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Mix it up with 15+ must-try summer cocktail recipes
You’re going to need a lot of refreshing drink ideas for summer, so we’ve put together a hot list of favourite cocktails for you to shake, mix and pour.
Think summer, think cocktails. Start making plans to soak up the sunshine and good times with a glass in hand of something sweet, sour, creamy or slushy. With all the fruity summer cocktails you can shake a shaker at – from margs, martinis and mojitos to classics like cosmo and pina colada – we’ve got you covered for those lazy afternoon get-togethers and cruising on through from sundown to (tequila) sunrise…with a little help from an ice-cold espresso martini, maybe. Cheers!
Watermelon margarita
With watermelon in your fridge and some double-distilled El Jimador Blanco on your bar cart you can whip up the ultimate summer cooler. For this Frozen Watermelon Margarita recipe, you’ll need to plan ahead and freeze chopped watermelon for a few hours, ready to throw in the blender. The reward is a sweet, salty, zesty and refreshing drink that pops with colour and flavour.
Cosmopolitan
One of our favourite 90s throwbacks, the Cosmopolitan is a can’t-go-wrong summer cocktail choice for cheersing with any group of fruity vodka drink loving friends. Shake it up using triple-distilled, charcoal-filtered Vodka O, which is made from a mix of whey and pure Australian water for a clean, crisp finish. Or try a slushie twist by blending the ingredients with ice.
Pornstar martini
If you love tropical flavours and martinis, a passionfruit martini is going to be irresistible. Even better, make it a Pornstar martini. The cheekily named, sunny-coloured drink comes with a shot glass of prosecco on the side, and the secret to its dreamy passionfruit and vanilla flavour is premium, naturally flavoured Absolut Vanilla Vodka.
Mai Tai
Every good summer drinks list should have a tiki cocktail or two, and the true classic has got to be the Mai Tai. Popular since the 1940s, this Polynesian drink’s unique taste comes from the combo of light and dark rum, lime juice, orange liqueur, and almond syrup. The better the rum, the better the cocktail, so get on board the premium rum trend with Bumbu XO Rum – aged in bourbon barrels and finished in sherry casks, it has hints of orange, coffee and peppery spice.
Long Island iced tea
We’re seeing cola cocktails making a comeback – Aussie drinkers are teaming the classic mixer with red wine or rum in kalimotxos and cuba libres, and sipping their way back to the 70s with the multi-spirit Long Island iced tea cocktail. This refreshing highball is simple to make and brings together the best of the bar cart, with vodka, gin, tequila, rum and triple sec all joining the party. We love it with smooth Smirnoff Vodka, aromatic Roku Gin, rich The Kraken Spiced Rum and bright 818 Tequila Blanco.
Amaretto sour
Sweet and tangy with almond and citrus flavours, an Amaretto Sour is perfect to sip on at any time of year, but now’s the right time to enjoy one as you imagine yourself on a summer getaway in Italy. When you’re not whipping up sours, the Disaronno Amaretto liqueur will also come in handy for making Godfather cocktails with whisky. The Amaretto Sour is another cocktail that’s delicious in slushie form – just blend everything together with ice (no need to add egg white for this) and serve with a cherry on top.
Fairy Floss cocktail
Pink cocktails are big this summer and they don’t get much more Barbie-licious than this Fairy floss margarita. It’s made with creaming soda for the classic fairy floss flavour plus classic marg ingredients of lime juice, Cointreau and tequila – we recommend using handcrafted Patron Silver Tequila to make it taste extra special.
Espresso martini
Summer drinks don’t all have to be sweetness and light – darker ones like the Espresso martini are just as delicious in summertime as they are in the depths of winter. The iced long black of the cocktail world, this easy drink has become a firm favourite with Aussie coffee drinkers. Our version uses the classy combo of pure Absolut vodka and sweet Kahlúa coffee liqueur, plus freshly brewed espresso coffee to keep the party going on those long summer evenings.
Gin and tonic
A classic gin and tonic is perfection for refreshing summer drinking, and doesn’t require much thought beyond what garnish to pop into your glass. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with your G&Ts. Not only does switching up the gin let you taste the subtle differences between botanical recipes, but you can also experiment with different tonics and add fruity garnishes to give your drink a seasonal twist. Try Passion G&Ts made with
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, Berry G&Ts based on Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin or aromatic Apple and Mint G&Ts using 23rd Street Signature Gin.
Midori Splice
Putting tropical flavours like coconut, melon and pineapple in a cocktail is guaranteed to make it scream summer, and Midori Splice is the green-and-gold 80s cocktail whose job is just “beach”. Make it with trending Midori melon liqueur and iconic Malibu coconut liqueur, then tuck in a straw and slip on your shades to enjoy it.
Pina Colada
Love the coconut-pineapple combo, but not on board with the Midori revival? Find your summer happiness in a glass of freshly blended Pina Colada. Another retro delight for rum lovers, it can be made with white rum, dark rum or coconut rum liqueur and really hits the spot when you’re in the mood for a creamy tropical cocktail. For a smoking-hot twist, make it a Pina Colada Margarita by swapping the rum for tequila or coconut tequila liqueur.
Mojito
Mojitos and summer were made for each other, and you’re probably seeing a lot of mojito flavours like strawberry, coconut and watermelon popping up on your socials, but take a moment to appreciate the classic Mojito too. Whether you whip up the white rum original using delicate Bacardi Superior Rum or try a dark rum twist like our Dirty Mojito made with Bacardi Spiced Rum, you’ll enjoy the perfect balance of lime, sugar and mint refreshment.
Aperol spritz
These days summer equals spritz, so you’d better have the ingredients on hand to make everyone a classic when spritz o’clock hits. Our Aperol spritz recipe has the ratio, so you just need to make sure you have prosecco in the fridge, soda and wine glasses on standby and some great-tasting Aperol Aperitivo ready to pour.
Tequila Sunrise
This retro cocktail is riding the wave of tequila cocktail popularity, and no wonder – it’s easy to make, looks amazing and tastes delicious. All you need for a Tequila Sunrise is tequila, OJ, grenadine and aromatic bitters – the bright-red grenadine sinks to the bottom of the glass to create the two-tone sunrise effect. For the best flavour use an award-winning reposado tequila such as Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila or Vivir Tequila Reposado.
Summer mocktail ideas
Looking for non-alcoholic summer drinks? Get yourself a bottle of Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Bandwagon Zero Alcohol and make up a big batch of our Summer Mint Bramble Spritz. Prefer something tropical tasting? Our Passionfruit Sour Mocktail makes the perfect non-alc alternative to pornstar martinis so everyone can join in the cheers.
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