Skip to Content

This article contains affiliate links. We may receive compensation if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

26 Summer Cocktails You Will Love

Summertime is the best time to craft and drink refreshing cocktails at home. Check out our favorite summer cocktails and craft one today.

Garibaldi Cocktail from Above with Black Background

Sipping summer cocktails is fun whether you’re on vacation or at home. Typically cold and sweet, the best summer cocktails cool things down when it’s hot outside. Plus, they’re fun to sip, either with or without a straw, at any time of the year.

Crafting Summer Cocktails At Home

White Port and Tonic Cocktail and Mint on Ledge
This Porto Tonico was the first summer cocktail that we crafted at home.

Our favorite summer drinks are easy to craft without a lot of steps or ingredients. Many are fruity and some are bubbly. Most important – they all taste like summer in a glass.

We first discovered the pleasure of crafting refreshing summer cocktails at home when we crafted our first Porto Tonico during the summer of 2019. We’ve since crafted dozens and dozens of refreshing summer cocktails featuring Campari, Gin, Rum, Tequila and Vodka. And we’re not done yet.

Caipirinha from Above
Fresh fruit is a must when crafting summer cocktails like this Caipirinha at home.

Some people like to craft frozen summer cocktails when the thermometer goes up. We’re not typically those people. While we have no problem pulling out our blender to whip up morning smoothies, we prefer to keep our summer sippers easy.

Adding fresh juice is another story. When given the choice, we always go the fresh juice route when a cocktail recipe calls for orange, lime, pineapple or even passionfruit juice. We recommend that you do the same.

What Are Summer Drinks?

Cuba Libre Cocktail with Striped Straw
This Cuba Libre was as easy to craft as it was to sip.

Summer drinks run the cocktail gamut.

You’re probably familiar with classic summer cocktails like the Daiquiri and Margarita. However, some popular summer cocktails like the Dirty Shirley, Garibaldi and Hugo Spritz may be new to you.

We say try them all but not at the same time. Don’t worry – there’s no rush. The summer season lasts for 13 wonderful weeks.

26 Of The Best Summer Cocktails

Summer Cocktail FAQs

What are summer cocktails?

Summer cocktails cool you down when it’s hot outside. They’re often fruity, sometimes bubbly and always refreshing.

What are the best summer cocktail?

The best summer cocktail is the one that you like more than any other cocktail. Popular contenders include the Dirty Shirley, Garibaldi and Hugo Spritz.

When is the best time to drink summer cocktails?

Summer cocktails taste best during the months of June, July, August and September.

Where is the best place to drink summer cocktails?

While it’s fun to drink summer cocktails while on vacation, we prefer to craft summer cocktails at home and sip them with friends.

View the latest Web Story.

Pin It For Later

Pinterest image: photo of Garibaldi Cocktail with caption reading The Best Summer Cocktails"
About The Authors

About The Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on their website 2foodtrippers. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.

Funding
We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft these cocktails.

Original Publication Date: June 21, 2023