Looking for something cool to sip by the pool? Here are some great summer cocktail recipes.
I crave the bright flavors of fruity drinks in summer. Whether I opt for a non-alcoholic version or add in something to kick it up a notch, this is definitely the season for something tall and cool to sip by the pool. Here are a few of my favorite summer cocktail recipes.
The Modern Margarita Cocktail
JT Tillman at Modern Margarita in Phoenix is a perfect resource for cool summer cocktailsāand using my favorite spirit, tequila. Modern Margarita recently launched a new cocktail and margarita program and one of the new items is The Modern Margarita Cocktail. This is a play on the traditional margarita but with grapefruit juice and Aperol, a traditional Italian aperitif with hints of orange and rhubarb. Make one for yourself at home or stop by Modern Margarita.
Modern Margarita Cocktail is one of the new cocktails at Modern Margarita. Photo courtesy Modern Margarita
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Tequila Herradura Blanco
- 1.5 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- 0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.5 oz Aperol
- 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients in a shaker.
- Shake and pour into a salted margarita glass over ice.
- Express orange peel over glass then add as garnish.
The Vino Spritz
La Bocca Urban Kitchen + Wine Bar is just thatāan urban wine bar. La Bocca wants to show off killer cocktails inspired by all sorts of wines. The Vino Spritz is ideal for these long, hot summer days because it has light watermelon notes. It is balanced, easy and uncomplicated. There are three La Bocca locations in the Phoenix area, in Phoenix, Tempe, and Chandler. Of course, this is also a great one you can make at home no matter where you reside during this long, hot summer.
The Vino Spritz is a blend of vodka and Pinot Grigio, with a hint of watermelon. Photo courtesy La Bocca Urban Kitchen + Wine Bar
Ingredients:
- 1Ā½ oz Ketel One Vodka
- 1 oz Pinot Grigio
- Ā¾ oz Watermelon Syrup
- Ā¾ oz Lemon Juice
Directions:
- Place all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake for about 10 seconds.
- Strain into a martini or rocks glass, depending on your mood.
Berentzen PeachĀ Liqueur Cocktails
Berentzen is a 250-year-old German company known for fruit liqueurs and spirits. The Berentzen Peach Liqueur combines all-natural juice and sun-ripened fruit with 100% single-grain wheat. The peach liqueur sells for $19.99 per bottle.
Berentzen Stone & Sand
Stone & Sand Cocktail made with Berentzen Peach Liqueur
Ingredients:
- Ā¾ Berentzen Peach Liqueur
- Ā¾ Blended Scotch
- Ā¾ Lemon
- Ā¾ Sweet Vermouth
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to shaker glass, fill with ice, shake.
- Double strain into coupe cocktails glass and garnish with a cherry dropped in.
Peach Negroni
Berentzen Peach Negroni Cocktail
Ingredients:
- Ā¾ Berentzen Peach Liqueur
- Ā¾ Campari
- Ā¾ Sweet Vermouth
Directions:
- Pour over ice and stir.
- Serve.
Berentzen Beer
The Berentzen Beer Cocktail is a mix of Berentzen Peach Liqueur and Lager.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Berentzen Peach Liqueur
- Ā½ oz Fresh Lemon
- 2 dashes Bitter Truth Creole Bitters
- Lager
- Sprite
Directions:
- Add the first three ingredients to a shaker tin, fill with ice and lightly shake.
- Strain into a pilsner glass filled with fresh ice and top with half lager/half sprite.
- Garnish with peach slices.
Taco Guild Drinks
Taco Guild, located in a historic church dating back to the 1890s in Central Phoenix, offers up an authentic taste of the Southwest. Taco Guild offers some great summer sips. Stop by Taco Guild at 546 E. Osborn when you’re in Phoenix, Arizona to sample some of their drinks, or whip up one of the two below for a lazy summer afternoon treat.
Smith & Keep
The Smith & Keep is a refreshing drink featuring fresh blackberries with bourbon and ginger ale.
Enjoy a Smith & Keep with bourbon, blackberries and ginger ale. Photo courtesy Taco Guild.
Ingredients:
- Ā½ Lemon (squeezed)
- 3 blackberries (muddled)
- Ā¾ oz Simple Syrup (muddled)
- 2 oz Copper City Bourbon
- 1 oz Ginger Ale
Preparation:
- Muddle lemon juice, blackberries and simple syrup.
- Add bourbon and ginger ale.
- Pour into glass over ice.
Salty Chihuahua
Taco Guild’sĀ Salty Chihuahua is a refreshing blend of Southwest spice, vodka and citrus flavors.
The Salty Chihuahua at Taco Guild is a blend of Southwest spice, vodka and citrus flavors. Photo courtesy Taco Guild
Ingredients:
- Ā½ JalapeƱo Ring (muddled)
- 5 Cilantro Leaves (muddled)
- 1 oz Simple Syrup (muddled)
- 3 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- Ā¾ oz Aporal
- 1.5 oz Mission Vodka
Preparation:
- Muddle jalapeƱo, cilantro and simple syrup.
- Put into a shaker and add grapefruit juice, aporal, and vodka.
- Shake and strain into a salted rim margarita glass.
- Garnish with a grilled pineapple wedge.
SOL Mexican Cocina’s Farmer’s Market Margarita
SOL Mexican Concina, locatedĀ in Scottsdale, Arizona, Newport Beach, California, and Vista, California (with a new location coming soon to Denver), serves up the flavors of coastal Baja California. Each restaurant features seasonal ingredients, authentic Mexican flavors, and more than 60 artisan tequilas.
Blueberry Watermelon Margarita
Each month, SOL Mexican Cocina features a margarita using the ingredients most popular in the local farmers markets during the month. During June, the Farmer’s Market Margarita is Blueberry Watermelon. Stop by for one, or take the ingredients home and whip up one of your own.
Blueberry Watermelon Margarita at SOL Mexican Cocina. Photo courtesy SOL Mexican Cocina
Ingredients:
- 3-5 pieces Watermelon
- 5-7 Blueberries
- 2.75 oz Don Julio Blanco Tequila
- 1.5 oz Lime Juice
- 1 oz Agave Nectar
- Ā½ oz Soda Water
Preparation:
- Muddle watermelon and blueberries.
- Add ice.
- Add tequila, lime juice, agave nectar, and soda water.
- Shake and strain over fresh ice.
BaiĀ Healthy Summer Cocktails
Bai is a brand of both still and sparkling waters flavored with super fruits. The brand launched in 2009 and now distributes nationally in cooperation with the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. Bai is the Mandarin Chinese word for pure and every Bai product is a botanical antioxidant infusion flavored only with natural flavors. There are no artificial sweeteners and each drink is just 5 calories. Here are a few summer cocktail recipes and the alcohol is optional.
Bai Strawberry Limu Lemonade
This fun sip is light and refreshing without the added sugar and calories of juices.
Bai Strawberry Limu Lemonade is a perfect summer cocktail with or without alcohol. Photo courtesy Bai
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles Bai Limu Lemon
- 1 pint Fresh Strawberries
- 2 Lemons
- Ice
- 8 oz Vodka (optional)
Directions:
- Halve and hull strawberries and slice lemons.
- Place into pitcher and cover with ice.
- Add Limu Lemon, stir gently to combine.
- If adding vodka, try making ahead in a plastic bowl with a cover. Set in the freezer for a few hours or overnight, and it will emerge slushy and refreshing.
Peachberry Sunset Mojito
Who doesn’t love a mojito for summer? And this one is ideal with peach, strawberry and mint. You can celebrate this summer’s National Mojito Day on July 11th with this tall cool one.
Bai Peachberry Sunset Mojito. Photo courtesy Bai
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle Bai Panama Peach, divided
- 1 cup Rum, divided
- Juice of 3 Limes, divided
- 1 cup Mint, loosely packed, divided
- 2 cups Frozen Ripe Strawberries
- 2 cups Frozen Ripe Peaches
Directions:
- BlendĀ Ā½ bottle of Bai Panama Peach withĀ Ā½ rum,Ā Ā½ lime juice,Ā Ā½ mint leaves, and frozen strawberries until smooth.
- Pour halfway up each glass.
- Blend remaining Ā½ bottle of Bai Panama Peach with remaining Ā½ of the rum, lime juice and mint with the peaches until smooth.
- Pour into each glass on top of strawberry mixture.
- Garnish with mint sprig and lime wedge.
Tommy Bahama’sĀ Cool Summer Drinks
Tommy Bahama is all about island flavorsāthose cool, tropical tastes that make you think you’re on the beach in Hawaii with the surf crashing just beyond you. Here are a couple of great summer tastes that are sure to refresh you.
Tommy Bahama PiƱa Colada
Nothing says tropical better than a bit of coconut and pineapple. Whip up this cool PiƱa Colada for summer in a glass.
Tommy Bahama PiƱa Colada. Photo courtesy Tommy Bahama
Ingredients:
- 2 parts BacardiĀ® Light Rum
- 1Ā¾ parts Cream of Coconut (Preferably Coco LĆ³pezĀ®)
- 8-10 Pineapple Cubes, diced 1″
- 1 part Seven TikiĀ® Spiced Dark Rum (float)
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients, except for the dark rum, with ice until smooth.
- Pour into hurricane glass.
- Top with dark rum.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge and orchid.
Tommy Bahama Mango Habanero Margarita
Cool and refreshing, but with a touch of heat for the Southwest, the Tommy Bahama Mango Habanero Margarita is one summer cocktail recipe that will take the summer heat up a notch.
Mango HabaƱero Margarita. Photo courtesy Tommy Bahama
Ingredients:
- 1Ā¾ parts Milagro Silver Tequila
- Ā¾ parts Orange Curacao
- 1 part Mango Puree (Perfect Puree)
- 1 part scratch Sour Mix
- 2 slices FreshĀ Habanero
- 4 drops Bitterman’s HellfireĀ HabaneroĀ Shrub (available at Tommy Bahama)
Directions:
- Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice and shake with a Boston shaker to blend.
- Pour into salt rimmed Double Rocks glass.
- Top with 2 slices of habanero.
District American Kitchen & Wine Bar Cocktails
Located in downtown Phoenix at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix, District American Kitchen & Wine Bar soaks up the energetic vibe of today’s modern downtown Phoenix. You can find great American comfort foods with a contemporary twistāand that includes some classic cocktails with a cool twist for the hot summer months. Here are the recipes, or you can stop by District American Kitchen and have the bartender whip one up for you.
American 340
The American 340 is a blend of my favorite domestic sparkling wine, Gruet Blanc de Blanc, with gin and a homemade rhubarb chutney. If you want to buy one at District American Kitchen & Wine Bar, they are available this summer for $13.
American 340 is a great summer cocktail with sparkling wine, gin and rhubarb chutney. Photo courtesy District American Kitchen & Wine Bar.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Gruet Blanc de Blanc
- 1 oz Anchor Junipero Gin
- 1 oz Rhubarb Chutney (recipe below)
- Ā¼ Orange, squeezed
- 2 sprigs Italian Parsley, ripped
Directions:
- Combine all liquids, except sparkling wine, in a shaker. (Include the Rhubarb Chutney.)
- Shake, pour over ice in a martini glass.
- Top with Gruet Blanc de Blanc.
- Half salt the rim and garnish with parsley.
Rhubarb Chutney:
- 2 Green Apples
- 1 c. Red Wine
- 1 knuckle Ginger
- 1 c. Fig Jam
- 1 c. Dried Cranberries
- 2 tsp Ground Mustard
- 2 c. Brown Sugar
- 2 lg sticks Rhubarb
- 2 qts. Water
Directions for Chutney:
- Combine all ingredients except sugar and jam.
- Boil for 20 minutes.
- Add in sugar and jam; continue to boil for 10 minutes.
- Puree ingredients.
Spiced Peach Old Fashioned
An Old Fashioned is definitely a classic American cocktail. This version at District American Kitchen, which is available for $13, is made with Bulliet Rye and peach simple syrup to give it a great summer flavor.
Spiced Peach Old Fashioned is a sizzling blend of Bulliet Rye and a sweet and spicy peach simple syrup. Photo courtesy District American Kitchen and Wine Bar
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Bulliet Rye
- 1 oz Roasted Peach Simple Syrup (recipe below)
- Lemon Twist
Directions:
- Pour all ingredients over ice in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.
Ingredients for Spiced Roasted Peach Simple Syrup:
- 2 Lemons
- 6 Peaches, halved
- Ā½ Vanilla Bean
- 3 c. Sugar
- 5 c. Water
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes
- 20 dashes Peach Bitters
- 2 c. Peach Puree
Directions for Spiced Roasted Peach Simple Syrup:
- Boil peaches in water and sugar until reduced by a third and peaches are soft.
- Add in peach puree, vanilla bean, and red pepper flakes.
- Boil for another 10 minutes.
- Smash ingredients together and strain.
- Add remaining ingredients.
AZGNT
I love summer evenings at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. You can order up the Westin Kierland’s version of a gin & tonicāthe AZGNTāserved at Nellie Cashman’s Monday Club CafĆ© at the resort. It’s light, cool, and delicious, making it the perfect summer sip.
The Westin Kierland AZGNT Cocktail is a cool refreshing version of a gin and tonic. Photo courtesy Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Ingredients:
- 1Ā½ oz Arizona Distilling Company’s Commerce Gin
- Ā¾ oz John’s PremiumĀ® Tonic Syrup
- 2 dashes AZ Bitters Lab Orange Sunshine Bitters
- Club Soda, to top
- Rosemary Spring, to garnish
Directions:
- Build over ice in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Arroyo Grille at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
If you head south of the Valley, about 15 miles from I-10 just past Chandler, you’ll find the small town of Maricopa. Not many people realize that that there is a Troon-managed golf course on the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club has 320 acres with 360-degree views of the Sonoran Desert. There is also a great place to grab a bite and a drink after playing a round of golfāor for someplace to just get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and relaxāat Arroyo Grille. This summer, Arroyo Grille is offering two cool drinks: Grown Up Cherry Limeade and White Mist.
Grown Up Cherry Limeade and White Mist are offered all summer at Arroyo Grille. Photo courtesy Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Grown Up Cherry Limeade
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Vodka
- Splash Lime Juice
- Splash Grenadine
- Sierra Mist Press
- Two Lime Wedges
Directions:
- Mix ingredients over ice in a glass.
- Squeeze in two lime wedges.
- Garnish with cherries and lime wedges.
White Mist
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz George Dickel White Whisky
- Sierra Mist Press
- Two Lime Wedges
Directions:
- Mix ingredients over ice in a glass.
- Squeeze in two lime wedges.
- Garnish with cherries and lime wedges.
That peachberry mojito looks divine! Bummed that I missed National Mojito Day… Might just have to celebrate a little late! š