65 Spirited Cocktail Recipes Sure to Quench Your Thirst
Pink Cadillac Margaritas
Recipe: Pink Cadillac Margaritas
Fast Flourish: Rub rims of chilled glasses with a lime wedge, dip in a saucer of coarse salt and sparkling sugar, and twirl to coat.
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Mint Julep
Recipe: Mint Julep
A hallmark Southern cocktail, we always have the ingredients for a mint julep handy.
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Moscow Mules
Recipe: Moscow Mule
Served in a copper mug, this classic cocktail will keep you cool all summer long.
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Pitcher Mojitos
Recipe: Pitcher Mojitos
Don’t fuss with the cocktail shaker all night when you’re hosting. Whip up a batch of pitcher mojitos and enjoy the party yourself, too.
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Mississippi Bourbon Punch
Recipe: Mississippi Bourbon Punch
Muscadine wine stars in this spirited concoction of grenadine, bourbon, and a variety of fruit juices and sodas.
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Shoo-Fly Punch
Recipe: Shoo-Fly Punch
Ginger beer is a nonalcoholic fizzy beverage with a pop of spicy ginger. It's the flavor secret in this spicy but refreshing cocktail.
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Salty Dog Cocktail
Recipe: Salty Dog Cocktail
Don’t let this cocktail’s pretty color fool you: It’s not one of those too-sweet drinks. Refreshing and slightly tart, this simple cocktail recipe will be a hit with every party goer.
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Cranberry Mojito
Recipe: Cranberry Mojito
Introduce the tart fall flavor of cranberries to your favorite minty cocktail.
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Mississippi Mudslides
Recipe: 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.
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Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas
Recipe: Hibiscus-Mint Margaritas
Flowery hibiscus and cooling mint add a flavorful kick to this margarita.
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Sparkling Rum Punch
Recipe: Sparkling Rum Punch
You'll see smiles all around when these signature cocktails are offered at your festive fete.
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Ginger Beer
Recipe: Ginger Beer
Grab a pilsner glass and drop in a fresh cherry to complete this refreshingly fizzy cocktail.
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Apple-Pie Infused Bourbon
Recipe: 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.
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White Wine Sangria
Recipe: White Wine Sangria
Chilled white wine and fresh peaches make this sangria ready for every summer luncheon.
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French 75
Recipe: French 75
This timeless cocktail recipe is dressy enough for a fancy dinner party but easy enough for a sunset drink on the porch.
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The Corduroy Jacket
Recipe: The Corduroy Jacket
For a slightly more potent version of this retro-inspired cocktail, substitute hard cider or champagne for the sparkling apple cider.
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Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktail
Recipe: Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktail
We used Mississippi's Cathead Honeysuckle Flavored Vodka to give the cocktail a delicate floral note, but plain vodka works too.
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Berry Bubbly Punch
Recipe: Berry Bubbly Punch
This recipe is adapted from a Champagne punch found in the first-ever cocktail book published in the United States in 1862, The Bartender's Guide by Jerry Thomas.
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Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic
Recipe: Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic
Orange juice and cranberries lend a bit of festive flair to the classic gin and tonic.
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Julian's Old Fashioned
Recipe: Julian’s Old Fashioned
For the Kentucky Bourbon afficionados in your bunch, make Julian's Old Fashioned the go-to cocktail for your next gathering.
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Cherry Frost
Recipe: Cherry Frost
This refreshing drink is composed of black cherry liqueur, brandy, crushed ice, and then topped off with sparkling white wine. Of course, no cocktail is complete without a maraschino cherry on top!
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Strawberry Margarita Spritzers
Recipe: Strawberry Margarita Spritzers
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.
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Mint Julep Sweet Tea
Recipe: Mint Julep Sweet Tea
This iced cocktail features the best of two classic Southern drinks: the mint julep and sweet tea. For best results, sip in a rocking chair on a front porch somewhere.
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Garden Cocktail
Recipe: 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.
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Watermelon Bellini
Recipe: 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.
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Sparkling Autumn Chianti
Recipe: 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.
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Apple Butter Sparklers
Recipe: Apple Butter Sparklers
For a kid-friendly version, substitute sparkling apple juice for the Prosecco.
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Pineapple-Rum-Tea Punch
Recipe: Pineapple-Rum-Tea Punch
Pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality, so welcome party guests with this springy punch.
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Tomato-Tequila Fizz
Recipe: Tomato-Tequila Fizz
It's not just for looks; garnishing adds fragrance and flavor to any cocktail. Here, grape tomato halves with a spring of mint bring color and a note of freshness.
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Hot Toddy
Recipe: Hot Toddy
This classic cocktail will soothe a sore throat and warm you up on cold winter nights.