Easy Drink Recipes to Make for Super Bowl Sunday

Whether you’re a wine or an Old Fashioned person, we’ve got something for you.

If you’re like me, you don’t really care about watching a football being tossed across a field while people run in opposite directions on a Sunday in February. Instead, you’re amped when Jennifer Lopez saunters on screen singing some hits from the early 2000s or when the game cuts to commercial break and you get to watch sometimes clever, sometimes cringeworthy multi-million dollar ads. But most of all, you’re thrilled about the array of snacks and libations that the Super Bowl guarantees. 

With the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic still lingering, the 2022 Super Bowl and its subsequent parties might look a little bit different this year. But that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on eating and drinking well. Here are some alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktail and punch recipes that you can experiment with this year and test out for next year’s big Super Bowl bash.

As the name suggests, this wine cooler recipe can be changed to suit your own palate. All you’ll need is some wine, a fruit liqueur, fresh fruit, and something fizzy to brighten the whole thing. It’s a delicious adventure! Since citrus season is in full swing, might we suggest something with tons of oranges, grapefruit, and lemons?

Speaking of citrus season, the crush is a classic. Everyone remembers their first crush. Opt for grapefruits or oranges with your choice of vodka or gin. You can spruce the whole thing up with a sprig of rosemary or some aromatic basil. This refreshing cocktail will go with dips, pizza, and anything else in your Super Bowl snack spread.

We had to include a classic on this list. This recipe is as simple and easy-to-make as it gets, with sugar, bitters, whiskey, and a fragrant orange peel. Choose bourbon or rye whiskey if that’s more your style.

As far as Super Bowl recipes go, this punch is pretty suitable for the big game. This recipe features sweetness from raspberry and Maraschino liqueur, but is lightened up with chilled green tea. It’s refreshing, sippable, and the perfect pairing to soak up all the greasy chicken wings you’ll certainly be eating. 

Every Super Bowl party has a tequila enthusiast. I should know because that person is me. Skip the margaritas and palomas and try this fun twist on a Moscow Mule instead. The recipe calls for tequila instead of the typical vodka, but still has the zippy flavors of ginger and lime to punch it up.

If you want to relive your college days, make this punch in a plastic storage bucket. It has all the throwback fixings: sugary Hawaiian punch or Kool-Aid (your choice), floating wheels of orange and pineapple slices with the juice to match, and bubbly soda. You might not be able to taste the alcohol, but you’ll certainly feel it. 

Just because you’re abstaining from alcohol doesn’t mean you can’t have a well crafted cocktail. Take the Somerset, for example: a refreshing blend of cilantro, turmeric, and pineapple syrup with soda water and lime juice makes for a palatable non-alcoholic drink that will taste great alongside your spread of charcuterie, chips, and dip.

This is for all Cosmopolitan fans out there seeking that tart flavor without the hangover. The Cosmonot comes by way of Gramercy Tavern and blends muddled oranges, lemons, and limes with grape juice and grenadine. 

At the end of the day, the Super Bowl is still happening in February—quite possibly the coldest month of the year. This hot toddy, spruced up with chamomile, is perfect last quarter sipping. The best part is that it's warm and comforting, which is needed if your team is losing. 

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Kat Thompson is a senior staff writer at Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter @katthompsonn