Cool Cocktails for Hot Summer Days & Nights

Cocktails are a great way to relax and cool down on a hot summer day or night. We love to hang out on our patio with a cool cocktail after gardening. This gives us a chance to slow down and enjoy the scenery we have worked so hard to create and maintain. What a fantastic reward for some hot summer work.

Most of the recipes outlined below have fruit, herbs, or even jalapeño peppers that you might have growing in your garden. If you don’t have herbs growing in your garden, these recipes should be the perfect inspiration to plant some basil and mint in a pot. The recipes below are categorized by the type of liquor including vodka, rum, gin, tequila, limoncello, and Blue Curacao.

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Vodka

Jalapeño Moscow Mule

This is a great twist on the Moscow Mule, which is a light refreshing cocktail that is perfect for summer. This recipe can be found at Wine and Glue. Make an easy jalapeño vodka infusion the day before you want to prepare these refreshing cocktails. Jalapeño vodka gives these cocktails a little lasting heat on the tongue. Moscow Mules are best served in a copper mug to provide an extra cool sensation because the metal chills quickly. A perfect balance for the heat.

Rum

Watermelon Mojito

This Watermelon Mojito can be found at Celebrating Sweets. Watermelon is a summer staple that is readily available. With a simple ingredient list and incorporating time to prepare the watermelon puree and a mint simple syrup, it will take you about 20-minutes to get a batch of these whipped up.

Gin

Strawberry Basil Gin cocktail

I love this Strawberry Basil Gin cocktail from Show Me The Yummy. If you are lucky enough to have strawberries and basil in your garden, then there’s no excuse. You have to try out this cocktail. I love my my Ninja AutoIQ Blender for smoothies and cocktails. The strawberry is the perfect complement to the subtly peppery flavor of the basil and juniper bite of the gin. Just Yummy!!!

Tequila

Grapefruit Margarita

This Grapefruit Margarita is featured at Crafty Cooking Mamma. This fresh and easy drink takes about 10-minutes to pull together. Enjoy the tart, citrusy flavor of this cocktail to cool down quickly.

Limoncello

I am a big fan of lemons and Limoncello in particular. I love the tart flavor of lemons and regularly use lemons for dinner, dessert, and cocktails. Of course!

Raspberry Limoncello Prosecco

Adding tart raspberries and a bubbly Prosecco to Limoncello helps tone down the sweetness level. I love this sparkling cocktail from Damn Delicious. Really makes me Dream of Italy.

Limoncello Gin Cocktail

This cocktail also has gin, but WOW! I never thought of this combination, but the juniper flavor of the gin is a fabulous complement to the sweet citrus of the Limoncello. Better than a slice of lime in gin and tonic without a doubt! This refreshing cocktail can be found at The Kitchn.

Blue Curacao

Blue Hawaiian

I find the color of Blue Curacao, and just about any cocktail made with it, dreamy. It makes me long for time at the beach. The classic Blue Hawaii was ‘invented’ in 1957 by Harry Yet, who was a legendary bartender in Waikiki, Hawaii. Here’s a great recipe at Flour on My Face. This cocktail is little heavier than the others as it contains pineapple juice and coconut cream blended with ice. Move over ice cream, this is my version of dessert!