13 Light Summer Cocktails Perfect for Day Drinking

Pineapple Lime Chelada
<a href="http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/4-ingredient-pineapple-lime-chelada-i-made-us-a-drink/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest</a>
<a href="http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/4-ingredient-pineapple-lime-chelada-i-made-us-a-drink/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest</a>

In the days before air conditioning, a cold cocktail was the quickest way to cool down -- short of dunking your head in a bucket of ice water. Even though we have technology on our side now, these refreshing drinks remain the best remedy for long, hot summer afternoons when the only thing that will do is the mingling of citrus, sugar, soda, and spirit.

Kiwi Mai Tai
<a href="http://thechicsite.com/2015/06/12/kiwi-mai-tai/" target="_blank">Courtesy of The Chic Site</a>

Everything about this drink is tropical. The pineapple is sweet, the kiwi is tart, and the rum just brings it all together. Recipe here!

Key ingredients:

  • Rum
  • Pineapple
  • Kiwi

 

This light bourbon cocktail was made with barbecue on the brain. Think of it as a spicy watermelon cooler with a hint of lemonade and mint that goes great with ribs. Get it here.

Key ingredients:

  • Bourbon
  • Watermelon
  • Jalapeño
Maple Mint Vodka Spritzer
<a href="http://www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com/maple-mint-vodka-spritzer/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Healthy Seasonal Recipes</a>

Smooth vodka lightly sweetened with maple is only made better with a mint bouquet. Recipe here!

Key ingredients:

  • Vodka
  • Maple syrup
  • Mint
Watermelon Shrub Spritzer
<a href="http://www.athoughtforfood.net/watermelon-shrub-spritzer-cocktail/" target="_blank">Courtesy of A Thought for Food</a>

Green Tabasco is the secret ingredient in this refreshing spritzer. It’s just enough zing to bring out the sweetness of the watermelon. Find it here.

Key ingredients:

  • Tequila blanco
  • Watermelon
  • Tabasco

 

Something about chilled, spiked melon makes it the perfect cooler on a hot day. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Tequila
  • Cantaloupe
  • Lime
Paloma — Thrillist  Recipes
Drew Swantak/Thrillist

A refreshing mix of tequila, grapefruit, soda, and lime, Palomas fare just as well at an outdoor dinner party as they do at the beach on a 90-degree day. The recipe is right here.

Key ingredients:

  • Tequila
  • Squirt soda
  • Grapefruit
  • Lime

 

Bourbon muddled with blackberries is subtly sweet. A splash of wheat beer lends a caramel-like complexity, and lots of refreshing fizz. Make it here.

Key ingredients:

  • Bourbon
  • Wheat beer
  • Blackberries
Pineapple Lime Chelada
<a href="http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/4-ingredient-pineapple-lime-chelada-i-made-us-a-drink/" target="_blank">Courtesy of&nbsp;half baked harvest</a>

It’s kind of like a beer margarita, but a lot easier, and spiked with boozy pineapple. Plus, it’s almost as much fun to look at as it is to drink. The recipe's here.

Key ingredients:

  • Corona
  • Tequila
  • Limeade
  • Pineapple
Blackberry Mint Mojito
Courtesy of <a href="http://www.tasteslovely.com/blackberry-mint-mojitos/" target="_blank">Tastes Lovely</a>

A lip-puckering blend of rum, lime, and mint, this concoction gets a sweet kick from fresh blackberries and a welcome bubbly lift from seltzer. Get it here.

Key ingredients:

  • Rum
  • Blackberries
  • Lime
  • Mint

 

This simple mix of freshly squeezed lemons and beer achieves the perfect ratio of effort (minimal) to refreshment (maximal). Find the deets here.

Key ingredients:

  • Wheat beer
  • Meyer lemons
Fizzy Grapefruit Margarita
<a href="http://www.wellplated.com/grapefruit-margarita/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Well Plated</a>

Admit it, nothing tastes better than a frozen margarita at the height of summer. The mix of slushy booze and sugar is hard to beat. The fresh grapefruit juice in this one adds extra-citrusy tartness. Find it here.

Key ingredients:

  • Silver tequila
  • Fresh grapefruit juice
  • Triple sec
  • Lime

 

Do you like sweet tea? Of course you do. Do you like sweet tea with alcohol? Do I really have to ask? This julep has all of the charm of that tall glass of sweet tea you drank when you were a child, plus some grown-up sophistication. Here you go.

Key ingredients:

  • Bourbon
  • Tea
  • Mint
Cucumber Watermelon Sangria
<a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/06/sparkling-cucumber-watermelon-sangria/" target="_blank">Courtesy of&nbsp;how sweet eats</a>

Cucumbers have a way of infusing every drink they land in with refreshing, crispy flavor. This sangria is no exception. Watermelon balls make it officially taste like summer. Make it here.

Key ingredients:

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Watermelon
  • Seedless cucumber