of satisfying sips.
Habanero-Hibiscus Sour
A traditional pisco sour gets a spicy, tropical twist with the addition of an aromatic syrup made with habanero chiles and dried hibiscus flowers.
Spiced Pineapple Cocktail
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A small amount of chili powder added to a blend of pineapple juice, pineapple cubes, agave, and tequila provides a welcome dose of spice in this sweet and frosty summer cocktail.
La Paloma Cooler
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Platinum tequila, Mexican grapefruit soda, and lime juice are a laid-back alternative to a traditional margarita. This cocktail also calls for an eye-catching garnish: half a lime, hollowed out and filled with a shot of tequila.
Peach-and-Mint Frappes
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Frozen peaches (used in place of ice cubes) make this vodka-based drink slushy and cool. It's easy to make a virgin version of this frappe by simply subbing water for the spirits.
Summer Spritzes
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Making the perfect spritz is easy once you know the formula. Practice makes perfect with three of our summer cocktail favorites: Pineapple-Cucumber Spritz, Hibiscus-Ginger Spritz, and Spicy Grapefruit Spritz.
Aperol Jasmine Spritz
Enjoy the season in true Martha style with a variation of her favorite cocktail, the Aperol spritz, inspired by the classic gin-based Jasmine cocktail.
Citrus Mule
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Invite a breath of summer into the usual Moscow mule by making it with a lime, lemon, and an orange, and just a hint of mint.
Mango Mojito
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Splash some sunshine into a basic minty mojito with the addition of fresh mango. This recipe also works beautifully with other fruits, such as strawberries or pineapple.
Pimm's Cup
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This classic English summer cocktail evokes images of croquet lawns and white linen. Pimm's, a gin-based herbal liqueur, works in harmony with ginger ale, fresh mint, cucumber, and strawberries.
Lemon Mezcal Margarita
The traditional margarita gets a smoky twist thanks to the mezcal used to make this delicious drink; don't forget the unexpected salt-and-pepper rim.
Boozy White Sangria
Macerated fruits including pineapple, honeydew, grapes, and kiwi soak together in this delicious drink. Best of all, it only takes 15 minutes to prepare.
Shaken Piña Colada
Nothing says beachfront happy hour quite like a piña colada. Ours is shaken, not blended, and the taste transports you to a tropical island.
Strawberry Daiquiri
A tried and true summer cocktail classic, this boozy smoothie relative can be made in a myriad of ways. If you get tired of the strawberry flavor, try our Pineapple-Mint iteration.
Modern Mai Tai
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Enjoy this summertime favorite—which includes four different types of alcohol— beside the pool or on the beach for the ultimate in relaxation.
Sour-Cherry Cordial
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Rumored to be a favorite of President George Washington, this sour cherry cocktail is a timeless refresher made with fresh, in-season fruit.
Watermelon-Tequila Refresher
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Not only will this drink hit the spot on a hot day, but it requires only five ingredients: Watermelon, sugar, ice, lemon juice, and tequila.
Blue Hawaiian
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Whip up this tiki-inspired drink the next time you're dreaming of a tropical vacation. The blue hue and frozen consistency will keep you as cool as a salty ocean breeze.
Spiked Elderflower Lemonade
Give a kid-friendly beverage an adult twist with vodka and Elderflower Cordial, for a drink that's sweet, refreshing, and just a little tart.
Sumac-Mint Fizz
Sumac, a citrusy spice, is the base for the simple syrup in this tasty drink. Add a dash of alcohol of your choosing to give it a boozy finish.
Ginger Caipirinhas
This iconic Brazilian cocktail is made with cachaca, a spirit derived from sugarcane, fresh muddled ginger, and lime.
Pineapple-Raspberry Bellini
Amp up your summer brunch menu with this refreshing take on a bellini, made with sparkling white wine, raspberries, pineapple juice, seltzer, and vanilla extract.
Limoncello Sparkler
Toast to the summer days ahead with this light, bright cocktail. Prosecco, limoncello, and a sprig of fresh rosemary blend savory and sweet flavors for a complex, grown-up take on lemonade.
Pineapple Highball
This tiki-inspired summer cocktail uses a vanilla-and-star-anise syrup, white rum, and seltzer—plus maraschino cherries for a dose of sweetness.
Cucumber-Ginger Fizz
A ginger-infused simple syrup complements vodka, limes, sparkling water, and ribbons of fresh cucumber in this drink—an obvious match for sweltering August afternoons.
Melon Mule
A homemade infusion of vodka with melons and mint provides the base for this rejuvenating take on a Moscow mule.
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