By Mackenzie Filsonp
Sorry Punxsutawney Phil, we're celebrating spring early this year.
Forget Groundhog's day, these spring-y cocktail recipes are delicious proof that winter is on its way out. While we've enjoyed staying cozy all season with mulled wine and spiked hot chocolates, we're more than a bit ready to embrace all 25 of these spring cocktail recipes (and how much they taste like straight-up sunshine in a glass). Thawing out from the winter never tasted so good, especially when you have a spiked sparkling basil lemonade in hand!
Spring is the ultimate seasonal refresh, and we think the cocktails we mix up should absolutely match that. And there's nothing that wakes up our taste buds more than all our favorite sweet-tart spring fruits, namely lemons and limes, blueberries, and strawberries. Our classic gimlet is easily the freshest and simplest nightcap, and don't get us started on how beautiful these lemon blueberry daiquiris are. Want an even more low-maintenance spring cocktail? Our recipe for spiked seltzer slushies are the easiest way to upgrade your usual White Claw.
With warmer temps on the horizon, it's time to emerge from hibernation for some serious brunching too. What is brunch without mimosas? Just a sad late breakfast, so definitely try one (or all) of our favorite spring-spired mimosas, like these strawberry shortcake mimosas or our lemonade mimosas.
Ready to eat your way through all the best of spring? Check out all of our top spring recipes (including all the best spring dinners and spring desserts to make all season long).
Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade
Basil-infused vodka? Sign us up. This lemonade cocktail brings out the sweetness of the herb and turns the spirit a vibrant green.
Get the Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Daiquiri
Inspired by our love of lemon blueberry margs, this brightly colored daiquiri has major springtime vibes. Between the fruity sweetness of the berries and the bright, citrusy flavor, the rum tends to fade to the background, making these surprisingly drinkable despite the strength. (So please drink responsibly!)
Get the Lemon Blueberry Daiquiri recipe.
Gimlet
This cocktail couldn't be simpler with only 3 ingredients, shaken and served. We love garnishing with a lime wheel and a bit of lime zest to get some of the intense lime taste that comes from the oils that are released when zested.
Get the Gimlet recipe.
Strawberry Daiquiri
Few things are as refreshing and delightful on a hot day as a frosty frozen daiquiri. Even diehard fans of piña colada will love sipping the intoxicating blend of juicy, red strawberries brightened with lime. For best results, we call for two types of strawberries: fresh and frozen. Using frozen strawberries gives body to the drink without watering down the flavor like ice would.
Get the Strawberry Daiquiri recipe.
Americano
There's no doubt about it—we're living in the year of the Negroni. But if you look closer at the lineage of everyone’s favorite viral drink, you’ll find that the Americano is just as sophisticated and even easier to make at home. It’s a simple drink with just three ingredients: Campari, club soda, and the best sweet vermouth you can find, topped with an orange slice. For those new to the world of Campari and vermouth-based cocktails, think of them as your new favorite pre-dinner beverage!
Get the Americano recipe.
Mint Julep
Mint juleps are often only brought up around the time of the Kentucky Derby, and we think that’s a crying (neighing?) shame! Not only does the classic frosty cup and minty flavor provide a cooling freshness on a hot day, it’s also one of the best low-effort cocktails out there. It's only 3 ingredients (if you don’t count ice) and the prep couldn’t be simpler.
Get the Mint Julep recipe.
Blueberry Lemonade Margaritas
Turn your margarita into springtime goals with this blueberry lemonade version. Have some leftover blueberry simple syrup? It tastes AMAZING in seltzer water and is a great sweetener for iced tea. You can even stir it into yogurt or ice cream for a punch of blueberry flavor.
Get the Blueberry Lemonade Margaritas recipe.
Black Russian Cocktail
You may have heard of the classic White Russian, a creamy coffee cocktail that gained popularity in the 1990s, but its predecessor the Black Russian delivers on simplicity and strong coffee flavor. This two-ingredient, spirit-forward cocktail combines vodka and coffee liqueur served over ice, making it a flavorful dessert cocktail perfect after a nice dinner out, especially when garnished with an orange slice or a Maraschino cherry.
Get the Black Russian Cocktail recipe.
Dirty Shirley
Bright and colorful, sweet with just a hint of booze, the Dirty Shirley Temple is quickly gaining popularity with cocktail drinkers. And who can blame them? It’s a boozy version of that nostalgic beverage so many of us grew up with—and let’s be honest, what too-sweet mocktail can’t be improved with a shot of vodka?
Get the Dirty Shirley recipe.
Painkiller Cocktail
A veritable vacation in a glass, this just-sweet-enough cocktail goes down very easily. Created in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar in British Virgin Islands, the Painkiller lives up to its name, delivering plenty of booze in a frothy, nutmeg-dusted package. Looking for a way to use up the rest of that pineapple juice? Our Dole Whip Mimosas are a brunch staple.
Get the Painkiller Cocktail recipe.
Prosecco Mint Julep
This festive sparkling drink is perfect for a low-key cocktail hour. A sort of lightened-up mint julep, the addition of a dry sparkling wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of bourbon whiskey.
Get the Prosecco Mint Julep recipe.
Lemon-Poppy Seed Drop
Combining our love of sweet-tart lemon drop martinis and spring-y lemon poppy seed muffins, this cheery cocktail is the perfect balance of citrus and nutty poppy seed flavor. If you'd like to enhance the nuttiness of the poppy seeds, simply toast them in a hot dry pan for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant, then cool before mixing with your sugar.
Get the Lemon-Poppy Seed Drop recipe.
Tom Collins
What’s not to love about a simple, classic cocktail like the Tom Collins? It’s basically a spiked and sparkling lemonade, served in a Collins glass, obviously, which immediately inducts it into the spring-y cocktail hall of fame. The classic garnish for a fizzy Tom Collins is a lemon wedge and a bright red Maraschino cherry, but it’s time for an upgrade. Leave the artificially dyed Maraschinos for sundae topping and go for the dark red cocktail cherry that’s been candied or preserved in alcohol like luxardo, amarena, or sour cherries. They aren’t nearly as sweet, and they taste like actual cherries!
Get the Tom Collins recipe.
Strawberry Shortcake Mimosas
Celebrate the return of strawberries with this shortcake mimosa! Use any leftover ice cream to make strawberry milkshakes or strawberry shortcake ice cream cake.
Get the Strawberry Shortcake Mimosas recipe.
Bee's Knees Cocktail
For those who love gin, this bright, juicy cocktail will definitely live up to its name. With only three essential ingredients—honey, lemon, and gin—a good Bee’s Knees perfectly highlights the complex flavors of the starring spirit. Though this Prohibition-era drink may have been created to mask less-than-ideal bathtub gin, it’s still popular today thanks to its refreshing simplicity.
Get the Bee's Knees Cocktail recipe.
St. Germain Spritz
If you're a fan of refreshing, low-alcohol drinks like the ever-popular Aperol Spritz, you're going to love this sweet and floral cocktail.
Get the St. Germain Spritz recipe.
Orange Crush
Intensely juicy and citrus-forward, the drink was originally made with orange-flavored vodka. Plain vodka works well too, and if you like you can up the flavor ante with a few dashes of orange bitters instead. For those who prefer their cocktails less sweet, 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of triple sec should be sufficient.
Get the Orange Crush recipe.
Spiked Seltzer Slushies
If you thought a can of White Claw was perfect on its own, you haven't given it a whirl in your blender. This recipe (if you can even call it that!) can be easily customized based on what flavors and fruits you prefer. Our favorite combos: lemon-flavored spiked seltzer + frozen strawberries or mango + frozen pineapple.
Get the Spiked Seltzer Slushies recipe.
Frozen Strawberry Margarita
This fruit-forward margarita works best with frozen strawberries, so you can make it year-round! We love adding fresh basil for some sweet anise-y flavor, but other fresh herbs like mint or even cilantro can kick up the flavor of this sunny cocktail. If you prefer your frozen drinks on the thicker side, continue adding ice cubes one at a time until you’ve reached your desired texture.
Get the Frozen Strawberry Margarita recipe.
Blueberry Gin & Tonic
The addition of a blueberry syrup turns a classic gin and tonic into a perfectly spring-y drink, making it fruity, a little sweeter, and a beautiful shade of purple. It’s a fun party drink that mixes up quick with very little effort. The syrup will make more than you need for one drink, but you can save it for future cocktails or serve it over pancakes or ice cream!
Get the Blueberry Gin & Tonic recipe.
Rainbow Sangria
Layering fruit in the glasses makes this moscato sangria extra pretty. If you don't to bother with layering, feel free to skip it, but don't skimp on the fruit!
Get the Rainbow Sangria recipe.
Cottontail Margaritas
You're just one hippity hop away from a tropical daydream. Marshmallow fluff and coconut make for the cutest rim, but feel free to skip it (or use food coloring to turn it fun pastels!).
Get the Cottontail Margaritas recipe.
Perfect Cosmopolitan
And just like that, this amazing throwback cocktail brings us right back to Sex and the City. Tart and citrusy with a real punch, it's a classic for every at home bartender to know.
Get the Perfect Cosmopolitan recipe.
Strawberry Jalapeño Mint Julep
If you’re into spicy margaritas, then you’ll be able to handle the heat here; the jalapeño-infused simple syrup mellows out once it hits the cool mint and sweet berries. This recipe makes more simple syrup than you need, so save it in the fridge for your next cocktail!
Get the Strawberry Jalapeño Mint Julep recipe.
Lemonade Mimosas
Meet the ultimate spring and summer brunch drink—feel free to use either regular lemonade or pink strawberry lemonade to make these extra special.
Get the Lemonade Mimosas recipe.
Posted on 06/01/2023 at 10:00 AM
