The Summer Cocktails Bartenders Swear By

Though I made it through the rough New York winter fueled primarily by martinis and Manhattans, the oasis of the summer cocktail finally beckons. Rising temperatures are a rally call to replace those heavier, booze-forward recipes and relax into more refreshing beverages — perfect for everything from beach to BBQ, pool to porch. 

Summer Cocktail Tips from Experts

With so many spirits, flavors, and mixers to choose from, how do you know what’s best for your at-home cocktail journey? Go for light and tropical flavors, like Deep Eddy Pineapple Vodka or Malibu Banana Rum, according to Charlotte Voisey, head bartender of Bar Tetto Rooftop and No. 79 Bar & Terrace in New York City. She also likes adding bubbles for an effervescent summer vibe, like Roederer’s Estate Brut, an under $20 favorite of mine.

But above all, a great summer cocktail has to be cool and refreshing. “Grapefruit soda and tequila is a match made in heaven,” says Richie Barrow, Hero Bar’s manager of food and beverage. “Gin goes great with anything apple, or try a great sparkling water and seasonal fruit for garnish. And vodka goes with everything.” He suggests using frozen citrus slices to chill drinks and “infuse it with bright flavor as they melt, making each sip more dynamic.” Another suggestion? Reach for garden-inspired ingredients you may have on-hand, like fresh herbs, cucumbers, jalapenos, lemons, limes and grapefruit.  

Meanwhile, Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, tropical cocktail expert and creator of Omni’s new Tiki Social menu, suggests starting with a base spirit that can layer well with flavor boosters like lime juice or coconut water. Think gold rum, such as Bacardi Reserva, or a smooth vodka like Grey Goose.

I also love the ease of ready-to-drink cans, like the range of flavors from Aura Bora sparkling waters. And when I want a little extra, Fever Tree has an excellent assortment of mixers. For more options, see our favorite canned cocktails below.

Summer Cocktail Recipes 

Looking for more inspiration? Here are some simple, bartender-approved recipes to try in the comfort of your own home.

Limelight Fizz

“This effervescent cocktail combines the smooth and refined taste of Belvedere Vodka or Fords Gin with the cooling notes of cucumber basil syrup,” says Zach Newsom, Food & Beverage Manager at Limelight Aspen. “The drink is finished off with a zesty lemon squeeze and a dash of celery bitters to introduce a unique herbal essence.”

Ingredients 

– 2 oz Belvedere Vodka or Fords Gin
– 3/4 oz cucumber basil syrup 
– 3/4 oz lemon juice 
– 2 dashes celery bitters 
– 3 oz soda water
– Garnish: cucumber slice 
– Glass: highball

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into glass filled with ice, top with soda water and garnish.

Pineapple Piña Colada

“When it comes to summer cocktails at home, keep it simple, fresh, and fun,” says Nelson Lemus, Chinola’s global brand ambassador. “A great drink doesn’t require a long list of ingredients — just quality ones. For a tropical twist on the classic piña colada, I mix equal parts pineapple liqueur, white rum, and unsweetened coconut milk, plus a touch of simple syrup. It’s vibrant, easy to make, and instantly transports you to the beach — even if you’re just on your rooftop.”

Ingredients

– 1 oz Chinola Pineapple Liqueur 
– 1 oz white rum
– 1 oz unsweetened coconut milk
– 1/2 oz simple syrup 
– Garnish: pineapple slice and/or cherry
– Glass: hurricane

Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake and strain into glass with ice, top with garnish.

Freezer Berry Martini

“Batching a gin cocktail for summer makes things easier on you and opens the door for creative flavor,” says Friends of Friends bartender Abe Vucekovich. “I like infusing seasonal fruits — strawberries work beautifully — and Fords Gin is perfect for it, since its botanicals still shine through. Let strawberries steep in gin with a splash of dry sherry or vermouth. Strain out the fruit and stash the mix in your freezer — you’ve got a freezer-ready berry martini made for summer.”

Ingredients

– 3 oz strawberry-infused Fords Gin    
– 3/4 oz fino sherry     
– 1/4 oz bianco vermouth 
– Garnish: clamshell strawberries, hulled and halved
– Glass: Nick & Nora 

Combine all ingredients in a sealed container and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Strain out strawberries and bottle. Store in the freezer until ready to serve.

Daiquiri

“Simply put, there is no better time to enjoy a daiquiri than summertime. All it takes is the Holy Trinity of ingredients: rum, lime, and sugar,” says Brian Miller, bar manager at New Jersey’s Stockton Inn. He recommends using, or blending together any of these favorite rums: Transcontinental High Seas, Foursquare Probitas, Hamilton Breezeway, Jamaican Blonde or White Stache, El Dorado 3yr, and La Favorite 52.5abv.

Ingredients

– 3/4 oz lime juice
– 1/2 cane syrup
– 2 oz rum of choice
– 1 lime shell (already juiced, do not pinch, just drop in shaker)
– Garnish: dehydrated lime wheel.
– Glass: coupe

Add all ingredients into a shaker, and shake. Strain into glass. 

Summer Hunt

“At Bar Clara, one of our go-to cocktails for summer is the Summer Hunt, our twist on the classic spiked Arnold Palmer,” says Alex Mirzaian, the hotel’s food and beverage director. “Instead of traditional black tea, we use a tropical green tea that’s transformed into a flavorful syrup. This is then mixed with vodka and a splash of Italian amaro, our pick being Meletti Amaro, chosen for its vibrant bittersweet character. A pour of sparkling lemonade brings it all together for a cocktail that’s bright, refreshing, and easy to make at home. For the best flavor, we recommend using a fresh, slightly floral vodka like Hangar One Vodka.” 

Ingredients

– 2  oz Hanger One Vodka
– 1/4 oz Meletti Amaro
– 1/2 oz lemon juice
– 1 oz Art of Tea Happy Tea Syrup (or tea of your choosing)
– 4 oz Fever Tree Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade
– Garnish: dehydrated lemon wheel
– Glass: Collins

Add vodka, amaro, lemon juice, and tea syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until well-chilled. Strain into glass and top with lemonade.

Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails 

Want to skip the mixing and get down to the drinking? Stick with a ready-to-drink or canned cocktail, which can be simply cracked open and poured. These beverages are also an excellent hostess gift and can be easily toted to the beach, pool, or park.

SipMargs

I am a tequila girl, and I love a good margarita, hold the sweet. If it were up to me, I’d be happy eschewing the triple sec and sticking with a splash of agave or simple syrup, which is why I hoard these sparkling SipMargs canned cocktails as soon as the weather gets warm. With just 6 grams of cane sugar, you’ll get a smooth, tasty, natural-tasting cocktail in five different flavors, like coconut, spicy, and mezcal.

Via Carota Craft Cocktails

As a New Yorker, Via Carota is special pleasure to dine at. But thanks to the cult-level status of its scrumptious Italian menu (and a visit from Taylor Swift), reservations are elusive. Thankfully, I can enjoy the restaurant’s Italian libations at home with this collection of stunning, crystal bottles of craft cocktails. For summer, I keep the white negroni, spritz, and French 75 refrigerated and close at hand, but you can also choose from 10 other varieties.

NUTRL

Vodka and soda is a classic summer combo, and I especially appreciate NUTRL (read “neutral”) because they are low ABV (alcohol by volume) at only 4.5 and only 100 calories per can. Also, I like its simple combination of vodka, real juice, and seltzer. My favorites are the watermelon, cranberry orange, and strawberry lemonade, though it comes in a total of 14 flavors. 

Finnish Long Drink

Created to mimic a classic grapefruit and gin cocktail served by the Finns at the 1952 Summer Olympics, this canned concoction is refreshing, lightly effervescent, and, in addition to the original citrus, comes in four additional flavors like pineapple and peach. You can also grab a version in a higher ABV of 8.5% and a zero-sugar version.

Vita Coco Captain Morgan Pina Colada

Pina colada in a can? Yes, please. Make it this mix of spiced rum, coconut water, and pineapple. You can also try it in strawberry daiquiri and lime mojito flavors for more tropical tastes.

Cutwater Canned Cocktails

Cutwater was a pioneer in canned cocktails, and it has an excellent variety to choose from. However, when it comes to warm-weather sipping, I’m a huge fan of the gin Collins. At 9% alcohol, it’s a sipping situation, not a gulp, so I like to pour the can over a tall highball of ice. But I’m never too snooty to drink straight from the can if it’s nice and cold.

Featured Image Credit: Joanna Stołowicz/ Unsplash+