32 Cool Drinks for a Hot Day

Bonus: You can make them at home, and most feature antioxidant-rich additions like herbs, spices, or fruit.

Cherry Gin Rickey
Photo: Victor Protasio

Nothing says "summer" like a cool drink on a scorching day. Whether you're looking for the perfect iced tea, a kicked-up lemonade, or a fabulous tropical cocktail, a sip or two from this collection of summer drinks will help cool you off when the weather gets hot.

The first half of this list (1 - 16) are alcoholic cocktails for the over-21 crowd. Want to skip the booze? The drinks in the second half (17 - 32) are alcohol-free. Cheers to a long, hot summer!

01 of 32

Mojito

Vodka mojito garnished with mint leaves and lime

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

This classic cocktail derives from Cuba and requires just five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, mint, and soda water.

02 of 32

Tom Collins

Tom Collins
Guillermo Riveros / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter

This classic cocktail has been popular for decades, and our version calls for just two ingredients: gin and lemon soda.

03 of 32

Raspberry Rum Cocktail

This Raspberry Rum Cocktail recipe comes to us from a bartender at La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel in St. Martin.
Belmond La Samanna

To make this unique and flavorful cocktail, start with dark rum, then add pureed raspberries, fresh apple juice, lime, and a splash of ginger ale.

04 of 32

Boozy Watermelon Frozen Slushie

Frozen Watermelon Rosé Sangria Slushies
Half Baked Harvest

It takes less than five minutes to whip up this refreshing summer drink. Your choice of rum or vodka will provide the "boozy" element.

05 of 32

Kombucha-Blood Orange Mule

Kombucha Blood Orange Mule
STEPHEN DEVRIES

The blood oranges give this fizzy drink a beautiful hue.

06 of 32

Sex on the Beach

how-to-make-sex-on-beach-drink-realsimple-GettyImages-1281867460

bhofack2/Getty Images

This popular vacation cocktail has been around for decades and calls for vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice.

07 of 32

Classic Margarita

a margarita on the rocks with a salted rim
Chef John

Break out the tequila! It's margarita time.

08 of 32

Mai Tai

Mai Tai
Antonis Achilleos

This classic tropical cocktail combines pineapple, lime, and maraschino cherry juice with rum and Curacao for a fun and festive drink. (Don't forget the pineapple and maraschino garnish!)

09 of 32

White Sangria

White Sangria
Charles Maraia

Club soda adds fizz to white wine and a veritable fruit medley for a light, summery take on the standard sangria.

10 of 32

Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita

Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita
Stephen DeVries

Take the classic elements of a margarita (tequila and lime juice) and add a splash of grapefruit juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. The fizzy kombucha comes last.

11 of 32

Boozy Dole Whip

boozy dole whip
Debbie Galbraith/Getty Images

Transport yourself to a tropical beach (or your favorite Disney park) with this fun pineapple-and-coconut frozen concoction.

12 of 32

Partida Passion Fruit Cocktail

Berry Vodka Spritzers
Rob Howard

Tequila fuels this citrusy-sweet and tart drink, featuring grapefruit, lime, and passion fruit.

13 of 32

Frosé

The Easiest-Ever Way to Make Frosé (Frozen Rosé) At Home
bhofack2

Freeze your favorite rosé into ice cubes so you can blend together this easy cocktail recipe for your next happy hour.

14 of 32

Gin, Grapefruit, and Thyme Cocktail

Gin, Grapefruit, and Thyme Cocktail
Levi Brown

Freshen up gin with an extra punch of herbs from your garden.

15 of 32

Cherry Gin Rickey

Cherry Gin Rickey
Victor Protasio

Cherry and lime make the perfect sweet-tart combination for this summery cocktail.

16 of 32

Moscow Mule Slushy

moscow-mule-recipe-tout
Getty Images

What's better than a Moscow Mule? The slushy version. Turn this popular vodka-and-ginger-beer cocktail into a slushy to help you really keep your cool.

17 of 32

Kombucha-Pomegranate Tonic

Kombucha Pomegranate Tonic
Greg DuPree

Kombucha is a probiotic-rich food, and pomegranate is full of antioxidants. So you might say this drink is a little bit good for you!

18 of 32

Espresso Slushy

Espresso Slushy
Charles Maraia

Instant espresso gives a low-cal cool drink some kick.

19 of 32

Mango Smoothie

Mango Colada
Maura McEvoy

We gave this mango smoothie some tang by blending in yogurt.

20 of 32

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale Mocktail Recipe
Yunhee Kim

Pineapple sweetens the tang of ginger ale for a cool drink with tropical vibes.

21 of 32

Watermelon-Mint Agua Fresca

Watermelon-Mint Agua Fresca
Greg DuPree

We sweetened this refreshing watermelon drink with mint-infused syrup.

22 of 32

Raspberry Fizz

Raspberry Fizz
Charles Maraia

Top a ginger ale–cranberry juice combo with scoops of raspberry sorbet.

23 of 32

Strawberry Thyme Lemonade

Strawberry-Thyme Lemonade
Danny Kim

Give the traditional summer cooler a tweak with your favorite fresh fruit and herbs.

24 of 32

Peach Iced Tea

Peach Iced Tea
Kevin Miyazaki/Meredith

Our version of peach iced tea is sweetened naturally with fresh peaches and honey.

25 of 32

Cold-Brew Iced Tea

Mason Jar Iced Tea
Grace Elkus

This naturally sweet tea looks great in a mason jar. Screw on a lid and take it with you wherever you go.

26 of 32

Creamy Date Shake

Creamy Date Shakes Recipe
Greg DuPree

If you love milkshakes but are trying to cut back on sugar, this shake (sweetened with dates and ground cinnamon) is for you.

27 of 32

Tropical Lemonade

Tropical Lemonade
Antonis Achilleos

Pineapple juice and apricot nectar are a few of the ingredients that give this lemonade a tropical upgrade.

28 of 32

Hibiscus Lemon Iced Tea

The gorgeous color of Hibiscus Lemon Iced Tea comes from dried hibiscus flowers.
Greg DuPree

This bright, colorful, sweet-tart tea is made with just three ingredients: hibiscus tea, lemons, and sugar.

29 of 32

Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie

Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie
Greg DuPree

This tangy, fiber-rich smoothie is sweetened with mangoes and honey. The "cream" of the creamsicle comes from coconut milk.

30 of 32

Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana

Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana
Christopher Baker

You can also swap spinach for the kale in this smoothie, which gets added texture from coconut milk.

31 of 32

Gingery Berry and Oat Smoothie

Gingery berry and oat smoothie
Grant Cornett

With the healing antioxidants in blueberries and the gut-healthy fiber in rolled oats, this smoothie is as good for you as it is delicious.

32 of 32

Coffee, Oat, and Maple Smoothie

Coffee, Oat, and Maple Smoothie
Greg DuPree

Iced coffee can be a healthy drink, as long as you don't go overboard with sugary syrups and whipped cream. Another option? Make this coffee smoothie that's sweetened with banana and maple syrup.

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