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As the weather heats up, we immediately start reaching for our favorite summer drinks. Yes, as the summer sun beats down on us, there’s nothing more enjoyable than a refreshing drink, whether by the pool or on the beach. These easy summer cocktails can come in a variety of styles—from the classic margarita to the gin cocktail to the white wine spritzer—but one thing that they all have in common: cocktail recipes perfect for the season.

This list is full of fun cocktails that can be created in minutes at home without fancy ingredients, perfect for those long summer days.

Bonus: We know that not everyone is looking for alcoholic drinks for the summertime, so we made sure to include an entire list of mocktails so that you can enjoy a light, refreshing drink in the sun or in the shade.

Peach Daiquiri

Photo credit: Food Worth Feed

There is no better way to enjoy the end of summer sunshine than with a refreshing Peach Daiquiri cocktail! This easy-to-make daiquiri uses white rum, fresh lime juice and a Homemade Peach Simple Syrup, made from fresh peaches. It's a great way to 'Cheers!' to peach season and enjoy the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and delicious!

Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita

Photo: Marsala & Chai

With only four ingredients, this spicy Passion Fruit Margarita is the perfect way to celebrate passion fruit while it's in season! It's a well-balanced, vibrant drink for relaxing and enjoying the transition from summer into cool, crisp fall days.

Hibiscus Margarita

Photo credit: Food Worth Feed

A Hibiscus Margarita is the perfect refreshing cocktail! This Mexican-inspired drink recipe is made with tequila, fresh-squeezed lime juice, orange liqueur and a homemade hibiscus syrup.

Blueberry Mojitos

Photo credit: The Littlest Crumb

These refreshing blueberry mojitos are the perfect rum cocktail for a warm summer night. With the same mint, fresh lime and white rum base as a regular mojito, this easy summer cocktail features a fruity blueberry twist.

Raspberry Hibiscus Cocktail

Photo credit: A Paige of Positivity

This Raspberry Hibiscus Cocktail combines floral and fruity flavors for a refreshing and delicious summer cocktail. Garnished with fresh fruit and thyme, it tastes like a drink from a 5-star restaurant or hotel.

Kiwi Skinny Mojito

Photo Credit: Amee’s Savory Dish

This easy Kiwi Skinny Mojito recipe gives a fruity summer twist to a classic mojito cocktail recipe. This easy summer cocktail is delicious, lightened up by using agave syrup instead of sugar and naturally sweetened by the kiwi fruit.

Grapefruit Basil Greyhound

Photo credit: Ashley Rollins

Sour and yet lightly sweet, this summer cocktail combines the refreshing taste of grapefruit juice with the unique twist of fresh basil. Drink it as a spritzer with white wine or your favorite sparkling soda.

Vodka Sour

Photo credit: Marley’s Menu

The best summer cocktails are light and easy to make. This Vodka Sour relies on three simple—but powerful—ingredients to bring you a super fresh and refreshing cocktail to kick back with.

Corona Sunrise

Photo credit: Foodie & Wine

This twist on a classic is the perfect summertime cocktail—it's crisp, light and refreshing.

Orange Julius

Photo credit: Strength & Sunshine

Give your Orange Julius a grown-up boozy twist! A quick and easy four-Ingredient Orange Julius recipe that's gluten-free, vegan, and makes for a perfect frozen, creamy, and fruit treat! A sippable Creamsicle for adults only is a perfect beach cocktail!

Blueberry Bourbon Smash

Photo credit: Champagne Tastes

This Blueberry Bourbon Smash is made with a quick and easy blueberry syrup and fresh basil leaves. It’s a blueberry cocktail that’s perfect for hot summer days!

Cantaritos

Photo credit: Broke Bank Vegan

Cantaritos are a popular Mexican cocktail recipe made with tequila, citrus fruits, salt, and bubbly grapefruit soda. Each one is sweet, tangy, and incredibly refreshing!

Blood Orange Moscow Mule

Photo credit: A Paige of Positivity

This sweet and fizzy Blood Orange Moscow Mule is filled with citrusy flavors like orange, peach, and fresh lime—all topped off with some ice cold ginger beer!

Lavender Gimlet

Photo credit: Ugly Duckling Bakery

This lavender gimlet is a floral variation on a classic gin cocktail. Enjoy it on the rocks for a refreshing summer drink.

Rhubarb Pink Gin

Photo credit: Champagne Tastes

This sophisticated Pink Gin cocktail is carefully crafted with a dash of bitters, a splash of rhubarb simple syrup, and of course–gin.

Strawberry Rhubarb Whiskey Sour

Photo credit: Food Worth Feed

A Strawberry Rhubarb Whiskey Sour is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, satisfying deliciousness! This cocktail uses Strawberry-Infused Bourbon, a homemade Rhubarb Syrup recipe and freshly-squeezed lemon juice.

Frozen Peach Margarita

Photo credit: Marley’s Menu

This Frozen Peach Margarita is refreshing, sweet, and boozy—the perfect easy summer cocktail to cool off with in the heat.

Wine Floats

Photo credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Quick and easy, boozy and creamy, these Red Wine Floats take only 5 minutes to make with only three ingredients. Such a simple combination of red wine, ice cream, and club soda, this fizzy creation is a sweet yet sophisticated cocktail and dessert all in one sip!

Mangonada

Photo credit: Broke Bank Vegan

If you've ever been to Mexico, you may have been lucky enough to try a mangonada. This extremely popular golden-red drink can be found all across the country and is filled with mangoes, layers of chamoy, and Tajin seasoning.

Blueberry Vodka Lemonade

Photo Credit: We Are Not Martha

There's nothing quite like a glass of cold lemonade on a hot summer day. Unless it's a glass of cold Blueberry Vodka Lemonade! This summer cocktail is the perfect balance of tart and sweet and can also easily be made into a blueberry lemonade mocktail.

Smashed Strawberry Margarita

Photo credit: Ashley Rollins

When you’re craving a slight twist on a classic margarita, this easy summer cocktail is a must-try! Instead of sticky bottled margarita mix, this recipe uses fresh strawberries to make a sweet and fun cocktail for the beach or pool.

White Claw Slushie

Photo credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Our White Claw Slushie started as a TikTok viral trend, but is a refreshingly sweet adult beverage, perfect for kicking back on a hot summer day! Just a few ingredients blended with your favorite type of White Claw can make a whole new delicious drink.

Melona Soju

Photo credit: Delicious Not Gorgeous

This fruity, creamy cocktail is flavored with a honeydew melon ice cream pop!

Blackberry Mint Mimosa

Photo credit: Bright Eyed Baker

This is a fun spin on a classic mimosa, made with juicy summer blackberries and fresh mint! It’s bubbly, fruity, and refreshing.

Caipirinha

Photo credit: Everyday Delicious

Caipirinha is a delicious and easy-to-make Brazilian drink. It’s made with cachaça (Brazilian spirit), fresh limes, sugar, and ice. It’s so refreshing and well-balanced. You can taste the sourness from the lime and sweetness from the sugar.

Boozy Popsicles

Photo credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Boozy popsicles are a new version of the classic summer freezie snack, only these have an alcoholic twist that makes them a fun and tasty, adults-only treat.

Frozen Watermelon Margaritas

Photo credit: Carefree Mermaid

Frozen Watermelon Margaritas are made with fresh watermelon, tequila, margarita mix, and lime for a luscious and fruity refreshing summer drink!

Cucumber Mint Gin Fizz

Photo credit: Bright Eyed Baker

This unique take on a gin fizz incorporates fresh mint and basil, along with cucumber for a fresh, clean, pleasantly floral summer cocktail that’s not too strong or too sweet!

Tropical Peanut Butter Whiskey Cocktail

Photo credit: Homebody Eats

This cocktail is loaded with the flavors of summer including rum, coconut, and pineapple.

Easy Strawberry Daiquiri

Photo credit: Miss in the Kitchen

If you are a strawberry fanatic, this Easy Strawberry Daiquiri cocktail is just the ticket! The ingredients are simple, but the combination is beyond delicious.

Hippie Juice

Photo credit: Sugar and Soul

Hippie Juice uses watermelon vodka, triple sec, coconut rum, and peach schnapps to make a strong, incredibly smooth, sweet, and fruity drink. A fun cocktail perfect for the beach!

Bourbon Peach Iced Tea

Photo credit: Bits & Bites

We love a good iced tea in the summertime, and this iced peach tea with bourbon is so thirst-quenching, it is sometimes referred to as the "front porch cocktail" down south!

Pink Flamingo Cocktail

Photo credit: Sweet Tea and Thyme

A fruity and boozy drink, the flamingo cocktail is an easy summer cocktail that's also easily turned into your next cookout's party punch!

St. Germain Cocktail

Photo credit: Delicious Table

These St. Germain Cocktails are easy wine spritzers with Elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, hibiscus tea, and a splash of club soda over crushed ice. (Tip: You can also certainly use champagne in place of Prosecco.) The best summer cocktails need to be simple, yet delicious, but why not gorgeous as well?

Coconut Pearl Paloma

Photo credit: Straight to the Hips Baby

A refreshing combination of coconut milk, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and reposado tequila makes up this easy summer drink. Shaken up until frothy and cold, this is a dreamy, creamy, dairy-free cocktail that feels like a cool breeze on a summer’s day!

Gilligan’s Island Cocktail

Photo credit: The Kitchen Is My Playground

Made with just four simple ingredients, a Gilligan's Island Cocktail is a fun and fruity summer drink to sip on.

Peach White Wine Sangria

Photo credit: Joyous Apron

You need to try this peach-flavored white wine sangria. Combined with club soda and a splash of brandy, this fun cocktail is perfect for the summer!

Mocktails to Sip for the Summer

While lists such as these often only include alcoholic drinks, we think it’s important to remain inclusive by providing summer drink options for those who choose to remain sober or simply do not like the taste of alcohol. While mocktails often get the reputation of being boring or '“just juice,” we can assure you that these summer cocktails are just as tasty as the real thing. Plus, these light, cool drinks are the perfect summer cocktails to share at outdoor parties for children, families, and adults alike!