Now that Memorial Day has passed, it’s official: summer is here. You can finally begin to enjoy the long daylight hours and lazy, warm nights with barbeques, drinks by the pool, and dinner on the patio – or rooftop, or picnic table. To get your summer celebrating kick-started, we’ve rounded up the best cocktails for the season that are suited for any occasion (including those times when there isn’t an occasion at all).

 

When you’re feeling classic:

Nothing says summertime like a glass of sweet tea, made better only by two things: peaches, and alcohol. This simple cocktail tastes like sunshine in a glass, and would pair beautifully with anything served up at a barbeque, picnic, or cookout.

Shake the following and pour over ice, then garnish with mint to serve:

1 cup unsweetened peach tea

1 oz vodka (or peach vodka)

1 oz mint simple syrup (or sugar and fresh mint)

(Makes one serving)

Image and recipe from Sugar and Cloth

 

When you’re feeling fancy:

Elderflower liqueur is a classic cocktail element that seems sophisticated, but is surprisingly versatile in reality. In this refined cocktail, it is combined with the fresh flavor of lemon and the sweet tartness of grapefruit for a perfect summer drink. Make it for your next dinner guests with a few simple ingredients and you’ll have them thinking you’ve been secretly bartending for years.

Shake the ingredients below with ice, then garnish with rosemary or thyme to serve:

1 double shot of vodka

1 single shot of elderflower liqueur

Juice of half a ruby red grapefruit

Juice of half a lemon

(Makes one serving)

 Image and recipe from Waiting on Martha

 

When you’re melting from the heat:

Frozen sangria is essentially a smoothie, but alcoholic, and will cool you down after one sweet, chilly sip. You can use a variety of fruits or wines, but try the recipe below as a template and experiment as you please! Put it in a tumbler and take it to the pool, or to your back deck, or just stick the straw right in the blender…

 

Blend the following in a blender and adjust to taste, if needed:

2 cups frozen berries

1 orange, peeled

1 2/3 cups dry red wine

1/3 cup Cointreau (or any orange liqueur, or brandy)

2 tbs freshly-squeezed lime juice

1-2 tbs sweetener (like honey or agave)

Ice, if needed

(Makes four servings)

Image and recipe from Gimme Some Oven

 

When you just really want a drink:

The sun can be draining on energy, so when you’re ready for a drink but don’t feel like preparing one: use this 3-ingredient recipe that requires almost no effort at all, but still delivers thanks to a strong kick of bourbon. Refreshing, flavorful, and as simple as it gets.

 

Stir the following together and pour over ice:

½ cup Simply Lemonade

1 shot bourbon

Two to three mint leaves, chopped or muddled

(Makes 1 serving)

Image and recipe from Plain Chicken

 

Enjoy these cocktails, and make sure you check out Mod & Soul for more blog posts and summer fashion!