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.
Related: More Cocktail Recipes
Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails
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.
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Tabernacle Crush
This light and refreshing cocktail is as reminiscent of the American South as it is of the South of France.
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Limoncello Collins
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 The Tom Collins was originally made with Old Tom, a sweet style of gin that's extremely hard to find today.
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Strawberry-Lemon Mojitos
Strawberries sweeten these mojitos from mixologist Joaquin Simo.
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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.
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Cucumber Margarita
The only thing more refreshing than a margarita is one made with cucumbers. The cucumber-infused tequila also makes a great punch.
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Tequila-Watermelon Aguas Frescas with Prosecco
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.
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Cucumber-Rose Gin Spritz
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.
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Lemon-and-Lavender Gin Fizz
Leopold's Summer Gin brings a smooth, floral flavor to this botanical cocktail with notes of cucumber, sage, lemon, and lavender.
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Tamarind-Mezcal Sour
Smoky mezcal and savory bitters are rounded out by sweet-tart lemon juice and tamarind puree in this punchy cocktail.
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Third-Wave Swizzle
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.
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Banana-Rum Old-Fashioned
A bold, strong cocktail with both high-proof bourbon and light rum gets a hit of floral sweetness from mellow crème de banane.
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Kettle Cove
Grapefruit brings out the delicate floral flavors of Peruvian pisco, an unaged grape brandy, in this frosty blended drink.
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Strawberry Daiquiri
The best strawberry daiquiri is bright and full-flavored but never too sweet, balancing juicy berries and tart lime.