There is plenty of summer life – and what better way to savor it than with these cocktails
There is at least another month of summer, making it the perfect time to raise a glass to warm nights, beach weekends, and golden hour happy hours. Whether you’re hosting a backyard gathering, a rooftop soirée, or simply enjoying a solo sunset, the right cocktail can capture that fleeting summer magic. Here are the best late summer cocktails —each with its own spirit base and a splash of history—to close out the season in style.
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The Sea Breeze
Popularized in the 1980s, the Sea Breeze originated from earlier Prohibition-era recipes but found its fame as a light, tart-meets-sweet summer sip. Quick, taste and a hint of healthy.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz grapefruit juice
Create
- Combine ingredients in a shaker and gently mix
- Shake with ice
- Pour into a highball glass
- Garnish with a lime wedge
The Tom Collins
Believed to date back to the 1870s, the Tom Collins is essentially a sparkling gin lemonade, perfect for late-summer afternoons.
Ingrediants
-
2 oz gin
-
1 oz fresh lemon juice
-
0.5 oz simple syrup
-
Club soda to top
Create
- Combine lemon, and syrup with ice in chilled tall glass
- Stir vigorously
- Top with soda
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and cherry
The Daiquiri
Originating in Cuba in the late 1800s, the daiquiri was a favorite of writer Ernest Hemingway, who enjoyed a less sweet variation at Havana’s famed El Floridita bar. His preferred version, sometimes called the “Hemingway Daiquiri,” swapped sugar for grapefruit juice and added a touch of maraschino liqueur. The classic recipe, however, remains a crisp, tart, and refreshing icon. This light drink looks totally different than the New Orleans drive through drinks.
Ingrediants
-
2 oz white rum
-
1 oz fresh lime juice
-
0.75 oz simple syrup
Create
- Combine gin, lime juice and simply syrup in shaker
- Add ice and shake
- Strain into a coupe glass
- Garnish with a lime wheel
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The Watermelon Basil Margarita
A fresh twist on Mexico’s beloved margarita, this version blends juicy summer watermelon with fragrant basil for a vibrant, end-of-summer cooler.
A fresh twist on Mexico’s beloved margarita, this version blends juicy summer watermelon with fragrant basil for a vibrant, end-of-summer cooler.
Ingrediants
-
2 oz tequila blanco
-
1 oz fresh lime juice
-
0.75 oz triple sec
-
1 cup fresh watermelon chunks
-
2–3 basil leaves
Create
- Muddle watermelon and basil in mixing glass
- Add remaining ingredients with ice
- Shake well
- Strain into an ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a basil sprig and watermelon wedge
The St-Germain Spritz
Born in the early 2000s when elderflower liqueur hit the cocktail scene, the St-Germain Spritz became a go-to for those seeking a floral, bubbly alternative to the classic mimosa.
Ingrediants
-
1.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
-
2 oz champagne or sparkling wine
-
2 oz soda water
Create
- Build via layers over ice in a wine glass
- Stir gently
- Garnish with a lemon twist and edible flowers for flair
These cocktails not only taste like summer—they carry pieces of history and creativity in every glass. Before the leaves turn, mix up one (or all) and savor the season’s last sunsets.
