Spirits 13 Summer Cocktails to Help You Cool Off By Food & Wine Editors Updated on June 4, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio When the weather heats up, refreshing summer cocktails are the perfect way to stay cool. Some of our favorites include a cucumber-rose gin spritz, which gets subtle floral flavor from dried rose petals, and a golden-hued white sangria infused with Thai basil — we'd never pass up a frozen drink, either. Read on for those recipes, and more summer cocktails we love. More Cocktail Recipes 01 of 13 Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails © John Kernick When watermelon is in abundance, this is a great way to use it. Bobby Flay purees seedless watermelon chunks, then strains the juice through a sieve and mixes it with silver tequila, sugar syrup, blueberries, mint, and fresh lime juice. Get the Recipe 02 of 13 Tabernacle Crush © John Kernick This light and refreshing cocktail is as reminiscent of the American South as it is of the South of France. Get the Recipe 03 of 13 Limoncello Collins © Tina Rupp The Collins was most likely named after 19th-century bartender John Collins of London's Limmer's Hotel. The Tom Collins was originally made with Old Tom, a sweet style of gin that's extremely hard to find today. Get the Recipe 04 of 13 Strawberry-Lemon Mojitos © Wendell T. Webber Strawberries sweeten these mojitos from mixologist Joaquin Simo. Get the Recipe 05 of 13 Thai-Basil Sangria The Spanish drink sangria draws its name from the blood-red color of its traditional red wine base. This stripped-down version gets its rich golden hue — and zingy flavors — from white wine, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and a kick of brandy. Get the Recipe 06 of 13 Cucumber Margarita The only thing more refreshing than a margarita is one made with cucumbers. The cucumber-infused tequila also makes a great punch. Get the Recipe 07 of 13 Tequila-Watermelon Aguas Frescas with Prosecco ADRIAN GAUT In this refreshing cocktail, Prosecco adds a lively spritz to a light, watermelon-forward margarita. If you happen to have a juicer on hand, you can certainly use it here. Get the Recipe 08 of 13 Cucumber-Rose Gin Spritz Victor Protasio A classic combination of gin, lemon, and club soda gets a refreshing twist with cucumber, basil, and cardamom-infused syrup. Dried rose petals add a subtle floral flavor and act as a beautiful garnish. Get the Recipe 09 of 13 Lemon-and-Lavender Gin Fizz Victor Protasio Leopold's Summer Gin brings a smooth, floral flavor to this botanical cocktail with notes of cucumber, sage, lemon, and lavender. Get the Recipe 10 of 13 Tamarind-Mezcal Sour Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Smoky mezcal and savory bitters are rounded out by sweet-tart lemon juice and tamarind puree in this punchy cocktail. Get the Recipe 11 of 13 Third-Wave Swizzle Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen A swizzle stick is the key to a cold, well-mixed, frothy drink, but if you don't have one on hand, you can use a long bar spoon to mix. Get the Recipe 12 of 13 Banana-Rum Old-Fashioned Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen A bold, strong cocktail with both high-proof bourbon and light rum gets a hit of floral sweetness from mellow crème de banane. Get the Recipe 13 of 13 Strawberry Daiquiri Victor Protasio The best strawberry daiquiri is bright and full-flavored but never too sweet, balancing juicy berries and tart lime. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit