"Sipping on a delightful drink in the summertime can mean a small joy after the day’s many summer activities and adventures (when it’s done in a healthy fashion, of course.) If a date night dinner or girls night out can’t seem to find a spot on the calendar as your summer unfolds, an at-home bar night can be the perfect excuse to try a new and festive cocktail recipe to welcome the season.
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Rather than grabbing a basic bottle of red wine or champagne, these at-home DIY summer cocktail recipes can mix up your routine with creative and summery combinations like jalapeño and watermelon or elderflower and guava. Open your windows, let the summer breezes in, and have some fun in the kitchen as you become everyone’s new favorite go-to bartender. Here are some of the best DIY summer cocktail recipes to try for your at-home bar nights this summer, no matter what you’re craving. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, a non-drinker, or sober curious, we have a roundup of tons of the best mocktail recipes, too!
Sangrias
1. Rose Sangria
Tis’ the season for summer berry recipes, making it the right time for a rosé-based sangria brimming with nature’s berry-delicious candy.
2. Watermelon Sangria
On a warm summer evening, who’s going to say no to a refreshing glass of sangria filled with generous servings of juicy watermelon?
3. Easy Traditional Red Sangria
There’s a reason traditional sangria is the most popular of the sangrias—it’s yummy and satisfying as is. This recipe is a great option for embracing this classic Spanish beverage.
Margaritas
4. Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas
Hoping to make your night just a little bit spicier? These jalapeño-infused margaritas are your answer.
5. Cucumber Margaritas
When you’re trying to keep cool as a cucumber as those summer temperatures rise, why not make it happen in a glass? This is an uber-chill margarita recipe that will help you beat the heat in no time.
6. Mango Margaritas (No Sugar Added)
Take it tropical with these bright mango margaritas. They blend together tons of fresh juicy mango alongside your classic margarita ingredients.
7. Paloma Cocktail
OK, technically it’s not a margarita, but you can think of it as a margarita’s flirty friend. She still preserves the drink’s sweet and sour essence, but features grapefruit juice alongside the tequila and lime juice instead.
Mules
8. Hibiscus Mule Cocktail
Take your Moscow mule a bit on the floral side and make it blossom by mixing in a swirl of homemade hibiscus syrup. Plus, getting the added antioxidant benefits of the hibiscus flower makes it extra up-lifting.
9. Fresh Orange Moscow Mule
If a Moscow mule’s your main squeeze, then adding some freshly squeezed OJ to take it up a notch seems like a fitting move.
10. Guava Basil Moscow Mule
If you’re looking for summer cocktail recipes with a memorable flair, this twist on a Moscow mule with guava nectar and basil is a playful option.
11. Kentucky Mule
For a little taste of some southern comfort, switch up the vodka with your preferred whiskey or Kentucky bourbon.
Daiquiris
12. Raspberry Mango Daiquiris
Putting your blender to good use is essential for summer cocktail recipes. This raspberry mango daiquiri recipe is like sipping a beautiful sunrise or sunset in a glass.
13. Slushy Peach Daiquiris
When summer’s underway, peaches are in season—meaning there’s no better time to make them the highlight of your seasonal cocktail than now.
14. Frozen Strawberry & Lime Daiquiris
Strawberries are another sweet summer gem, and they really hit the spot in this perfect daiquiri recipe.
Mimosas
15. Black Cherry Grapefruit Mimosas
With three simple ingredients—freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, champagne, and black cherry soda—you’ve just succeeded in serving up a fruity mimosa that many a mimosa lover has probably never had the pleasure of trying before.
16. Cranberry Mimosas
Paint the town red with these vibrant and tangy cranberry mimosas, guaranteed to quench everybody’s thirst and sense of adventure.
17. Elderflower Guava Mimosas
Want to add that touch of elegance to your mimosas for the night? Stir in some elderflower liqueur and guava nectar, and you’ve got yourself something pretty in pink to sip on.
Martinis
18. Passionfruit and Lime Gin Martini
If you’ve always admired the sophistication of a classic martini, but prefer your cocktails to be on the sweeter side, this tropical martini recipe will be right up your alley.
19. Dry Gin Martini
Nothing like an easy breezy summer night to try your hand at perfecting a quintessential martini recipe.
20. Raspberry Elderflower Martini
Showcase the ripe berries of summer with this chic raspberry elderflower martini, sure to meet the approval of those who enjoy cocktails with a creative flavor profile.
Katherine Ballesta-Rosen, Editorial Intern
Besides being an avid reader and writer since girlhood, Katherine decided to kick her literacy-laden background up a notch by receiving her Master’s in teaching, and went on to teach English Language Arts to high schoolers for several years. As an intern at The Everymom, Katherine writes about topics such as maternal wellness, sex and relationships, and more.