Tropical Pool Drinks for Summer

In our last blog, we learned about how to Master Cocktail Making at Home. Now it's time to try some summer cocktails. These summer cocktails can all be made at home with just a handful of ingredients, so you don’t have to wait until your next trip to the beach to enjoy them.

When you’re not vacationing at an exotic tropical location and sitting poolside all day while waiters bring you fruity frozen drinks with little umbrellas, you can create this paradise yourself at home! Here are some delicious summer cocktails that you can enjoy.

Kiwi Crush 

Kiwi along with cilantro replaces mint in this extra emerald-hued beverage. It's delicious and just the tropical taste to enjoy on a balmy evening.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lime, cut into small pieces

• 1 tablespoon agave syrup

• Cilantro leaves

• 2 ounces vodka

• 1 kiwifruit, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• Small ice cubes

• 1 cup of club soda

• 1 slice each of kiwifruit and lime, for garnish

Instructions:

• In an 8-ounce glass, combine lime with agave syrup and cilantro leaves.

• Using a muddling tool or wooden spoon, crush the mixture to release flavors.

• Stir in vodka, then add kiwifruit pieces.

• Add ice cubes; gently stir to combine.

• Top off with club soda.

• Garnish with a slice each of kiwifruit and lime; serve!

Sex on the Beach 

There are a couple of ways you can make this cocktail. If you mix it all together in a shaker, it’ll come out all one color. Still delicious, but not the layered pretty as in the picture above. To get that, you have to mix the parts and pour them into the glass separately.

Ingredients / Instructions:

• 1/2 ounce peach schnapps

• 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

• 1 ounce pineapple juice

• Mix together and strain into a glass over ice.

Ingredients / Instructions:

• 1 1/2 ounce vodka

• 1 ounce cranberry juice

• 1/2 ounce black cherry brandy (optional)

• Mix together and strain onto the top of the cocktail. This is what gives it the pretty layered look.

Classic Mojito 

We all love a good mojito. However, it’s hard to get a good one because bars often skimp on good quality ingredients. If you don’t see fresh mint involved, don’t bother! A perfect blend of lime, sugar, and mint is what makes a mojito so refreshing and delicious. The mint muddles with the sugar and the lime perks it right up.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Lime cut into wedges

• 2 tablespoon sugar

• Fresh mint leaves

• 2 oz white rum

• 2 oz soda water

• Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Put the lime wedges, mint leaves, and sugar into a tall glass and muddle them together, releasing the juice from the lime.

• Fill the glass with ice.

• Add the rum and stir it all together.

• Fill the glass with soda water. Enjoy!

Pineapple Coconut Margarita

Margaritas are great just as they are, but when you add fresh tropical fruits like pineapple and coconut, it gets even better! This is the perfect hanging-out-by-the-pool drink. We make a large pitcher and bring it out to the party, so everyone can enjoy it. And It’s super easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz pineapple

• 1 oz coconut milk

• 1.5 oz tequila

• 1/2 oz lime juice

• 1/2 oz Triple Sec

• 1 cup ice (small cubes)

• 1 tbsp desiccated coconut (for the rim)

Instructions:

• Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth.

• Wet the rim of a glass with lime juice and roll it in the coconut, to coat the rim.

• Pour the cocktail into the glass and enjoy!

Blue Hawaiian 

You won't be able to resist this blue concoction! A blend of pineapple juice and brilliant blue Curacao gives this rum-and-vodka cocktail its signature hue.

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces pineapple juice

• 3/4 ounce white rum

• 3/4 ounce vodka

• 1/2 ounce lemon juice

• 1/2 ounce blue Curacao

• 1/4 ounce simple syrup

• Ice cubes

• Cherry and a pineapple wedge (for serving)

Instructions:

• In a cocktail shaker, combine pineapple juice, rum, vodka, lemon juice, blue Curacao, and simple syrup.

• Shake and strain over ice.

• Serve with a cherry and a pineapple wedge.

Cheers!