Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More Next
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More Next
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More Next
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Cocktails & Spirits Chevron Right
  3. 21 Summer Cocktails to Help You Cool Off

21 Summer Cocktails to Help You Cool Off

By Food & Wine
Updated June 04, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: 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 rosy-red sangria flavored with hibiscus tea—we’d never pass up a frozen drink, either. Read on for those recipes, and more summer cocktails we love.
Related: More Cocktail Recipes
Start Slideshow

1 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails

Credit: © John Kernick
Go to Recipe

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.

  • Ultimate Summer Fruit Recipes

1 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tabernacle Crush

Credit: © John Kernick
Go to Recipe

This light and refreshing cocktail is as reminiscent of the American South as it is of the South of France.

  • F&W’s Ultimate Cocktail Recipe Guide

2 of 21

3 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Limoncello Collins

Credit: © Tina Rupp
Go to Recipe

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.

3 of 21

Advertisement

4 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Strawberry-Lemon Mojitos

Go to Recipe

Strawberries sweeten these mojitos from mixologist Joaquin Simo.

4 of 21

5 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sunset Punch

Go to Recipe

This super-easy Bourbon-based punch only has five ingredients.

  • More Party Punch Recipes

5 of 21

6 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Chasing Summer

Credit: DAVID MALOSH
Go to Recipe

"I love this drink so much that it seems like my glass is always empty," says Lacy Hawkins. Her favorite part is the balsamic vinegar. "It adds wonderful acidity to the drink and creates a caramelized finish.”

6 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Manhattan Ice Cream Float

Go to Recipe

Gabriel Frasca makes his own bourbon ice cream and cherry syrup for this clever riff on a Manhattan. For his super quick version, he blends vanilla ice cream with bourbon and uses a high-quality black cherry soda like Stewart’s or IBC.

7 of 21

8 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Thai-Basil Sangria

Go to Recipe

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.

  • More Sangria Recipes

8 of 21

9 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cucumber Margarita

Go to Recipe

The only thing more refreshing than a margarita is one made with cucumbers. The cucumber-infused tequila also makes a great punch.

9 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tequila-Watermelon Aguas Frescas with Prosecco

Credit: ADRIAN GAUT
Go to Recipe

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.

10 of 21

11 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cucumber-Rose Gin Spritz

Credit: Victor Protasio
Go to Reicpe

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.

11 of 21

12 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lemon-and-Lavender Gin Fizz

Credit: Victor Protasio
Go to Recipe

Leopold’s Summer Gin brings a smooth, floral flavor to this botanical cocktail with notes of cucumber, sage, lemon, and lavender.

12 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tamarind-Mezcal Sour

Credit: Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Go to Recipe

Smoky mezcal and savory bitters are rounded out by sweet-tart lemon juice and tamarind puree in this punchy cocktail.

13 of 21

14 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Third-Wave Swizzle

Credit: Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Go to Recipe

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.

14 of 21

15 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Banana-Rum Old-Fashioned

Credit: Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Go to Recipe

A bold, strong cocktail with both high-proof bourbon and light rum gets a hit of floral sweetness from mellow crème de banane.

15 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sandy Bottoms

Credit: Victor Protasio
Go to Recipe

This pitcher drink pairs hydrating watermelon with the delicate fennel-and-herb flavor of Peychaud's bitters.

16 of 21

17 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sanibel Sangria

Credit: Victor Protasio
Go to Recipe

Fresh raspberries and the tangy punch of hibiscus tea make this rosy-red sangria bright and tart.

17 of 21

18 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Kettle Cove

Credit: Victor Protasio
Go to Recipe

Grapefruit brings out the delicate floral flavors of Peruvian pisco, an unaged grape brandy, in this frosty blended drink.

18 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Strawberry Daiquiri

Credit: Victor Protasio
Go to Recipe

The best strawberry daiquiri is bright and full-flavored but never too sweet, balancing juicy berries and tart lime.

19 of 21

20 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Frozen Cucumber Margaritas with Chili-Sumac Salt

Credit: Victor Protasio
Go to Recipe

For a perfect texture that never gets icy or watery, Gail Simmons freezes the cucumbers before blending.

20 of 21

21 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Normandie Club Spritz

Credit: © David Malosh
Go to Recipe

This lovely, light spritz includes fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lemon juice, grapefruit liquor, and blanco tequila, plus plenty of bubbles.

21 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 21 Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails
2 of 21 Tabernacle Crush
3 of 21 Limoncello Collins
4 of 21 Strawberry-Lemon Mojitos
5 of 21 Sunset Punch
6 of 21 Chasing Summer
7 of 21 Manhattan Ice Cream Float
8 of 21 Thai-Basil Sangria
9 of 21 Cucumber Margarita
10 of 21 Tequila-Watermelon Aguas Frescas with Prosecco
11 of 21 Cucumber-Rose Gin Spritz
12 of 21 Lemon-and-Lavender Gin Fizz
13 of 21 Tamarind-Mezcal Sour
14 of 21 Third-Wave Swizzle
15 of 21 Banana-Rum Old-Fashioned
16 of 21 Sandy Bottoms
17 of 21 Sanibel Sangria
18 of 21 Kettle Cove
19 of 21 Strawberry Daiquiri
20 of 21 Frozen Cucumber Margaritas with Chili-Sumac Salt
21 of 21 Normandie Club Spritz

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Food & Wine

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Food & Wine
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

View image

21 Summer Cocktails to Help You Cool Off
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.