50 Best Refreshing Summer Drinks to Enjoy on a Hot Day
From refreshing nonalcoholic lemonades to easy-to-make cocktails for adults, these are what we're sipping on all season long.
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Come summer, there's pretty much nothing we want more than an ice-cold drink in the backyard. There's something about sipping on a cold beverage, firing up the grill, and enjoying the company of friends and family (or maybe just your own company and a good book!). Whether you're looking for a cocktail recipe for your next garden party or just something fun for the family to sip on this week, there's sure to be something here you'll love. We've rounded up our favorite refreshing summer drinks that the whole crew can sip on.
There are plenty of mocktail recipes on this list, making it easy to find something that everyone can enjoy. Even some of the cocktail recipes we've included can be modified to omit the alcohol. For instance, you can swap in seltzer for sparkling wine in many drink recipes. There are also plenty of non-alcoholic wines on the market that you could incorporate into your summer drink menu for an elevated feel without the booze.
If you're looking to shake up the rest of your summer dining, check out our roundups of easy summer dinner ideas, light dinner ideas, and kid-friendly dinner ideas.
Check out our most refreshing summer drinks to enjoy this year below:
Iced Sparkling Honey-Lime Red Tea
Mix up a pitcher of this refreshing iced tea next time you're having friends over. It brings together red tea, honey, fresh lime juice, and club soda.
Margaritas
No Triple Sec? No problem. These margaritas have plenty of flavor thanks to the fresh lime juice, agave syrup, and fresh mint.
Get the Margaritas recipe.
Berry Sangria
Make the most of summer's seasonal produce with this sangria. In addition to strawberries and blueberries, you'll need lemon juice and sparkling rosé.
Get the Berry Sangria recipe.
Classic Champagne Cocktail
Got something to celebrate this summer? Toast the occasion with this elevated champagne cocktail made with lemon zest, sugar, and angostura bitters.
Get the Classic Champagne Cocktail recipe.
Spicy Pickle Bloody Mary
A summer brunch calls for this flavorful drink. It's made with prepared horseradish, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pepperoncini peppers and plenty of tomato juice. Don't forget the vodka!
Get the Spicy Pickle Bloody Mary recipe.
Ginger-Peach Soda
It doesn't get more summer-y than this. Fresh ginger, ripe summer peaches, fresh mint and chilled seltzer will truly hit the spot on a hot afternoon. Add a splash of rum if you're in the mood to make it a cocktail.
Get the Ginger-Peach Soda recipe.
Pomegranate-Thyme Spritz
This cocktail is perfect any time of year. The homemade pomegranate-thyme syrup takes a little extra time to make, but it's 100% worth it.
Get the Pomegranate-Thyme Spritz recipe.
Orange-Cranberry Mimosa
This festive cocktail makes any day feel celebratory. It's made with orange juice, cranberry juice, sparkling wine, and fresh cranberries. If you'd rather make it a mocktail, swap out the sparkling wine for seltzer.
Get the Orange-Cranberry Mimosa recipe.
RELATED: How to Glam Up At-Home Brunch
Berry-Black Tea Punch
This dazzling punch makes use of your bundt cake pan. Fill it with lemons, raspberries, and mint, then fill with water and freeze. In a matter of hours, you'll have this showstopping ice ring that keeps your punch nice and cold all evening long.
Get the Berry-Black Tea Punch recipe.
Apricot Fizz
This simple but elevated cocktail requires just three ingredients: vodka, apricot nectar, and sparkling wine.
Get the Apricot Fizz recipe.
Fresh Berry Lemonade
Lemonade with homemade strawberry syrup? Yes, please! It's the perfect way to jazz up lemonade. Just make sure you have a good mesh sieve on hand to make the delicious syrup for this refreshing sip.
Get the Fresh Berry Lemonade recipe.
Cranberry-Basil Spritzer
This spritzer's refreshing mix of cranberry and lime hits the spot on a hot summer day — while also incorporating flavors usually enjoyed during cooler weather — for a unique warm-weather drink.
Get the Cranberry-Basil Spritzer recipe.
Icy Watermelon Granita
If lemonade is the drink of summer, watermelon is certainly the fruit! This granita combines both to make the ultimate summer refreshment.
Get the Icy Watermelon Granita recipe.
Fizzy Cranberry-Lemonade Punch
Want a punch of flavor? The undiluted lemonade concentrate adds mouth-watering tartness while the cranberry cocktail juice mellows it with sweetness.
Cucumber, Lemon, and Mint Fizz
Light, fresh flavors of cucumber, lemon, and mint unite in this ginger ale and tea creation. It’s great for non-fruit lovers since the lemon acts as more of a side character than the main event.
3-in-1 Agua Fresca
Agua fresca, a sugar and water-based drink with a combination of fruits, grains, and/or seeds, is a popular summer beverage. This 3-in-1 recipe lets you customize the central fruit.
Get the 3-in-1 Agua Fresca recipe.
Rhubarb Lemonade
Rhubarb may not be your first choice lemonade ingredient but don’t knock it till you try it. It’s an under-appreciated weapon in the kitchen that will have your friends begging for more.
Get the Rhubarb Lemonade recipe.
Citrus Spritzer
This citrus-centric spritzer is the perfect summer brunch drink. Make a large batch and store it in a sealed container to enjoy for several days.
Get the Citrus Spritzer recipe.
Iced Fruit Punch
In this recipe, the words ‘iced fruit’ are literal. Freeze your favorite fruit juice in ice cube molds to mix later with ginger ale and seltzer water. Play with the amount of iced fruit cubes to find your preferred fruitiness level.
Get the Iced Fruit Punch recipe.
Lemon + Mint Slushie
When we say "easy recipe," this is what we mean. All it requires is lemonade, mint leaves, ice cubes, and a blender. Then, voila — slushie!
Get the Lemon + Mint Slushie recipe.
Kate Franke (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Woman’s Day. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
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