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  4. Big Batch Summer Cocktails to Help You Keep Your Cool

Big Batch Summer Cocktails to Help You Keep Your Cool

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated July 27, 2021
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Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails
Credit: Chris M. Rogers; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Scorching summer temperatures call for a batch of refreshing drinks. Whether enjoyed poolside, lakeside, or on the front porch, fresh and flavorful cocktails can help you cool off and beat the heat. Incorporate the season's freshest produce into your beverages, like Peach Mojitos and Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails. Hosting a backyard barbecue? These recipes can easily be doubled or tripled for hosting a crowd. Make a batch or two of these crowd-pleasing drink recipes along with these party-perfect appetizers, which will carry you from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

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Big-Batch Bloody Marys

Big Batch Bloody Marys
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Big-Batch Bloody Marys

Now this is what we call a bottomless brunch! Never run out of Bloody Marys at your next morning event with this big-batch recipe.

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Papaya-Strawberry Cocktail

Papaya-Strawberry Cocktail
Credit: Wynn Myers; Prop Styling: Lauren Smith Ford

Recipe: Papaya-Strawberry Cocktail

At your next gathering, serve a cocktail filled with bright summer flavor. A favorite of San Antonio chef Johnny Hernandaz, this drink is best served over ice and garnished with orange slices and mint leaves.

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Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers

Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers

You could say we "Southernized" an Arnold Palmer even more by adding bourbon to it. Serve this fun drink for adults at your next happy hour.

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Big-Batch Mint Tea Juleps

Bourbon Mint Tea
Credit: Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Big Batch Mint Tea Juleps

Save on party prep time by stirring up a pitcher of Big-Batch Mint Tea Juleps. Serve it at your next Derby party or outdoor summer get-together.

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Big-Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch

Big Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Big-Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch

We're all about muddling and getting fancy with our cocktails but sometimes it's nice to just throw everything in a pitcher and let the ingredients get friendly with each other. Well that's exactly what you can do with this Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch. Make your hostess experience a little less stressful by throwing these six ingredients in a pitcher and get back to the other important parts of party planning.

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Watermelon Margaritas

Pink Cadillac Margarita Cocktail
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Watermelon Margaritas

Make a batch of festive, bright pink margaritas for your next taco party. Watch our how-to video for easy, step-by-step instructions.

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Strawberry Margarita Spritzers

Beer 'Garitas
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Strawberry Margarita Spritzers

Beat the heat with this colorful cocktail. Daiquiri mix takes its fruity flavor to the next level.

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Mojitarita

Tequila Mojitos Still

Recipe: Mojitarita

Guests will love this riff on two classic summer cocktails. Make the simple syrup the night before, and quickly whip up this crowd-pleasing cocktail before company arrives. Follow our how-to for perfecting the recipe.

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Elderflower-Champagne Cocktail

Elderflower-Champagne Cocktail with flower ice cubes
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs

Recipe: Elderflower-Champagne Cocktail

With only three ingredients, this cocktail is as refreshing as it is easy to make. Be sure to get a good-quality rosé or Prosecco so all of the ingredients have their moment to shine. For added pizazz at your next garden party, serve over floral-infused ice cubes.  

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Tarragon-Hibiscus Gin Spritzer

Tarragon-Hibiscus Gin Spritzer
Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Tarragon-Hibiscus Gin Spritzer

This cocktail isn't too tart, or too sweet. It strikes the perfect balance making it an ideal summer sipper. The recipe can even be scaled up for a large crowd.

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Big-Batch Cajun Lemonade

Big-Batch Cajun Lemonade
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Big-Batch Cajun Lemonade

Liven up traditional lemonade with rum and a teaspoon of Tabasco.

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Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails

Summerttime Cocktail
Credit: Chris M. Rogers

Recipe: Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails

What says summer more than fresh watermelon juice? Top it off with honeysuckle vodka, lemon-lime soda, and mint for a thirst-quenching cocktail.

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Lemon-Basil Spritzer

Lemon-Basil Spritzer
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Lemon-Basil Spritzer

It doesn't get much easier than this cocktail recipe. Our Lemon-Basil Spritzer requires just three ingredients and you probably already have them in your pantry. We love the spontaneity that can come from quickly whipping up a cocktail on a dime.

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Lavender-Plum Shrub

Lavender-Plum Shrub
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Lavender-Plum Shrub

A shrub is a tangy, fruit and vinegar-based old-fashioned cocktail. The key is letting it sit so that all the ingredients can meld together. You'll love fresh herbs in this drink, plus it's a great make-ahead drink for parties.

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Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea

Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea

You may be skeptical of this drink's qualification as a cocktail, but we politely disagree with you. Really anything can be a cocktail with your favorite spirit and a good mixer! That's why we love this hard twist on our favorite peach iced tea recipe.

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Sweet Tea Mule

Sweet Tea Mule
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sweet Tea Mule

Here's another boozy spin on sweet tea. A Sweet Tea Mule is the party-ready drink that we'll be sipping on all summer.

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Old Fashioned

Old Fashioned Cocktail
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Old Fashioned

Did you know the Old Fashioned is thought to be the first drink to be called a cocktail? We love this sweet twist on the classic drink. The addition of lemon-lime soda water adds just the right amount of sweetness to adjust your palate to the original time-honored sipper.

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Spicy Bourbon Citrus Punch

Spicy Bourbon-Citrus Punch
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Spicy Bourbon Citrus Punch

This cocktail is sure to be the talk of the town at your next happy hour. Spicy ginger and bourbon add a bit of punch while the orange and lemon juices tone everything for a balanced flavor.

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Bourbon Cola Grenadine Slush

Bourbon Cola Grenadine Slush
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Bourbon Cola Grenadine Slush

You'll want to make this slush for the start of tailgate season. What could be better than America's favorite beverage (besides sweet tea, of course) paired with bourbon?

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Bourbon Slush

Bourbon Slush
Credit: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Bourbon Slush

No one likes a watered-down cocktail, so use this Bourbon Slush recipe to whip up a frozen cocktail that's tasty and oh-so-refreshing for hot summer days.

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Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas

Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas

Why not take a summer tea and make it into a fresh and citrusy adult beverage? We're going to sit back in a hammock with this one in hand.

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Pitcher Mojitos

Pitcher Mojitos
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Pitcher Mojitos

This recipe will spice up your next girls' night. In order to get the most out of your limes, make sure you buy tender ones from the store. Hard citrus often leads to less juice (and more work, which no one wants!).

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 22 Big-Batch Bloody Marys
    2 of 22 Papaya-Strawberry Cocktail
    3 of 22 Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers
    4 of 22 Big-Batch Mint Tea Juleps
    5 of 22 Big-Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch
    6 of 22 Watermelon Margaritas
    7 of 22 Strawberry Margarita Spritzers
    8 of 22 Mojitarita
    9 of 22 Elderflower-Champagne Cocktail
    10 of 22 Tarragon-Hibiscus Gin Spritzer
    11 of 22 Big-Batch Cajun Lemonade
    12 of 22 Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails
    13 of 22 Lemon-Basil Spritzer
    14 of 22 Lavender-Plum Shrub
    15 of 22 Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea
    16 of 22 Sweet Tea Mule
    17 of 22 Old Fashioned
    18 of 22 Spicy Bourbon Citrus Punch
    19 of 22 Bourbon Cola Grenadine Slush
    20 of 22 Bourbon Slush
    21 of 22 Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas
    22 of 22 Pitcher Mojitos

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