Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

You’ll love these 3 refreshing summer gin cocktails

By
gin cocktail
Toni Cuenca / Pexels

When you think of gin, chances are that a Gin and Tonic is the first drink that comes to mind. As great as a classic Gin and Tonic cocktail is, there are so many other exciting (and lesser-known) uses for gin in cocktails. Gin is the perfect liquor to use in refreshing cocktails throughout the summer, offering a slightly bitter and refreshing taste. Gin cocktails for summer are perfect for sipping on the beach, by the pool, or even as cocktails at summer parties. Try something new this year with these 3 summer gin cocktails that are easy to make and require minimal ingredients.

Cherry gin cocktail

cherry-gin-cocktail
bogubogu / Shutterstock

Ingredients

  • 1 and 1/2 oz. gin 

  • 2 oz. cherry liqueur 

  • 2/3 – 1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • Handful of ice

  • Mint and cherries, for garnish

Method

  1. Combine the gin, cherry liqueur, lemon juice, and ice in a shaker. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
  2. Adjust the flavor of your drink by adding more lemon juice or spirits, if desired.
  3. Serve on the rocks and garnish with mint and cherries. Enjoy!

Gin grapefruit spritz

Aperol Spritz cocktail in a wine glass on a grey background on a bright sunny day, summer drinks, copy space Sasha_P / Shutterstock

If you’re looking for something bubbly in your summer gin cocktails, a Gin Grapefruit Spritz is worth a shot. Combining bubbly and smooth prosecco with gin and grapefruit juice results in a unique combination of summer flavors in one, fun cocktail. This cocktail will quickly become a fan favorite for its taste — not to mention it looks Instagram-worthy.

Recommended Videos

Ingredients

  • 2 oz gin
  • 4 oz grapefruit juice
  • 4 oz prosecco
  • Sparkling water (optional)
  • Grapefruit and rosemary to garnish

Method

  1. Combine ice, gin, and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker.
  2. Strain into an ice-filled wine or cocktail glass.
  3. Add prosecco.
  4. Top with sparkling water, if desired.
  5. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and rosemary. Enjoy!

Strawberry gin cocktail

strawberry-cocktail
Jane Vershinin / Shutterstock

Strawberries are another summer fruit that works wonderfully in summer gin cocktails. This delicious drink is creamy, icy, and refreshing, adding creaminess by using plain Greek yogurt blended into the cocktail.

Ingredients

  • 2 large or 4 small ripe strawberries, halved
  • 1 1/2 ounces lemon juice
  • 1 ounce honey
  • 3 ounces gin
  • 2 heaping tsp. plain Greek yogurt
  • Strawberries for garnish

Method

  1. Combine strawberries, lemon juice, and honey in a cocktail shaker and muddle until mashed and broken up.
  2. Add gin and Greek yogurt and fill the shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled and yogurt is dissolved, about 15 seconds.
  3. Fill a rock glass with ice and strain the cocktail into it.
  4. Garnish each glass with a strawberry slice, and enjoy!

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Emily Caldwell
Emily Caldwell
Contributor
Emily is a freelance writer with a special focus on health, fitness, lifestyle, food, and nutrition topics. She holds a B.S…
Get ready for party season with these batched summer margaritas
Coconut margaritas and prickly pear margaritas for a crowd
batched margarita recipes dsc03954 1

When you're preparing drinks for a crowd, batching cocktails is always a great idea. While it's great fun to make customized drinks for each of your guests, and that's something you can and should attempt for smaller gatherings, with a larger group you won't have time to individually mix drinks for each person. I find that it's fun to make individual drinks for groups of five or six, but more than that becomes difficult and has you running around the kitchen all night.

Instead, make your life easier by preparing a large amount of one or two cocktails ahead of time. You can mix up a big batch of drink and leave it in your fridge, then add ice when your guests arrive and garnish each drink as you serve it. That way, people still get the special feeling of a delicious cocktail but you won't be quite so frantic while trying to host.

Read more
The Daiquiri is the perfect cocktail to enjoy white rum
White rum, lime juice, and sugar - all you need for a beauitful classic cocktail
A daiquiri cocktail

When the weather is warm, it's time for rum to shine. And as today is National Daiquiri Day, it's the ideal time to try out this classic cocktail.

Although many rum drinks are on the sweeter and more tropical side, there are other characteristics of rum that are worth considering as well. Some rums can be highly filtered and have a very netural taste, almost like vodka, but there's been a trend in recent years toward more robust, characterful rums which express their flavors more boldly.  A good quality rum should have notes of fruit and spice, like hints of banana or clove, and a white rum should be a delicate, smooth drinking experience.

Read more
The best coffee cocktail recipes: Our top picks
Want some caffeine with your booze? Try these coffee cocktail recipes
Two coffee cocktails

 

Hats off to the genius who first mixed caffeine with alcohol. The combination often works wonders, easing the bitterness of coffee until it becomes a well-integrated and enjoyable cocktail.

Read more