Cocktail Recipes - Southern Living

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Pink Cadillac Margaritas

Mix up several batches of Pink Cadillac Margaritas 3 to 4 hours before the party starts, and chill in decorative bottles or pitchers, ready to shake and serve when guests arrive.

Recipe: Pink Cadillac Margaritas

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Whiskey Sour

You can make a "sour" with any combination of your favorite liquor, sugar, and citrus juice shaked with cracked ice. But down South, whiskey seems like the perfect fit.

Recipe: Whiskey Sour

Photo: Virginia Switzer

Sazerac

Said to be The Big Easy's first cocktail, it was originally served at the Sazerac Coffee House.

Recipe: Sazerac

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Pear-Basil Sipper

You can't beat the refreshing combination of muddled fresh basil and sweet pear-flavored vodka and nectar. Great for holiday entertaining or even a summertime libation.

Recipe: Pear-Basil Sipper

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Green Tomato Bloody Mary

Use an assortment of fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley, dill, and cilantro, and make this drink a day ahead to allow the flavors to fully develop.

Recipe: Green Tomato Bloody Mary

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Chucktown Sunrise

Bourbon and ginger ale combine to make a cool, colorful drink.

Recipe: Chucktown Sunrise

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Pineapple-Peach Punch

This makes a great virgin punch too; simply substitute an additional liter of club soda for the vodka.

Recipe: Pineapple-Peach Punch

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Muscadine wine and bourbon pack a punch in this fruity cocktail. A garnish of orange slices and muscadine halves adds a festive touch.

Recipe: Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Shoo-Fly Punch

This cocktail has a pop of spicy ginger and fizz from ginger beer, and pairs perfectly with an oyster roast.

Recipe: Shoo-Fly Punch

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Spiked Lemonade Sweet Tea

Spiked with bourbon or rum, this sweet tea is just for the adults. Garnish with fresh sugarcane and pineapple slices for a sophisticated presentation.

Recipe: Spiked Lemonade Sweet Tea

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Cava Sangria

Cava Sangria is refreshing but not too sweet. Fresh strawberries add a signature twist to the sparkling cocktail. Garnish with fresh sugar cane sticks, available at ethnic and specialty food stores.

Recipe: Cava Sangria

Grapefruit Tequila Fizz

You'll want to make a whole batch of this citrusy spritzer. It's perfect for outdoor gatherings and kicking back on the porch.

Recipe: Grapefruit Tequila Fizz

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Bloody Mary Punch

Instead of stirring all the ingredients together, serve optional shots of vodka on the side, and let your guests add it or not.

Recipe: Bloody Mary Punch

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Cranberry Mojito

Introduce the tart fall flavor of cranberries to your favorite minty cocktail.

Recipe: Cranberry Mojito

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Autumn Sweater

The secret to this drink's success are bitters. Cocktail bitters (Angostura, Peychaud's) are the salt and pepper of the beverage world. Digestive bitters (Campari, Fernet Branca) give a botanical quality to drinks.

Recipe: Autumn Sweater

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Mississippi Mudslides

A little bourbon makes these mudslides perfectly rich and flavorful. For a dramatic and delicious effect, use a small kitchen torch to brown the marshmallows topping your mudslides.

Recipe: Mississippi Mudslides

Photo: Jason Wallis

Satsuma Old-Fashioned

The classic Old-Fashioned cocktail gets a Southern twist with homemade Satsuma-Cello liqueur. The results are a citrusy Satsuma Old-Fashioned.

Recipe: Satsuma Old-Fashioned

Photo: Jennifer Davick

The Slapping Incident

This cocktail is named after a famous incident involving General Patton in Italy during WWII. Like the controversial leader, the drink is crisp, strong, and gets the job done.

Recipe: The Slapping Incident Cocktail

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Black Currant Champagne

Celebrate with this simple and sophisticated cocktail. Fill a Champagne flute or tall glass with equal parts chilled Champagne or sparkling wine and black currant nectar. Other nectars—such as peach, mango, tropical, or pear—will also work well, and garnish with fresh fruit.

Recipe: Black Currant Champagne

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas

Flowery hibiscus and cooling mint add a flavorful kick to this margarita.

Recipe: Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas

Photo: Jim Franco

Sparkling Rum Punch

During the holidays, wine aficionados reach for Crémant, a typically high-quality sparkling white wine made in several French wine regions. Expect to pay $15 to $30, about half that of Champagne. Grab some bottles and use it in this festive drink.

Recipe: Sparkling Rum Punch

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Ginger Beer

Grab a pilsner glass and drop in a fresh cherry to complete this refreshingly fizzy cocktail.

Recipe: Ginger Beer

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Umatilla Smash

Kumquat and whiskey come together to create this sweet-and-sour refresher.

Recipe: Umatilla Smash

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Apple-Pie Infused Bourbon

Turn a plain bottle of hooch into a top-shelf indulgence, infused with sweet autumn ﬂavor. At 7 ounces, these cute corked bottles are the perfect size for gifts ($2.09 each; specialtybottle.com). You can also use mini mason jars or any other food-safe glass container with a lid.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

Heirloom Bloody Mary Mix

Because canning tomatoes requires extra care, try this refrigerator variety for your Bloody Marys. Trust us: You'll want to drink it immediately anyway.

Recipe: Heirloom Bloody Mary Mix

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Pepper Jelly Margaritas

Make a couple of batches of this Southern-style margarita and serve in your favorite punch bowl with lime slices as garnish.

Recipe: Pepper Jelly Margaritas

Photo: Jennifer Davick

The Corduroy Jacket

For a slightly more potent version of this retro-inspired cocktail, substitute hard cider or champagne for the sparkling apple cider.

Recipe: The Corduroy Jacket

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Fig-and-Bourbon Fizz

Choose Black Mission figs or another purple-skinned variety to give the drink a prety tint.

Recipe: Fig-and-Bourbon Fizz

Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktail

We used Mississippi's Cathead Honeysuckle Flavored Vodka for maximum flavor.

Recipe: Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktail

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Sazerac

Featuring rye whiskey, bitters, and Herbsaint, this NOLA staple is said to be the first cocktail. And now it's hip to be nostalgic.

Recipe: Sazerac

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Sweet Tea Spritzer

If iced tea is the house wine of the South, consider this our summer sangria.

Recipe: Sweet Tea Spritzer

Mexican Sangría

If you order sangría below the border, you may be surprised to find it's not laden with chunks of fruit and lacks the extra liqueur kick usually expected from Spanish sangría. Mexican Sangría is light and refreshing, like a grown-up wine cooler.

Recipe: Mexican Sangría

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Peach Mojitos

Enjoy this sparkling cooler all summer long. Use the back of a wooden spoon to muddle the mint.

Recipe: Peach Mojitos

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Berry Bubbly Punch

Enjoy a classic Champagne punch, full of fresh fruit flavors and garnished with halved strawberries and blueberries.

Recipe: Berry Bubbly Punch

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Bourbon-Peach Cocktail

Treat guests to a beverage that oozes charm. The sweet sipper features two regional favorites—bourbon and peaches—for a stylish cooldown on a hot day.

Recipe: Bourbon-Peach Cocktail

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic

Give a bit of festive flair to your classic gin and tonic with orange juice and cranberries.

Recipe: Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Vieux Carré

Offer this classic 1930s cocktail after dinner. Vieux Carré (voo cah-RAY) means "old square," referring to the French Quarter.

Recipe: Vieux Carré

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Julian's Old Fashioned

For the Kentucky Bourbon aficionados in your bunch, make Julian's Old Fashioned the go-to cocktail for your special day.

Recipe: Julian’s Old Fashioned

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Cherry Frost

Brandy and black cherry liqueur are a perfect combination for a cocktail. Top it off with sparkling white wine for a festive holiday libation.

Recipe: Cherry Frost

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Strawberry Margarita Spritzers

This bubbly margarita recipe is the perfect treat for a hot summer day. Garnish with lime slices and fresh strawberries for a pretty finish.

Recipe: Strawberry Margarita Spritzers

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Cajun Lemonade

Add a Cajun kick to your lemonade with some hot sauce and rum. Rinse gallon milk jugs and use as a spill-proof way to transport your drinks.

Recipe: Cajun Lemonade

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Mint Julep Sweet Tea

Mint and bourbon add a fun twist to the classic sweet tea.

Recipe: Mint Julep Sweet Tea

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Beer 'Garitas

Mixing beer with a classic margarita recipe makes this drink less tart than the regular margaritas. We can promise that these will be a hit, so make them by the pitcher to keep the party going!

Recipe: Beer 'Garitas

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Garden Cocktail

You can substitute bottled juice for Garden Tomato Juice to save time. But if you make it fresh, don't use an aluminum saucepan—it will react with the tomato acid. Store in the fridge up to 1 week.

Recipe: Garden Cocktail

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Sherry Cobbler

Our latest drink obsession: This low-proof, retro-inspired sipper that combines fortified wine (port, Madeira, sherry) with sugar and fruit over ice.

Recipe: Sherry Cobbler

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Bacon-Infused Bourbon

Just add grease. That's right. Just like the recipe says, we added smoky flavor to bourbon using what sometimes get tossed and made an unforgettable concoction.

Recipe: Bacon-Infused Bourbon

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Watermelon Bellini

Whirl up any summer melon in this refreshing sipper. For a nonalcoholic option, replace the sparkling wine with sparkling white grape juice, sparkling cider, or club soda.

Recipe: Watermelon Bellini

Photo: Jason Wallis

Rosemary-Satsuma Julep

The Southern citrus burst of homemade Satsuma-Cello liqueur delivers a festive twist to the classic julelp cocktail.

Recipe: Rosemary-Satsuma Julep

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Sparkling Autumn Chianti

A blanc de noirs, with its fruity, hint of vanilla flavor, is a great sparkling wine choice for this recipe. We also suggest using Lady or Gala apples.

Recipe: Sparkling Autumn Chianti

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Coke® Cocktails: Pause that Refreshes

A sparkly beverage that's balanced with sorghum and delivers on its name.

Recipe: Pause that Refreshes

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Strawberry Basil Pineapple Ade

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Recipe: Strawberry Basil Pineapple Ade

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Tailgate Sipper

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Recipe: Tailgate Sipper

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Pineapple Cranberry Wassail

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Recipe: Pineapple Cranberry Wassail

The Dogwood

Enjoy the nice grapefruit punch and floral notes of this sipper. It's very refreshing, but not too sweet.

Recipe: The Dogwood

Pineapple-Rum-Tea Punch

Every Southerner should have a signature cocktail! Make this springy punch one yours - pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality.

Recipe: Pineapple-Rum-Tea Punch

Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner

Palafox Fizz

Patrick Bolster, head bartender at 5½ Bar in Pensacola, gave us the recipe for this delicious cucumber and basil refresher.

Recipe: Palafox Fizz

Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner

West Indies Paintbrush

Up-and-coming bartender Patrick Bolster of Pensacola's 5 1/2 Bar created this version of a West Indies Paintbrush--a refreshing drink with exotic floral notes.

Recipe: West Indies Paintbrush

Photo by Becky Jody Horton

Woodshed Margarita

This backyard cocktail gets its smoky flavor from cedar-infused tequila.

Recipe: Woodshed Margarita

Photo: Brown Cannon III

Basil-Lemon Moonshine

This fresh cocktail is great on the rocks or combined with fresh summer fruit juices.

Recipe: Basil-Lemon Moonshine

Photo: Brown Cannon III

Moonshine-Cherry Blush

Fresh mint leaves, lemon slices, and maraschino cherries garnish this tasty summer sipper.

Recipe: Moonshine-Cherry Blush

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Pimm Bob

What happens when an Old Fashioned meets a Pimm's Cup with a touch of Sazerac Flair? A Pimm Bob!

Recipe: Pimm Bob

Cocktail Hour Recipes

Pink Cadillac Margaritas

Whiskey Sour

Sazerac

Pear-Basil Sipper

Green Tomato Bloody Mary

Chucktown Sunrise

Pineapple-Peach Punch

Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Shoo-Fly Punch

Spiked Lemonade Sweet Tea

Cava Sangria

Grapefruit Tequila Fizz

Bloody Mary Punch

Cranberry Mojito

Autumn Sweater

Mississippi Mudslides

Satsuma Old-Fashioned

The Slapping Incident

Black Currant Champagne

Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas

Sparkling Rum Punch

Ginger Beer

Umatilla Smash

Apple-Pie Infused Bourbon

Heirloom Bloody Mary Mix

Pepper Jelly Margaritas

The Corduroy Jacket

Fig-and-Bourbon Fizz

Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktail

Sazerac

Sweet Tea Spritzer

Mexican Sangría

Peach Mojitos

Berry Bubbly Punch

Bourbon-Peach Cocktail

Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic

Vieux Carré

Julian's Old Fashioned

Cherry Frost

Strawberry Margarita Spritzers

Cajun Lemonade

Mint Julep Sweet Tea

Beer 'Garitas

Garden Cocktail

Sherry Cobbler

Bacon-Infused Bourbon

Watermelon Bellini

Rosemary-Satsuma Julep

Sparkling Autumn Chianti

Coke® Cocktails: Pause that Refreshes

Strawberry Basil Pineapple Ade

Tailgate Sipper

Pineapple Cranberry Wassail

The Dogwood

Pineapple-Rum-Tea Punch

Palafox Fizz

West Indies Paintbrush

Woodshed Margarita

Basil-Lemon Moonshine

Moonshine-Cherry Blush

Pimm Bob