10 Tropical Cocktails To Fuel Your Summer Adventures
Ah, summer.
Just saying the word makes you think of lazy days by the pool, weekend trips to the lake and late nights spent avoiding mosquitos and making memories.
It’s also the time for indulging in refreshing—albeit boozy—cocktails that are every bit of summer as the smell of sunscreen and freshly cut grass.
From the classics like a mojito or piña colada to the creative (a bourbon smash made with pineapple skin?), there’s a sipper for every summer adventure.
Check them out below.
Hungry for more? Explore our recipe library for ideas and inspo for your next gathering.
Classic Mojito
It’s a classic for a reason.
The combo of slightly sweet white rum and refreshing mint against a backdrop of fresh lime makes this an ideal poolside sipper.
Rhubarb Whiskey Sour
We love a good whiskey cocktail, but what we love even more is a whiskey cocktail that brims with layers of tart rhubarb, bright lemon and hints of spiced vanilla. It’s like a boozy summer dessert in a glass.
Pineapple Skin Bourbon Smash
If you’ve ever cut up a pineapple and wondered what to do with all the leftovers, look no further.
This bourbon-based cocktail recipe uses the leftover core and skins from the pineapple to make a tropical-infused syrup that’s equal parts tangy and sweet. The syrup is then added to the cocktail, offering a welcomed balance to the bourbon’s spiced, caramelly notes.
Strawberry Daiquiri
Listen—if we’re hanging out at the beach or lounging by the pool, you’d be hard-pressed to find us sipping on anything other than a daiquiri.
It’s fruity, refreshing and, since it’s typically served blended, it’s the perfect complement to a day spent soaking up the rays.
Paloma
If you have yet to experience the smoky complexity that is mezcal, let us be the first to introduce you to our favorite way to enjoy it: the paloma.
It’s a surprisingly simple cocktail made traditionally with tequila and grapefruit soda. This version uses mezcal, adding layers of smoke and warmth and elevating the flavors with grapefruit juice, lime and club soda for an endlessly refreshing sipper that’s an instant classic.
Watermelon Paloma
If smoke isn’t your jam, give this watermelon-soaked version a try!
It’s made with fresh watermelon and agave nectar, which lend a delicate sweetness that melds seamlessly with the warmth of the tequila. Give it a squeeze of lime and top with grapefruit soda (or grapefruit juice and club soda). One sip and it’s like you’re relaxing on a beach somewhere, without a care in the world.
Piña Colada
Sure, sure, a piña colada is a classic (heck, you probably have a killer recipe already in your arsenal!), but this recipe ditches the bottled mix for a homemade version using coconut milk, coconut cream and fresh pineapple.
It’s delicately sweet and excellently balanced, and yes, we do recommend drinking it out of a hollowed-out pineapple.
Salty Sea Dog
If you’ve never heard of a salty sea dog before, here’s what you need to know: it’s basically a greyhound cocktail (vodka and grapefruit juice) rimmed with sea salt. Hence, salty sea dog. Get it?
Okay, jokes aside, this cocktail recipe is an excellent option if you’re looking for something quick, easy and endlessly refreshing. And while this version calls for tequila, any clear liquor will do.
Spicy Watermelon Margarita Pitcher
We LOVE a spicy marg. What we’re not too keen on? Having to play bartender for all of our friends who will undoubtedly want one.
That’s why this recipe for a margarita pitcher is perfect for big gatherings! Plus, it’s got the refreshing flavor of watermelon layered with a delicate heat from chili peppers.
This pairs well with fish tacos and hot summer days by the water.
Peach Sangria
If we had to pick just one cocktail to sip on all summer, sangria might just take the cake.
I mean, when else do you get a chance to indulge in a dizzying mixture of white wine, brandy, triple sec and booze-soaked fruit, and get to call it classy? Never, which is why we’re here to declare that peach sangria is THE drink of the summer.
Hungry for more? Explore our recipe library for ideas and inspo for your next gathering.
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