The Ultimate Collection of Summer Cocktails

You’re in for a treat today! I’m sharing the Ultimate Collection of Summer Cocktails. With so many recipes to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Cheers!

Summertime! Sunny skies and warm weather. I’m soaking it in, but at the end of a long day or week, I want something cool and refreshing to drink.

That’s why I’ve pulled together this Ultimate Collection of Summer Cocktails. There are sangrias, margaritas, martinis, drinks for a crowd, and more. So many summer cocktails to choose from. I hope your bar cart is stocked!

Mored delicious recipe collections:

Looking for something to pair with your summer libations? Here are a few of my favorite recipe collections perfect for summertime entertaining!

• My Favorite 4th of July Recipes
• The BEST Dip Recipes
• 8+ Go-To Hors D’Oeuvres Ideas
• My Best Blueberry Recipes
• My Favorite Pie Recipes
• Easy and Unique Cupcake Recipes

Now let’s get onto the cocktails. Grab some ice and a cocktail shaker and let’s mix up some drinks.

Sangria Recipes:

Campari Sangria

To me, a pitcher of chilled sangria is always fabulous on a hot day. With its bright color and citrus flavor, this summer cocktail is as refreshing as it is beautiful. You can serve it for brunch, dinner, or anytime in-between.

Sangria Rosé Popsicles

I first made these cool and tasty treats during Wit & Vinegar’s Popsicle Week. You simply put sliced berries, peaches, and kiwi in popsicle molds and fill them with Rosé Sangria. You can get my Rosé Sangria Recipe here. (It makes a delightful summer cocktail all by itself.)

SHOP: Popsicle Mold

Pineapple, Mango, and Basil Sangria

In this twist on traditional sangria, you pour white wine, pineapple juice, and St. Germain into a pitcher and add fresh pineapple, mango, and basil leaves. I’m not kidding. The recipe is that easy! I wouldn’t be surprised if this sangria becomes your favorite drink for summer evenings out on the porch or patio.

Sangrias for Every Season (Including Summer)

In case you’re looking for more sangria recipes, this the post is for you. Among the warm-season sangrias, you’ll find my Blackberry Basil Sangria. Fresh basil, blackberries, and lemon, with optional club soda for fizz, add up to a “sunsational” summer cocktail.

My Favorite Margaritas

Frozen Blackberry Margarita

This scrumptious summer libation is a mix of frozen blackberries, tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and honey. Everything gets put in a blender with ice until smooth. The last step is to pour the mixture into a prepared margarita glass and sip!

Prickly Pear Margarita

I tasted this summer cocktail for the first time when I worked at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia, after I graduated college. You can make a version at home with tequila, Cointreau, freshly squeezed lime juice, and prickly pear syrup. If you like a bit of sweet with your salty, you will love this distinctive drink.

SHOP: These Cactus Margarita Glasses

IBC’s Best Margarita Recipes

My compilation of margarita recipes from Inspired by Charm includes many more margaritas to refresh you on a warm summer day. Here are a few of my top recommendations: Raspberry Strawberry Margarita, Strawberry Coconut Margarita, and Watermelon Margarita. I might be whipping up one of these tonight.

Summertime Martinis:

Strawberry Basil Martini

If you’re looking for a light and deliciously different summer cocktail, may I suggest this Strawberry Basil Martini? Made with homemade strawberry basil-infused vodka, this drink is sure to delight your taste buds. Garnished with a strawberry, it’s also a feast for your eyes.

SHOP: Martini Glass

Watermelon Basil Martini

The base for this striking summer cocktail is watermelon juice muddled with fresh basil. To achieve this, you mash a few pieces of watermelon flesh with a couple of basil leaves and then strain that to remove the pulp and seeds. Be sure to fix plenty. I promise you’ll want more than one martini.

SHOP: Martini Glass

Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini

This summer cocktail is a wonderful way to wind down before or after dinner. You can put one together with jalapeno pepper-infused vodka, chipotle pineapple syrup, pineapple juice, simple syrup, and mint leaves. Cheers to fun in and out of the sun!

The Perfect Cosmo

A cosmopolitan is my favorite classic cocktail. This one is “perfect” because it uses high-quality ingredients in just-the-right proportions. A simple, elegant presentation underscores the perfection. I promise that you (and your guests) will be impressed.

Berry Watermelon Limeade Martini

This martini is going to be your prescription for chilling out this summer. It’s a combination of homemade berry watermelon limeade, vodka, and St. Germain. Bonus: The berry watermelon limeade can also be served on its own or used in a salad dressing.

SHOP: Martini Glass

The Ultimate Pear Martini

You’re going to love this delicious and refreshing Pear Martini with a crisp pear flavor and a splash of St. Germain Liqueur! It’s the perfect cocktail any time you’re in the mood to enjoy a fancy-feeling drink.

Summer Cocktails for a Crowd:

Raspberry Beer Cocktail

Made punch-style with fresh raspberries, beer, and pink lemonade, this is a unique and flavorful beverage everyone will love. It’s great for sipping poolside. You could even take it along on an impromptu picnic or camping trip.

The BEST Homemade Margarita Mix

It’s a breeze to put together a large batch of this margarita mix at home. You just make a simple syrup by boiling water and sugar. Once that’s cooled, add freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice. For your margarita, pour in tequila and triple sec. All the details are with the margarita mix recipe.

Margarita Punch

This delicious and easy recipe is ideal for your outdoor entertaining when the weather turns warm. I especially like this summer cocktail because it has the strawberry margarita flavor everyone adores, yet it’s light and bright thanks to Prosecco and bottled seltzer.

Unique Cocktails:

Star-Spangled Mule

I developed this red, white, and “bluetiful” drink as part of a brand collaboration. All I did was give the classic Moscow mule a patriotic twist with the addition of fresh berries and a super special garnish.

Frozen Old Fashioned Slush

This recipe takes the traditional old fashioned to a new and cooler level. Concocted with bourbon, frozen orange juice, bitters, lemon-lime soda, and a few more yummy things, this drink can be served any time of the year. But to me, it sure hits the spot on a warm summer evening.

Sweet Heat

After first tasting a Sweet Heat on a trip to California, I finally recreated one on an 80-degree day in PA. Jalapeño, ginger, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and vodka give this drink a uniquely memorable flavor. It just might become your new signature cocktail for summer!

Lemon Drop Martini

This lemon drop martini provides the perfect balance of tart and sweet. It’s a classic cocktail that’s simple to make and the flavor is something everyone will love. 

Thanks all … for now! Cheers!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Ultimate Collection of Summer Cocktails. Which one will you fix to top off your day? What’s your favorite summertime libation?

Want More from Inspired by Charm?

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