Summer is starting and what better way than one of these perfect cocktails! Happy Memorial Day!
This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and nothing says celebration like a refreshing drink shared with friends and family. Whether you prefer gin, vodka, whiskey, tequila, or something bubbly, here are five crowd-pleasing drinks with a bit of history behind each. Here are the recipes for the perfect Memorial Day cocktails.
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The Classic Tom Collins
This citrusy classic dates back to the 1800s and became especially popular in America during Prohibition thanks to its easy-to-drink profile.
Ingredients
- 2 oz London dry gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Club soda to top
Create
- Shake gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice
- Strain into a tall glass filled with ice
- Top with soda
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and cherry

French 75
Named after a powerful WWI artillery gun, the French 75 has packed a punch since the early 20th century, blending bubbles with botanical notes.
Ingredients
- 1 oz gin
- 0.5 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz Champagne or Prosecco
Create
- Shake gin, lemon, and syrup with ice
- Strain into a flute and top with bubbly
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Peach & Black Tea Highball
Inspired by Southern porch traditions, this highball gives a nod to classic sweet tea with a modern whiskey backbone.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz bourbon
- ½ oz peach liqueur or purée
- 3 oz chilled black tea
- Lemon or peach wedge for garnish
Create
- Fill tall glass with ice
- Add all bourbon, peach liqueur and black tea
- Stir gently
- Garnish with Lemon or peach wedge
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Spicy Paloma Verde
The Paloma, Mexico’s real national cocktail (sorry, margarita), gets a green upgrade with jalapeño and fresh herbs. The spicy is a perfect way to combat the heat, While it might feel like the opposite, the sensation of heat from spicy food triggers a cooling response in the body through sweating.
Ingredients
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz agave syrup
- 2 oz grapefruit soda (like Jarritos)
- 2 jalapeño slice for garnish
Create
- Muddle 1 jalapeño slice lightly in cocktail shaker
- Add tequila, lime, and agave and shake lightly
- Strain into a salt-rimmed glass
- Top with soda
- Garnish with 2nd jalapeño slice
Michelada Negra
A darker, spicier cousin of the basic beer cocktail, this version uses a dark Mexican lager and smoky mezcal for depth. Micheladas likely originated in Mexico in the 1940s.
Ingredients
- 1 oz mezcal
- ½ oz lime juice
- 3 dashes hot sauce
- 1 dash Worcestershire
- 1 pinch Tajín or chili salt
- Dark Mexican lager (Negra Modelo or similar)
Create
- Rim a pint glass with Tajín
- Mix mezcal, lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire
- Top with beer
- Stir gently and enjoy
Cheers to summer, sunshine, and remembering those who served.