The Best Summer Cocktail Recipes
Summer is officially in full swing and with those warmer temps comes the craving for something refreshing to sip on. Who doesn't enjoy a nice cocktail on a summer night, right?
While it's been a while since many of us have had the luxury of ordering a cocktail in a crowded nightclub or beach bar, we've all had a lot of time to practice our own bartending skills at home. If you're ready to show off your skills, you're going to want to make a drink you know is a total crowd-pleaser.
Well, online drinks retailer, The Bottle Club, has looked into search data to find out which cocktails are set to be the most popular in bars, nightclubs, and gardens alike this summer.
So what did the data reveal?
- Searches for White Russian cocktails have increased 300%
- Moscow Mule searches are up by over 205%
- Gimlet cocktail searches are up by over 203%
- The Caipirinha cocktail has risen in popularity, with searches up 200%
- The Paloma cocktail (Stylist's summer cocktail of choice) has had an increased interest too, with searches up more than 193%
It's safe to say these are the trending cocktails for summer 2021! Want to try making them yourself? Have no fear, as the recipes are much easier than you may think. Keep reading to uncover exactly how you can be the best at-home bartender this summer. And for more, check out these 100 Easiest Recipes You Can Make.
White Russian
A White Russian may sound intimidating, but it's fun and easy—trust us on this one! This classic cocktail combines vodka, Kahlúa (a coffee-flavored liqueur), and cream. The Bottle Club suggests the following recipe to re-create this cocktail at home:
- 2 oz vodka (The Bottle Club recommends Beluga Noble Russian Plain Vodka, which has very light hints of honey, alongside oat and milk thistle)
- 1 oz Kahlúa
- One-two cocktail jiggers of heavy whipping cream (Depending on how creamy your preference dictates! The Bottle Club recommends swapping with coconut cream for anybody following a plant-based diet.)
Recipe inspiration from Liquor.com.
Moscow Mule
Fun fact for you: This drink has American roots. The cocktail was actually created by a bar manager and a Smirnoff executive who was trying to sell vodka to Americans who were looking for the newest and tastiest drink around. From that came the oh-so-easy Moscow Mules!
It's just a simple mix of vodka, ginger beer. and lime over ice—that's it!
- 2 oz vodka (The Bottle Club recommends Thunder Rhubarb & Ginger Vodka for an extra kick and boost of flavor
- 2 oz ginger beer
- Juice of half a fresh lime (Can also use the lime to decorate)
Gimlet
There's a chance you might not be super familiar with the Gimlet yet. But this zesty cocktail is a great option for gin lovers. Plus, if you prefer your drinks a little sweeter, you can make a simple tweak to change it up.
- 2 oz gin (The Bottle Club recommends Whitley Neill Limited Edition Brazilian Lime Gin for that extra zesty flavor.)
- Lime cordial
- Fresh lime (half for squeezing, half for garnish)
- If you're more of a sweet fan, add half a teaspoon of sugar to the drink or rim of your glass.
Caipirinha
This cocktail is super similar to that of a margarita. The main difference? The alcohol base here is cachaçaca, a distilled spirit from Brazil made from sugar cane juice, instead of tequila. This cocktail has a sweet and fruity taste, so it's sure to impress.
- 6 to 8 fresh raspberries, plus more for garnish
- 1 dash freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 oz cachaça
Recipe inspiration from The Spruce Eats.
Paloma
This is one tequila-based, grapefruit-flavored drink that is nice to sip on while you hang outside with friends. And hey, it's pretty photogenic, so it's a cocktail worthy of making its way to your Instagram feed. Check out this easy recipe.
- 2 oz tequila (The Bottle Club recommends Patron Silver Tequila)
- 2 oz grapefruit juice
- 2 oz soda/sparkling water
- 1/2 lime for juice
- A splash of agave syrup
- Optional: Grapefruit wedge for decoration, alternatively can use a slice of lime.
- If you want to add a sweet or salty rim, use grapefruit juice to wet the top on the glass and then dip in either sugar or salt, depending on your preference.
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