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18 Refreshing Cocktails for Summertime Entertaining

18 Refreshing Cocktails for Summertime Entertaining

By Betty Gold

Updated July 29, 2019

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Aside from great guests and lots of festive food options, top-notch drinks are easily the most important part of any entertaining endeavor. But bartending—even in your own backyard—can be intimidating business, which brings us to these super simple drink recipes.

If you're just starting out, remember that the backbone of a good bar starts with six basic spirits: the clear and brown foundational bottles. For clear spirits always have a tequila, gin, and vodka on hand; for darker spirits, scotch, bourbon, and rum. No need to use super premium bottles for cocktails, but always keep quality top of mind. Oh, and whatever you do, stay away from any sugary pre-packaged mixers at the grocery store.

Whether you’re grilling out with friends, lounging lakeside, or just trying to cool off with a cocktail, you’ll want to keep a tray or two of these delicious drinks within reach. From the classic crowd-pleasing white negroni punch to a bourbon and blood orange blast and sparkling sangria, these summery sips are almost as wow-worthy as the hostess (that's you!).

RELATED: The Moscow Mule Slushie Is About to Be Your New Favorite Frozen Cocktail

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Blood Orange and Kombucha Mule

Stephen DeVries

Ginger kombucha and ginger beer go hand in hand—and your gut will be happy. Blood orange juice adds gorgeous color to the mix, and fresh slices will make this drink a quick favorite.

Get the recipe: Kombucha-Blood Orange Mule

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Pear and Rosemary Sangria

Greg DuPree

If you want to serve something festive but also refreshing, this recipe for pear and rosemary sangria is a must. The best part? You can make it up to two days in advance, which is perfect for party planning.

Get the recipe: Pear and Rosemary Sangria

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Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita

Stephen DeVries

A standard kombucha quickly gets transformed into a delectable margarita in this easy recipe. We especially love it with grapefruit juice for its tartness, but feel free to mix and match citruses, too.

Get the recipe: Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita

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White Negroni Punch

J. Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler

I’m dreaming of a white… negroni. No seriously, this cocktail is so good you’ll want to make it all year round—and you definitely can. It’s refreshing and elegant, but don’t be fooled. It will knock your socks off!

Get the recipe: White Negroni Punch

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4th of July Sangria

Grace Elkus

What’s more refreshing than white wine sangria? A fruity, frozen version that’s patriotic to boot. Each layer features a different fruity flavor, as well as a splash of fresh lime juice and a drizzle of agave nectar. Pour the slushie carefully to ensure the layers don’t blend, and then serve to eager guests.

Get the recipe: Fourth of July Sangria

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Bourbon and Blood Orange Blast

Francesco Lagnese

Fancy yourself some bourbon? Create a classic bourbon cocktail, with the tartness of fresh blood orange juice. Added bonus: this may be the easiest cocktail to make ever.

Get the recipe: Bourbon and Blood Orange Blast

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Frosé (Frozen Rosé)

How do you cool down on a sultry summer night? Prefer a chilly glass of rosé? Or a fruity frozen drink? Here’s some good news, cocktail fans: if you have a blender and an ice cube tray, you no longer have to choose.

Get the recipe: Frosé

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Rosé Kombucha Sangria

Stephen DeVries

Sangria gets bubbly with the addition of kombucha. Better yet, this batch of sangria cocktails is perfect for when you can’t decide if you want white or red sangria. It’s bright, refreshing, and not to mention, pretty in pink.

Get the recipe: Kombucha-Rosé Raspberry Sangria

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Grapefruit and Blood Orange Spritz With Campari Ice Cubes

Stephen Lewis

After freezing, pop the Campari cubes out of their tray and store in a resealable bag in the freezer. They make a cool treat in hot weather, or simply dropped into a glass of sparkling water. As they begin to melt, they flavor the water—and you get a nice little zing at the end.

Get the recipe: Grapefruit and Blood Orange Spritz With Campari Ice Cubes

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Sparkling Pomegranate Kombucha Punch

Stephen DeVries

Far from your average party punch, this kombucha cocktail is filled with tropical flavors thanks to pineapple juice, orange juice, and rum. Pomegranate juice enhances the flavor, and the arils provide texture and a striking presentation.

Get the recipe: Pomegranate Kombucha Punch

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Sherry Cobbler

J Muckle

Meet the original daytime drink. Sherry cobblers have been a staple of genteel sippers since the mid 1880s—and for good reason: they’re refreshing, grown-up, and low in alcohol. (Yes, that is permission to have another.) For a festive finish, pour over crushed ice and garnish with blueberries and fresh mint.

Get the recipe: Sherry Cobbler

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Gingery Peach Cooler

Charles Masters

This thirst-quenching drink couldn’t be any easier—just combine ginger ale, peach nectar, and sliced peaches (finally, they’re in season!) in a pitcher and serve over ice. While it’s delicious as-is, you can transform it into a cocktail by adding 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of gin to each drink before serving.

Get the recipe: Gingery Peach Cooler

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Spiced Apple Kombucha Cocktail

Stephen DeVries

A cozy cocktail, with benefits. Cinnamon sticks and apple slices make this drink look mighty pretty, but the real treat is in the spiced rum. Mixed with apple cider and apple kombucha, this is the ultimate apple-lover's dream.

Get the recipe: Spiced Apple Kombucha Cocktail

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Cantaloupe Cooler

Levi Brown

Cantaloupes can be used for far more than fruit salad, as illustrated by this fun summertime sipper. Because the melon is the star of this drink, be sure to pick the best one in the store. Avoid bruises and cracks, and don’t be afraid to start sniffing in the produce aisle—tender, juicy cantaloupes should smell sweet and almost floral.

Get the recipe: Cantaloupe Cooler

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Bicicletta

J Muckle

Combining bitter, dark red Campari with dry white wine and a splash of club soda, this pretty pink spritz is an Italian classic—and a delightfully bright and bubbly way to sip an afternoon away. Serve in wine glasses filled with oversized ice cubes for an eye-catching cocktail your guests will love.

Get the recipe: Bicicletta

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Gin, Grapefruit, and Thyme Cocktail

Levi Brown

Anyone can achieve the gorgeous garnish on these glasses: simply rub the rims of each glass with a grapefruit wedge and sprinkle with a sugar-thyme mixture. For a tangier drink, use white grapefruits, which are slightly less sweet than pink or red (the darkest of the three most common types).

Get the recipe: Gin, Grapefruit, and Thyme Cocktail

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Lime Spritzers

Charles Masters

Chill out with this welcome departure from syrupy-sweet daiquiris, sangrias, frozen drinks, and punches. Tropical, light, and fizzy, this citrus-y spritzer will keep guests cool and the conversation bubbly. Don’t be shy with the free-floating lime slices, and for an added splash of color, serve with bright bendy straws and eye-catching stirrers.

Get the recipe: Lime Spritzers

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Berry Vodka Spritzers

Rob Howard

Short on time? This crowd-pleasing drink only takes five minutes to mix up, and the result is a beautiful thirst-quencher you’ll make again and again. The addition of club soda lends a little sparkle, while freshly-squeezed lime juice keeps the sweetness at bay. Serve alongside extra blueberries and raspberries.

Get the recipe: Berry Vodka Spritzers

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