What Cocktails to Enjoy This Summer?

Whether you’re lounging by the pool or hosting a backyard barbecue, cocktails are the perfect way to refresh and quench your thirst. In this guide, we present 10 summer cocktail recipes that will brighten up your evenings. From the classic to the original, let these recipes inspire you and make your summer even more enjoyable with delicious cocktails!

Classic Cocktails

MOJITO (THE ORIGINAL):

The Mojito is undoubtedly one of the most iconic cocktails in the world! Made with rum, fresh mint, lime, cane sugar, and sparkling water, it’s perfect for hot summer days.

Ingredients:

6 to 8 fresh mint leaves

2 teaspoons cane sugar

Juice of half a lime

60 ml white rum

Sparkling water

Ice cubes

Recipe:

In a glass, gently muddle the mint leaves with the cane sugar and lime juice.

Add the ice cubes and pour in the white rum.

Top up with sparkling water.

Stir gently and garnish with a sprig of mint.

PIÑA COLADA:

The Piña Colada is a tropical cocktail made with rum, pineapple juice, and coconut milk. A classic of mixology, its creamy and sweet taste makes it a delicious and refreshing drink.

Ingredients:

40 ml white rum

120 ml pineapple juice

40 ml coconut milk

Ice cubes

Recipe:

In a shaker, mix the white rum, pineapple juice, and coconut milk.

Add ice cubes and shake vigorously.

Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass and garnish with a pineapple slice.

SPRITZ:

The Spritz is an Italian cocktail traditionally made with Aperol, Prosecco, and sparkling water. Fashionable in recent years for its orange color and slightly bitter taste, it has become a staple of summer aperitifs.

Ingrédients:

60 ml Prosecco (or sparkling wine)

40 ml Aperol (or bitter/amer)

Sparkling water

Ice cubes

An orange slice

Recipe:

In a wine glass, add ice cubes.

Pour in the Prosecco and Aperol.

Top up with sparkling water.

Add an orange slice for garnish.

MOSCOW MULE:

Typically served in a copper mug, the Moscow Mule is a cocktail made with vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. Its blend of tangy and spicy flavors makes it a fresh and invigorating drink.

Ingredients:

60 ml vodka

150 ml ginger beer

Juice of half a lime

Ice cubes

Lime slice for garnish

Recipe:

Fill a copper mule mug with ice cubes.

Add the vodka and lime juice.

Top up with ginger beer.

Stir gently and garnish with a lime slice.

GIN FIZZ:

Ingredients:

60 ml gin

30 ml fresh lemon juice

15 ml cane sugar syrup

Sparkling water

Ice cubes

Recipe:

In a shaker, mix the gin, fresh lemon juice, and cane sugar syrup with ice cubes.

Shake vigorously.

Pour the mixture into a whisky glass filled with ice cubes.

Top up with sparkling water.

Stir gently and garnish with a lemon slice.

Innovative Cocktails

STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI:

Slightly reinvented, the Strawberry Daiquiri is a sweet and fruity cocktail made with white rum and strawberry juice. Its vivid pink color and delicious taste make it a perfect drink for sunny days.

Ingredients:

60 ml white rum

20 ml lime juice

20 ml strawberry syrup

Ice cubes

Strawberries for garnish

Recipe:

In a shaker, mix the white rum, lime juice, and strawberry syrup with ice cubes.

Shake vigorously.

Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass and garnish with strawberries.

REVISED COSMOPOLITAN (GIN):

The revised Cosmopolitan with gin is a modern twist on the classic cocktail. By using gin instead of vodka, you add an herbal and refined note to this elegant drink.

Ingredients:

60 ml gin

30 ml cranberry juice

20 ml lime juice

15 ml cane sugar syrup

Ice cubes

Lime zest for garnish

Recipe:

In a shaker, mix the gin, cranberry juice, lime juice, and cane sugar syrup with ice cubes.

Shake vigorously.

Pour the mixture into a martini glass and garnish with lime zest.

CUCUMBER GIN TONIC:

The Cucumber Gin Tonic is a refreshing variation of this popular cocktail. By adding cucumber slices, you introduce a touch of freshness and lightness to the gin and tonic mix.

Ingredients:

60 ml gin

120 ml tonic

4 cucumber slices

Ice cubes

Recipe:

Fill a gin and tonic glass with ice cubes.

Add the gin and tonic.

Stir gently.

Garnish with cucumber slices.

PINEAPPLE MOJITO:

The Pineapple Mojito is a tropical version of this iconic cocktail. By replacing some of the mint with fresh pineapple slices, you get a drink with fruity and exotic notes.

Ingredients:

6 to 8 fresh mint leaves

2 teaspoons cane sugar

Juice of half a lime

60 ml white rum

4 fresh pineapple slices

Sparkling water

Ice cubes

Recipe:

In a glass, gently muddle the mint leaves with the cane sugar and lime juice.

Add the crushed pineapple slices.

Add ice cubes and pour in the white rum.

Top up with sparkling water.

Stir gently and garnish with a mint sprig.

WATERMEL SANGRIA:

The Watermelon Sangria is a summer twist on this classic cocktail. It combines rosé wine with delicious watermelon chunks, creating a refreshing and fruity drink. A must-try!

Ingredients

1/2 watermelon

1 bottle of rosé wine

100 ml vodka

60 ml cane sugar syrup

Juice of 2 lemons

Juice of 2 oranges

Ice cubes

Watermelon slices and mint leaves for garnish

Recipe:

Scoop out the watermelon and cut the flesh into cubes.

In a pitcher, mix the watermelon cubes, rosé wine, vodka, cane sugar syrup, lemon juice, and orange juice.

Add ice cubes and mix well.

Pour the sangria into glasses and garnish with watermelon slices and mint leaves.

With these 10 refreshing cocktail recipes, you’re ready to impress your guests this summer. Whether you choose a classic like the Mojito or go for a bold mix like Cucumber Gin Tonic, Avenue des Vins has everything you need to make delicious summer cocktails. Cheers to your shakers!