Skip to Content

65 Summer Cocktails You Can Make All Season Long

It's summertime and the living (and cocktail-mixing) is easy.

By
blended aperol spritz with an orange wheel garnish
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Team Delish is out-of-office. If you’re looking for us this summer—probably by a pool or the beach—you'll likely also see us with a fruity, flirty, fun cocktail in hand. But, before we clock out, we’ll leave you with all the best summer cocktail recipes for enjoying during the beach days, BBQs, and picnics to come. From frozen drinks to icy margaritas to tropical tiki drinks, there's something here for every mood, party, and holiday this summer. Celebrate the return of warm weather and sunshine with these 65 essential summer cocktails—cheers!

Summer days are loooong, which means you’re likely to find yourself drinking during the day and into the night. If you don’t want to risk going overboard (or like us, getting sleepy early), try one of our tips for lower ABV cocktails. First off, we love adding seltzer to a cocktail to make it extra bubbly and keep us hydrated. Try our bittersweet Aperol spritz or our piña colada spritz—we’ve added soda water to both to great effect. You could also go simple with our ranch water cocktail: It’s pretty much a tequila soda with lime, with added Cointreau to make it like a less-sweet margarita. Our second trick is to make your drink more savory than sweet. It’s super-easy to suck down a sweet cocktail fast, but add a few salty umami ingredients, and it becomes something to savor. Try our beer-based Michelada (secret ingredient: soy sauce) or something that feels like a vacation in a glass, like our Pimm's Cup or our Bikini Bellini.

Don’t have a blender? No sweat. Go with one of our summer fruit-inspired margaritas instead. We’ve got a peach margarita, a frozen margarita, a spicy jalapeño margarita, and more...take these recipes as proof you can pretty much turn anything into a marg, then get creative!

Not a tequila fan? We got you too. Try our rum runner (with two kinds of rum!), our light, bright strawberry mint sangria, or our classic citrusy, almond-y Mai Tai.

If you’re having a summer party, cocktails ARE important, but don’t forget options for other refreshing beverages too. Whether it’s mocktails for your teetotaler friends or non-alcoholic drinks like lemonade and iced tea, we’ve got options.

1

Naked & Famous

naked and famous cocktail in a glass with a lime wheel
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This is the cocktail that struts in like it owns the bar—and probably does. Equal parts smoky, citrusy, herbal, and just a little bit wild, the Naked & Famous is a mezcal-powered showstopper that doesn’t ask for attention—it demands it. It’s bright, bold, and balanced, with a wink of mystery and a flash of flair.

Get the Naked & Famous recipe.

2

Blueberry Lemon Drop Slushies

stemless glasses filled with a frozen vodka lemon cocktail with a blueberry syrup swirled in the glass. garnished with a sugared rim, lemon wheels, and fresh blueberries
PHOTO: LINDA XIAO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

There’s no better way to celebrate warmer weather and seasonal produce than with a refreshing cocktail. This blueberry-lemon drop slush features lemon-blueberry—one of our favorite flavor combinations—with a nostalgic frozen texture (and plenty of booze, naturally).

Get the Blueberry Lemon Drop Slushies recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Aperol Spritz Slush

blended aperol spritz with an orange wheel garnish
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Capri is calling! Your favorite aperitivo is getting a luxurious summer upgrade, and it couldn’t be more perfectly timed for the season. Introducing our frozen Aperol Spritz—a sophisticated, grown-up slush that brings elegance and refreshment to every sunny occasion. The addition of mango juice brings a balanced sweetness that complements the dry Prosecco and the bitterness of Aperol.

Get the Aperol Spritz Slush recipe.

4

Michelada

michelada in a glass with a tajin rim and lime garnish
PHOTO: RYAN LEIBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you've never had a Michelada, you're in for a treat. The addition of hot sauce and lime juice add a spicy/sour kick that takes your average light beer from good to great. Thanks to our secret ingredient (soy sauce!), there's also a hint of umami flavor that'll keep you coming back for more.

Get the Michelada recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Spicy Margarita

spicy margarita with jalapeno slices and lime
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Though classic margaritas are pretty perfect on their own, we think adding a little kick makes them even better. The addition of cucumber balances out the heat, making these margaritas the perfect summer drink to cool off (and bring the heat) all summer long.

Get the Spicy Margarita recipe.

6

Bahama Mama Mimosa

bahama mama mimosas
PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Introducing the Bahama Mama mimosa: your favorite vacation tiki drink and brunch cocktail—all in one glass! By blending two iconic favorites—the Bahama Mama and the mimosa—into one fresh creation, you get the best of both worlds without having to make any sacrifices.

Get the Bahama Mama Mimosa recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Cherry Coke Margarita Slushies

frozen cherry coke margaritas with a lime wheel and popsicles
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Cherry Coke? Yeah. Margarita? Uh-huh. Slushie? Yes please! These Cherry Coke margarita slushies are the official frozen drink of having it all. A Cherry Coke slushie and a frozen margarita combine in this grown-up favorite to create the most refreshing drink of the summer.

Get the Cherry Coke Margarita Slushies recipe.

8

Campari Spritz

campari spritz with orange slices
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Move over, Aperol, there’s a new spritz in town! The Campari spritz—bubbly, bitter, and very refreshing—is the perfect drink for a leisurely pre-dinner hang or happy hour with friends. With just 5 minutes and 5 ingredients, you can have this cocktail in hand ASAP.

Get the Campari Spritz recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Cosmo Summer Slush

pink frozen cosmo in a glass with a lime circle
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: TIFFANY SCHLEIGH

A frozen, slushy drink can make any summer day or Tuesday evening feel like a mini tropical vacation. While frozen margaritas might be a classic for summer, we think that now that Sex And The City is back on Netflix, cosmos (especially this frozen version) are back in the chat and ready for their summer spotlight.

Get the Cosmo Summer Slush recipe.

10

Hugo Spritz

featuring floral, fruity st germain, fresh lime, mint, and prosecco bubbles, this is the perfect crisp alternative to heavier drinks
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you're not always into the bitterness of the omnipresent Aperol Spritz, try the Hugo Spritz. Featuring floral, fruity St-Germain, fresh lime, and mint, it’s the perfect crisp alternative to heavier drinks. Whether you're hanging by the pool or throwing a backyard party, it’s bound to become your go-to summer sip.

Get the Hugo Spritz recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Poolside Popsicle Spritzers

spritz with orange popsicles in them by a pool
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

As much as we love sipping on a cold, low-ABV spritz, watching the ice rapidly melt and water down our cocktail is less than ideal. Enter: the poolside popsicle spritzer. We swap the plain old ice for a homemade boozy pop. As it melts, the pop infuses your drink with sweet summer flavors all while keeping it cold.

Get the Poolside Popsicle Spritzers recipe.

12

Frozen Margarita

frozen margarita with a salt rim and lime wedge
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Classic margaritas are a staple summer cocktail, and we've had our fair share of fun experimenting with endless variations. From fruity varieties like peach and pineapple to spicy jalapeño, Delish has a margarita recipe for any (and every) taste and occasion. But, when we're craving an icy, oh-so-refreshing twist on the classic, we turn to these frozen margaritas.

Get the Frozen Margarita recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Porn Star Martini

orange passion fruit martini garnished with a passionfruit
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you’re unfamiliar with this provocatively named cocktail, it’s made up of vanilla vodka, simple syrup, tart passion fruit (purée and liqueur), and bubbly Prosecco. It’s a summertime mood in a glass, and is ideal for when you're hot, sweaty, and thirsty.

Get the Porn Star Martini recipe.

14

Piña Paloma

glasses filled with grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, tequila, and soda water garnished with a grapefruit wedge, pineapple leaves, and a salted rim
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Sorry to the margarita, but the paloma just might be our favorite tequila cocktail. Grapefruit’s light bitterness and floral aroma add a little oomph to an otherwise simple beverage. This recipe for a piña paloma takes the classic recipe and adds a tropical twist by swapping out simple syrup for pineapple juice.

Get the Piña Paloma recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Frozen Strawberry Margaritas

frozen strawberry margarita in glass with a salt rim and lime garnish
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

This fruit-forward margarita works best with frozen strawberries, so you can make it year-round (but it's the BEST with fresh ones you've frozen overnight). We love adding fresh basil for some sweet anise-y flavor, but other fresh herbs like mint or even cilantro can kick up the flavor of this sunny cocktail too.

Get the Frozen Strawberry Margaritas recipe.

16

Strawberry-Mint Sangria

a pitcher and glasses of sangria made with white wine and strawberry syrup with ice, pieces of mint, sliced strawberry, and sliced lemons
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Strawberries, mint, and lemon all come together to bring out the best of a bottle of white wine. It’s slightly tart, slightly sweet, and super-refreshing. With sliced strawberries swimming in the glass and strawberry mint syrup that gives the sangria a beautiful pink tint, strawberry flavor takes center stage in this sangria.

Get the Strawberry-Mint Sangria recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Blackberry-Mint Julep

purple blackberry mint julep with crushed ice garnished with a blackberry and mint sprig
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Could mint juleps get even better? It's hard to believe, but this blackberry-mint julep is the refreshing upgrade on the classic cocktail that we can't get enough of. This Kentucky Derby drink gets a bright layer of flavor and rich purple color from muddled blackberries. It's a stunning summer cocktail that your party will thank you for.

Get the Blackberry-Mint Julep recipe.

18

Frozen Limoncello Drop

frozen limoncello cocktail with a lemon peel
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

You know what they say—when life gives you lemons, add a splash of vodka. Think lemonade slushy but make it Italian (and alcoholic), and you'll have this frozen cocktail. This limoncello drop martini is the perfect blend of tart and sweet and is the easiest, most refreshing drink you’ll make this summer.

Get the Frozen Limoncello Drop recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Limoncello Spritz

limoncello spritz filled with basil and lemon slices
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This limoncello cocktail will transport you to Italy after just one sip. Garnish with a slice of fresh lemon and some fresh basil for herby, Italian vibes, and you've got yourself the perfect summer cocktail.

Get the Limoncello Spritz recipe.

20

Pimm's Cup

pimms cocktail with cucumber, orange, lemon and strawberry slices garnished with mint and topped with ginger ale
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Few beverages capture the feeling of summer like a Pimm’s Cup. This iconic British cocktail is bright, refreshing, and filled to the brim with fruit. Even the late Queen Elizabeth rang in "Pimm’s O’Clock" at Buckingham Palace picnics.

Get the Pimm's Cup recipe.

Watch Next 
preview for Vertical Videos Delish
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below