The weather is warming up, and we’re ready to enjoy the summer sun on a tropical beach getaway or at the pool from our backyard. You can’t beat an ice-cold summer cocktail when you’re in the mood for a drink. Whether it’s warm and sunny outside, or you just want to celebrate the season, you might be looking for that perfect summer cocktail (or mocktail) to accompany you while you lounge by the pool. We’ll share some of our favorite summer cocktails and mocktails to sip on while you sunbathe in your floral swimsuit! 

Bahama Mama Breeze

Welcome to the Tiki bar! Wear your tropical bikini and sip on this Bahama Mama Breeze, a cocktail that is sure to keep you cool and refreshed on a hot summer day. This cocktail drink gets its delightful fruity flavor from tropically-inspired ingredients: golden rum, pineapple juice, coconut liqueur, banana liquor, and a splash of orange juice, all mixed in a highball glass with crushed ice. A perfect drink for the pool or beach, it is made to be served with a bright colored paper umbrella and slice of lime. For a beach-inspired flair, dip the glass rim in pink sugar!

Ingredients

1 ounce golden or amber rum

1 ounce pineapple juice

1 ounce orange juice

½ ounce of banana liqueur

½ ounce of coconut liqueur

Garnish:

Pink sugar

Lime wedge

Cocktail umbrella

Make it a Mocktail

To make a virgin Bahama Mama Breeze, omit banana liqueur, replace coconut liqueur with coconut milk, and replace golden rum with lime soda. 

Directions

Using a jigger and a cocktail shaker, mix ingredients together, add a few ice cubes, and shake until cold. Pour pink sugar onto a plate, then run a lime wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass. Dip the glass in the pink sugar to cover the rim. Strain the cocktail shaker and pour the drink into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and a cocktail umbrella.

Classic Piña Colada

Piña coladas are a well-known summer classic. A blend of frozen pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and sweet rum is layered over crushed ice for the most refreshing cocktail. Although there are numerous variations on this popular drink, we love this classic recipe. This sweet and creamy piña colada is the perfect way to kick off your summer in your tankini swimsuit and your favorite sunhat. 

Ingredients

2 ounces of white rum

1 cup of frozen pineapple

1/2 cup of pineapple juice

1 ounce of cream of coconut

Garnish: 

Pineapple slice

Make it a Mocktail

To make a virgin piña colada, substitute rum with 1 ounce of pineapple juice and an additional 1 ounce of cream of coconut.

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a cocktail glass and serve with a pineapple wedge as garnish.

Watermelon Margarita with Basil Syrup

We only want to talk about two things all summer long – our favorite summer swimsuit look and watermelon. And when you mix the two together, it only makes sense that you should enjoy this fresh blend of watermelon, basil syrup, and tequila over ice with a sugared rim, shaken, not stirred. Watermelon margaritas are a refreshing cocktail perfect for your next pool party or for enjoying while you watch the sunset. This recipe uses fresh watermelon juice and basil syrup to create a unique spin on a classic margarita. With each sip, think of everything you love about this time of year.

Ingredients

1 ½ ounce of tequila

1 ounce of lime juice

2 ounces of watermelon juice

1 ounce of basil simple syrup (see recipe below)

Simple Syrup:

5 basil leaves

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of water

Garnish:

Lime wedge

Make it a Mocktail

Substitute tequila with watermelon juice, and increase lime juice to 2 ounces.

Directions

To make basil simple syrup, combine 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, and 5 basil leaves into a small to medium sized saucepan. Heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove it from the heat and remove basil leaves from the simple syrup. 

Mix all drink ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain and pour into cocktail glasses.

Lime Gin Rickey

This lime gin rickey is perfect for your next summer barbecue and pool party. A lot of our favorite cocktails are often made with vodka, rum, or tequila, but lime rickeys are a little different and have their own unique appeal. Our lime gin rickey cocktail is made with lime juice and a fresh mint simple syrup with sparkling seltzer. This simple summer drink is refreshing and always delicious -- a matching companion to your stylish summer bikini tops and high waisted swim bottoms. Pour yourself this summertime favorite, grab a beach chair and enjoy!

Ingredients

1 ounce of mint simple syrup (see recipe below)

1 ½ ounces of gin

1 ounce of lime juice

Seltzer water

Simple Syrup:

Handful of mint leaves

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of water

Make it a Mocktail

To make a lime rickey mocktail, omit the gin and substitute with more seltzer water.

Directions

Make the mint simple syrup by combining 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, and a handful of mint leaves into a small to medium-sized saucepan. Heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Once sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and remove mint leaves from the simple syrup. 

Combine mint simple syrup, gin, and lime juice in a glass. Pour seltzer water over ingredients and mix.

Tropical Mai Tai

Invented in the 1930s by Victor Bergeron (AKA "Trader Vic"), the mai tai is one of the most famous rum cocktails in the world. Our take on this exotic drink conjures up visions of warm tropical breezes, sandy beaches in the most beautiful locations, and palm trees swaying in the breeze. The Mai Tai cocktail is a combination of fresh pineapple juice, lime, orange curaçao and dark Jamaican rum. Add crushed ice and a fresh pineapple wedge and before you know it, you’ll be lounging on the sand in your favorite beach cover up. 

Ingredients

2 oz of dark rum

2 oz of golden rum

2oz pineapple juice

1 oz orange juice

1 oz orange liqueur

Splash of grenadine

Make it a Mocktail

Substitute dark rum, golden rum, and orange liqueur with 1 additional ounce of pineapple juice, 1 additional ounce of orange juice, 1 ounce of lime juice, and 1 ounce of seltzer water.

Directions

Combine all ingredients (except the grenadine) in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Pour into a cocktail glass and add a splash of grenadine on top.

Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade

Perfect on a hot summer's day, our sophisticated take on the classic summer lemonade is made with fine elderflower liqueur, making this refreshing drink memorable. Our sparkling elderflower liqueur is a combination of freshly squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, elderflower liqueur, and sparkling water to cool you off. The elderflower liqueur gives this cocktail a really nice floral taste and will pair perfectly with an elegant maillot swimsuit for your days of lounging by the pool. Tangy lemonade leaves an interesting sweet note while seltzer water to bring it all together in this twist on summer lemonade. With hints of citrus and floral notes, it is the perfect drink for sweet summer days. 

Ingredients

1 ounce of elderflower liqueur

1 ounce of lemon juice

1 ounce of simple syrup

Seltzer water

Simple Syrup:

1/2 of sugar

1/2 cup of water

Make it a Mocktail

Substitute elderflower liqueur with elderflower syrup. 

Directions

Make the simple syrup by combining ½ cup of sugar, ½ cup of water in a small-sized saucepan. Heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Once sugar has dissolved, remove from heat.

Pour elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lemon juice, and seltzer water in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold, and pour the mixture into the glass.

Refresh Your Summer with Cocktails and Swimsuits

Summer is that perfect time to enjoy a variety of cocktails and mocktails while lounging by the pool in your new swimsuit. Whether you plan on making these cocktails for the 4th of July or at your next pool party, these refreshing cocktail and mocktail recipes are for everyone to enjoy. Put some of these drinks on your list of summer favorites, and enjoy!