9 Fruity Summer Cocktails & Drink Recipes To Try For Your Next BBQ

What pairs perfectly with summer heat, family, friends, and backyard activities? Alcohol, of course! After a long week at the office, nothing sounds more appetizing than a backyard BBQ. Juicy proteins like burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and pork chops pair perfectly with seasonal produce like corn, watermelon, berries, and cucumbers. Check out some local produce stands before you send out your invites to curate the freshest menu possible. Gather up your best friends, co-workers, and your favorite cousins to kick it by the pool with some tunes blaring and the drinks flowing. You are sure to be the talk of the town and host to beat!

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But wait for a second, how tedious is it to completely restock your bar after every single party? With so many options for everyone to choose from, your bottles are sure to be depleting way fast than they need to be. Not to mention all of the drinks that go to waste after your best friend got a little adventurous testing out her skills as a master mixologist. You could have a BYOB kind of gathering, but what good with that do to your stellar hosting reputation? Luckily for you, we have the perfect solution to this dilemma: a batch cocktail!

Dust off your pitchers and stock up on ice because these recipes are sure to keep everyone satisfied (and tipsy) without cutting away at your time at the grill. Pro tip: make a couple of batches if you know the drinking habits of your guests will lead to more than conversational sipping. This way, you can just refill your pitcher without having to go back and forth to the prep kitchen.

These 9 recipes are sure to keep you hydrated and feeling great as you kick off the summer with some good vibes!

1. Sweet Bourbon Peach Lemonade

Image by: Jacek Dylag on Unsplash

Recipe by: Half Baked Harvest

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Florida's Natural® Brand Lemonade with Raspberry & Peach
• 1 cup ripe peach slices
• 1 cup bourbon
• Fresh peaches and thyme, for garnish

Method:

In a blender, combine the lemonade and peaches and blend until smooth. Pour into a large pitcher. Add the bourbon, stirring to combine. Chill until ready to serve. To serve, fill glasses with ice and garnish with fresh peaches and thyme. Drink!

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2. Strawberry Gin Smash

Image by: Kim Daniels on Unsplash

Recipe by: The Kitchn

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 limes, juiced (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 pound fresh strawberries
• 2 cups gin
• 3 cups club soda
• Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

Method:

Muddle the sugar and limes in a pitcher that holds at least 8 cups (64 ounces). Set aside 6 to 8 small strawberries and make a small slice in their tips. Hull and slice the remaining strawberries and muddle the slices lightly with the sugar and lime juice. Stir in the gin and club soda and pack the pitcher full of ice. Add mint sprigs to garnish. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with a strawberry, slotted onto the edge of the glass.

3. Sea Breeze

Image by: Kim Daniels on Unsplash

Recipe by: What Charlotte Baked

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup vodka
• 2 cups grapefruit juice
• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 2 limes, chopped into wedges
• Ice

Method:

Pour the vodka, grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice into a 1-liter jug or pitcher. Give the cocktail a good stir, and add lime wedges and ice. Serve in tall glasses with cute straws.

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4. Fresh Watermelon Mojitos

Image by: ShengGeng Lin on Unsplash

Recipe by: Spend with Pennies

Ingredients:

• 6 cups cubed watermelon
• 1 cup simple syrup
• 50 fresh mint leaves
• 3/4 cup fresh lime juice (approx. 5 limes)
• 1 cup white rum
• Soda
• Ice

Method:

Blend watermelon in the blender until pureed. Strain to remove some of the pulp (optional). Measure out 2 cups of the strained watermelon juice. Place fresh mint in the bottom of a large pitcher. Add a little bit of the watermelon juice and muddle to release the flavors of the mint. Add remaining watermelon juice, fresh lime juice, 2/3 cup simple syrup, and rum. Fill the entire pitcher with ice. Top with soda. Adjust sweetness with additional simple syrup if desired. Garnish with additional lime, mint and watermelon slices. Serve immediately.

5. White Cucumber Sangria

Image by: Yomex Owo on Unsplash

Recipe by: Better Homes & Gardens

Ingredients:

• 1 small honeydew melon
• 1 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 lime, thinly sliced
• 12 fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 750 milliliter bottle Sauvignon blanc or other semi-dry white wine, chilled
• 1-liter bottle carbonated water, chilled
• Fresh mint sprigs and/or leaves (optional)

Method:

Cut the melon in half; remove and discard seeds and rind. Cut melon into thin slices. In a large pitcher* combine melon, cucumber, lime slices, and the 12 mint leaves. In a small bowl stir together lime juice and honey until combined; pour over melon mixture. Add wine, stirring gently. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. To serve, stir in carbonated water. Ladle or pour into glasses. If desired, garnish with additional mint.

6. Blood Orange Margaritas

Image by: Tai's Captures on Unsplash

Recipe by: Garnish with Lemons

Ingredients:

• 4 cups fresh blood orange juice
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 3 cups silver tequila
• 1 1/2 cups triple sec (or other orange-flavored liqueur)
• 1/4 cup superfine sugar
• Lime wedges
• Kosher salt
• Blood orange and lime slices (optional)

Method:

Place juices, tequila, triple sec and sugar in a large pitcher. Stir until sugar is dissolved and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Rim edges of the glass with lime wedge and salt. Divide margaritas among ice-filled glasses and garnish with blood orange slices, if desired.

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7. Strawberry Margarita Punch

Image by: Victoria Shes on Unplash

Recipe by: The Cookie Rookie

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces strawberries chopped. (or 16 ounces frozen strawberries for easier mixing)
• 1 can frozen limeade concentrate
• 4 cups water
• 1-2 tablespoons agave nectar depending on how sweet you want the punch
• 1 1/2 cups good-quality tequila, I love Sauza!
• 2 cups orange juice
• 4 cups strawberry or diet strawberry soda
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Limes and strawberries for garnish
• Salt to rim glasses optional

Method: 

Put chopped strawberries along with sugar and 1 cup water into a food processor and pulse until smooth. Pour strawberry mixture into a large pitcher Add limeade, orange juice, soda, agave nectar, tequila, and the remaining 3 cups of water. Stir, stir, stir! Serve over ice, garnish with strawberries and limes. Salt the rim of your glasses for an added margarita flair. Enjoy!

8. Passion Fruit Mojitos

Image by: Eiliv-Sonas Aceron on Unsplash

Recipe by: Inquiring Chef

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp White Sugar
• 10 leaves Fresh Mint, plus extra for garnish
• 2 Limes, sliced
• 1/4 cup Passion Fruit Puree
• 1/2 cup White Rum
• 2/3 cup Torani Passion Fruit Syrup
• 4 cups Ice
• 4 cups Soda Water

Method:

Combine sugar, mint leaves and half the lime slices (reserve the other half) in the bottom of a pitcher. Use a muddler or a wooden spoon to press the ingredients into the bottom and sides of the pitcher so that the mint leaves are crushed and the limes release their juice. Pour the passion fruit puree, rum, syrup, ice and soda water over top and stir gently to combine. When ready to serve, divide the mojitos between glasses and top with remaining half of the lime slices and some extra mint leaves.

9. Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritzer

Image by: Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash

Recipe by: The Kitchn

Ingredients:

• 1 cup blueberries, for ice cubes
• 2 cups vodka
• 3/4 cup blueberry lavender simple syrup (recipe below)
• 4 ounces lime juice
• Soda water
• Fresh lavender for garnish

Blueberry Lavender Simple Syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup blueberries
• 4 lavender sprigs (or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried food-grade lavender buds)

Method:

Simple Syrup- Combine the first three ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to a low simmer and add 4 lavender sprigs (or 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried lavender) and keep on low heat for 10 minutes. Strain pressing the blueberries to get all of their juice.

Spritzer- Divide the cup of blueberries between two ice cube trays and fill with water. Freeze completely, or spread them evenly on a sheet tray and freeze until solid. In a glass pitcher combine the vodka, simple syrup, lime juice, and club soda. Add ice cubes. Add remaining ice cubes to glasses. Pour the mixture over top and serve with a sprig of lavender.

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Madison Kerth is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.