Refreshing Cocktails

"This cocktail is a riff on one of my favorite cold-pressed juices: a light-pink, super-hydrating concoction called Aloe Vera Wang," says San Diego bartender Lindsay Nader.

The Good News This tangy drink is flavored with mint and antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice. The vibrant colors resemble those of a brilliant sunrise.

Kittichai • New York City

Top bar chef Albert Trummer, who makes many of his own mixers, is the cocktail consultant at this elegant Thai restaurant in SoHo.

"I love this drink because it's this really weird pina colada variation," says bartender Sara Justice. When guests order it at The Franklin Bar in Philadelphia, she says, "it's fun to see them get excited about a drink that tastes different from the classic flavors they're expecting."

Edna’s is a legendary bar in Oklahoma City with dollar bills stapled to the walls. Its signature drink is an unlikely mix of three ingredients: fresh orange juice, amaretto and light beer. Key to the surprisingly tasty cocktail: a frosty mug.

The oldest-known recipe for the mojito appeared as the Mojo de Ron in a 1929 Cuban guide called Libro de Cocktail (The Cocktail Book).

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.

Sangria, a Spanish variation on traditional punch composed of wine, fruit and brandy, was formally introduced to America at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. Del Toro Café in Chicago features classic Spanish sangria alongside seasonal versions such as this recipe, which chef Andrew Zimmerman created for the summer with vodka instead of brandy.

While vacationing in 2008 with his wife's family on a boat near Catalina Island, California, John Coltharp was dismayed to see that all the beach bars focused on sweet drinks like piña coladas. Back on his father-in-law's boat, he came up with this pleasantly bitter and refreshing concoction—with Aperol from the well-stocked bar.

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

Pimm's No. 1, a gin-based aperitif invented by London bar owner James Pimm in 1823, is the quintessential English summer-afternoon drink (and the traditional drink of Wimbledon). Here, Jamie Boudreau combines it with tea, another beloved British beverage.