10 Easy Summer Cocktail Recipes

The lazy days of summer are almost upon us, and here at the Beverage Factory we're looking forward to long days relaxing in the sunshine with a cool beverage in hand. We know that the last thing you want to do this summer is spend hours in the kitchen mastering complicated cocktails for you and your friends, so we've assembled a list of 10 easy summer cocktail recipes for you to enjoy. These simple recipes can be made with 5 ingredients or less, and are packed with sweet fruit, tropical coconut, and refreshing iced tea to help you savor the taste of summer.

BANANA COLADA (SERVES 4)

• 2 ripe bananas (peeled, quartered, and frozen)
• 1 cup canned crushed pineapple
• 3 ounces coconut rum or dark rum
• 1 cup canned cream of coconut
• 1 lime (halved)

Puree bananas and pineapple in a blender until smooth, then add rum, cream of coconut, juice from half the lime, and 2 cups of ice cubes. Blend until smooth and frothy and pour into glasses. Garnish with slices of the remaining lime and toasted shredded coconut if desired, then serve and enjoy!

STRAWBERRY BASIL LEMONADE COCKTAIL (SERVES 1)

• 1.5 ounces vodka or gin
• Lemonade
• Fresh strawberries (chopped)
• Basil leaves
• Lemon slices and whole strawberries (optional garnish)

Mix ice, 1.5 ounces vodka or gin, lemonade, chopped strawberries, and basil leaves in a tall glass, then stir and enjoy!

GUAVA DAIQUIRI (SERVES 1)

• 1-1/2 cup guava nectar
• 1-1/2 ounces clear rum
• 5 basil leaves

Layer basil leaves and ice in a rocks glass. Combine the guava nectar and rum in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Then, strain over ice into glass and enjoy!

SWEET TEA SANGRIA

• 1/2 gallon of black tea
• 1/2-3/4 cup sugar (depending on your taste)
• 1 750-ml bottle of Moscato (chilled)
• 2 sliced lemons
• Mint, lemon slices, berries, or other fruit (optional garnish)

Prepare 1/2 gallon of black tea and pour over sugar in a pitcher, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Then fill glasses with ice, squeeze lemons over ice, and fill the glasses 1/2 to 2/3 of the way with the Moscato. Fill the rest of the glass with the sweetened tea. Garnish with mint, lemon slices, berries, or other fruit as desired, and enjoy!

PINEAPPLE PARTY PUNCH (SERVES 8-10)

• 1 750-ml bottle of Prosecco (chilled)
• 1/2 cup white or coconut rum
• 4 cups pineapple juice (chilled)
• 2 cups frozen pineapple

Combine Prosecco, rum, and pineapple in a pitcher. To keep it chilled, add the frozen pineapple, then serve and enjoy!

GREEN TEA MOJITO (SERVES 1)

• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 4 large mint leaves
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 cup green tea (chilled)
• 1 ounce white rum

Muddle the lime juice, mint, and sugar together in a glass, then add ice until the glass is about 3/4 full. Pour in the green tea and rum, stir, and enjoy!

WATERMELON MARGARITA (SERVES 2)

• 1 small ripe watermelon (cubed)
• 2-1/2 ounces tequila
• 2-1/2 tablespoons lime juice
• Sea salt (to line glass rims)

Use a blender to blend the cubed watermelon, then pour through a strainer to remove seeds. Add 1-1/4 cups watermelon juice back to the blender along with the tequila, lime juice, and ice. Blend until smooth, then serve and enjoy!

COCONUT GIN AND TONIC (SERVES 1)

• 2 ounces coconut water
• 2 ounces gin
• 2 ounces tonic water
• 1-2 tablespoons lime juice
• Fresh mint or basil (optional garnish)

Combine ice, coconut water, gin, tonic water, and lime juice in a serving glass. Stir, garnish with fresh mint or basil if desired, and enjoy!

MELON BALL COCKTAIL (SERVES 1)

• 6 melon balls
• 5 ounces white wine
• 3 ounces sparkling water

Ball melons and freeze for at least an hour before serving. Then, combine white wine and sparkling water in a tall glass. Stir, top with melon balls and ice, and enjoy!

CITRUS-HONEY BEER SHANDY (SERVES 4)

• 1-1/2 tablespoons honey
• 4.5 ounces vodka
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 12-ounce hefeweizen beer

Mix honey with 3 tablespoons water, stirring well, then add honey mixture, vodka, orange juice, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a small pitcher. Add beer, serve over ice with orange slice garnishes as desired, and enjoy!