Food and Recipes Drinks Cool And Refreshing Drink Recipes To Make All Summer Long From celebratory bubbles to classic porch-sipping sweet tea, you'll want to serve these throughout the season. By Southern Living Editors Updated on May 10, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin Fruit-filled, kid-friendly punches and adult-pleasing cocktails are ideal treats for hot days. Of course, staying hydrated in the summer takes precedence, but sometimes a Frozen Lemonade or a glass of Peach Sweet Tea just hit the spot. There's nothing quite like kicking back in a lawn chair, or on the porch swing, with a cool, refreshing summer drink in hand. We've included a wide range of summer drink recipes in this roundup, from Peach Margaritas to Strawberry Piña Coladas to Lemonade Iced Tea and more. There's a drink to match every flavor moment you may be craving this summer. With kid-friendly lemonades and punches, there's a drink option for everyone. Worry less this summer about finding that go-to sipper because we've got you covered with these refreshing summer drinks. 01 of 48 Texas Ranch Water Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman Ranch Water is so simple to make we'd say it's practically impossible to mess up. However, the Topo Chico is a nonnegotiable. 02 of 48 Blackberry Bramble Pisco Sours Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos Pisco is a South American grape brandy popular in Peru and Chile. If you can't find it in your area, feel free to substitute white tequila, grappa, or vodka. Don't be alarmed by the strength of this new classic; it's a cocktail that's meant to be sipped slowly and savored. 03 of 48 Peach Margaritas Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This margarita recipe is here to prove that peaches aren't just for cobblers. 04 of 48 Tarragon-Hibiscus Gin Spritzer Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely With the ideal balance of tart and sweet, this unique citrusy is sure to stand out at any gathering. You can easily keep it alcohol-free and ditch the gin or scale up the recipe for a large crowd. 05 of 48 Peach Lemonade Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Crisp and fruity, this non-alcoholic peach lemonade is ready to be your summer go-to. Serve it in an ice cold glass with a fresh peach slice, and if you want to spike it, we recommend starting with 1/2 a cup of white rum or bourbon. 06 of 48 Mint Julep Slush Caitlin Bensel Juleps aren't only for Derby day. This twist on the classic is ideal for cooling down on the hottest of summer days. All you have to do is break out the blender. 07 of 48 Salty Dog Cocktail Caitlin Bensel This refreshing recipe is a great option for those who prefer their cocktails to be on the tart side. 08 of 48 Cucumber-Mint Mojitos Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Homemade simple syrup is the key to this refreshing drink. Every good bartender should know how to make it, and once you've mastered the recipe you'll never buy simple syrup from the store again. 09 of 48 Watermelon Sangria Katie Jacobs This festive pink drink has a crisp finish from fresh mint and lime garnishes. It's made for summer sipping by the pool. 10 of 48 Vodka Cherry Limeade Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Similar to a Dirty Shirley, we consider this cocktail a stir-and-serve drink. 11 of 48 Grapefruit Margarita Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn Give your classic margarita recipe the night off and give this grapefruit spin a try. 12 of 48 Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin This tea is sure to add a little pep in your step. We took two of our favorite things to enjoy in summertime, peaches and ice tea, and added a boozy spin. 13 of 48 Frozen Lemonade Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford Craving a Chick-fil-A frozen lemonade on a Sunday? Don't worry, we think this recipe comes darn pretty close. 14 of 48 Pineapple-Sweet Tea Punch Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry This punch will make you feel like you're relaxing on a tropical island. Refreshing and easy to make! 15 of 48 Strawberry-Basil Sweet Tea Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Now this is a fun seasonal drink, if we've ever heard of one. It gives traditional sweet tea a run for its money! 16 of 48 Sweet Tea Mint Julep Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen You'll be off to the races after taking a sip of this fun mash-up drink. Two Southern classics come together for a pairing that just makes sense. The tea will need to steep for about an hour, so make sure to complete that step in advance of when you want to make your juleps. 17 of 48 Raspberry Beer Cocktail Charles Walton IV Guests will love the raspberries that sit atop this festive beverage. Garnish the mixture of beer, raspberry lemonade, and vodka with lemon and lime slices. 18 of 48 Paloma Getty Images/bhofack2 If you're looking for sweet, sour, and fruity all in one glass, a Paloma is the cocktail for you. 19 of 48 Strawberry Piña Coladas Photographer and props: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall This sweet treat can be served with or without the alcohol. 20 of 48 Sparkling Cherry Limeade Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Annette Joseph; Food Styling: Cynthia Groseclose This limeade recipe makes enough to serve 8. While the recipe is non-alcoholic as is, you can add tequila if desired. 21 of 48 Mint Lemonade Iced Tea Jennifer Davick Lemonade and fresh mint leaves provide a flavorful fruit twist to this classic summer drink. One reader suggested adding a tablespoon of orange-flavored vodka to a glass of the drink to add a grown-up kick. 22 of 48 Carolina Peach Sangria Jennifer Davick Add fresh summer peaches and raspberries to this Southern version of the classic wine punch. Make the sangria the day before to allow the flavors to blend. 23 of 48 Classic Transfusion Cocktail Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Even if you're not an avid golfer, this is a drink recipe that you should have in your cocktail book. 24 of 48 Pineapple-Basil Tea Iain Bagwell Use up the leftover basil in your garden in this refreshing, fruity tea. You may even convert the kids to tea enthusiasts with this recipe. 25 of 48 French 75 Cocktail Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We suggest making your French 75 with Hendrick's gin for the cucumber infusion. 26 of 48 Blueberry-Lemon Iced Tea Photo: Van Chaplin The sweet, crisp taste of lemonade and blueberries meet the bold, strong taste of iced tea. If you need us, we'll be somewhere sitting on a porch swing with a glass of this tea in our hand. 27 of 48 Watermelon Margaritas Dotdash Meredith Put a twist on your traditional margarita with a hint of sweetness from fresh watermelon. Garnish with mini slices of watermelon for a a pretty presentation and bonus snack. 28 of 48 Big-Batch Cajun Lemonade Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall This refreshing lemonade gets an upgrade inspired by the bayou with rum, vodka, and a teaspoon of Tabasco. If you make a batch ahead of time, but sure to wait to add the club soda until just before serving. 29 of 48 Berry Patch Cocktail Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley This brightly colored cocktail is not only pretty but is also refreshing and easy to pull together. 30 of 48 Elderflower-Champagne Cocktail Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs From spring to summer, this three-ingredient cocktail will be a hit no matter the occasion. Just mix your favorite quality rosé or Prosecco, sparkling water, and elderflower liqueur together and pour over ice. 31 of 48 Bee's Knees Honey Cocktail Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele This recipe dates back to the Prohibition era, and we like what they were thinking. This summery cocktail will make you the star hostess of your next garden party. 32 of 48 Frozen Margarita Antonis Achilleos This adult slushy is a fan-favorite for a reason. Blend up frozen limeade, silver tequila, orange liqueur, and a touch of orange juice for a can't-beat frozen treat. Serve it in a salt-rimmed glass and lime wheel. 33 of 48 Frozen Peach Old Fashioned Photo: Hector Sanchez It doesn't get any easier or more flavorful than this fruit-forward boozy beverage. Simply toss everything in a blender and pulse until smooth. 34 of 48 Classic Sweet Tea Alison Miksch You'll want to keep a pitcher full of this liquid gold in the fridge all summer long. 35 of 48 Strawberry Margarita Spritzers Becky Luigart-Stayner Club soda, fresh whole strawberries, and frozen daiquiri mix set these margarita spritzers apart. Serve on sultry summer days and enjoy the fizzy sweetness of these colorful cocktails. 36 of 48 Pitcher Mojitos Caitlin Bensel When it comes to hosting, you don't want to be stuck behind the bar all night, which is what makes this pre-batched pitcher of mojitos even better. Be sure to select the tenderest limes you can find because this recipe calls for a cup of fresh squeezed juice (about 8 limes). 37 of 48 Classic Margarita Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We like to keep it simple when it comes to the good stuff. All you need for this classic is lime juice, orange liqueur, and tequila. 38 of 48 Spiced Tea Bourbon Refresher Becky Luigart Stayner Think of this drink as the extra spunky Arnold Palmer. Homemade honey-infused simple syrup and orange wedges make a totally Southern and delicious cocktail. 39 of 48 Frozen Raspberry Lemonade Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Kids and adults alike will be asking for more of this bright, non-alcoholic frozen drink— especially when you take advantage of raspberries at their sweetest and juiciest in the summertime. 40 of 48 Aperol-Bourbon Fizz Becky Luigart Stayner While we love a classic Aperol spritz, we also can't say no to anything with bourbon. Simply combine the ingredients in your favorite highball glass, then top with club soda and garnish with an orange peel. 41 of 48 Rum Swizzles Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos Beat the sizzling heat with an ice-cold tropical treat. This five-ingredient, pitcher rum cocktail will take you from day to night. 42 of 48 Watermelon-Mint Margaritas Southern Living Use leftover watermelon to make this slushy summer drink. Mint leaves and grated lime rind give it an extra pop of fresh flavor. 43 of 48 Basil Bourbon Orange Smash Becky Luigart Stayner No matter the season, though we're partial to front-porch sipping come summer, this citrus-forward cocktail is a smashing success. Muddle bourbon, basil simple syrup, and orange juice and wedges together and serve over crushed ice. 44 of 48 Strawberry Fields Cocktail Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely For a kid-friendly refreshment, you can easily leave out the gin. For gatherings, we recommend making a large alcohol-free batch with the gin on the side to be added to your guests' liking. 45 of 48 Frozen Blueberry Lemonade Alison Miksch Whether for a breakfast treat or an afternoon refreshment, this smoothie-like drink combines the sweet and tart flavors of lemonade and in-season blueberries. 46 of 48 Berry Splash Beth Dreiling Hontzas Mix up a colorful drink for the whole family with cherry drink mix and white cranberry juice. Serve Berry Splash with blueberry-filled ice cubes. 47 of 48 Ginger-and-Honey Sweet Tea Jennifer Davick Ginger and honey add a sweet zing to this classic brew of tea. 48 of 48 Key Lime Daiquiris Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Don't wait for a beach vacation to enjoy a refreshing daiquiri. With just four ingredients, grenadine gives the daiquiri a red hue while fresh Key lime juice gives it a balanced tart flavor. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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