9 Refreshing Cocktails for Summertime Entertaining

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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