Cool cocktails for hot days! Dive into a world of tropical delights with my hand picked collection of 11 summer cocktails. From frozen drinks to fruity concoctions, I’ve curated the ultimate collection of beachy cocktails. Think of being at a beach resort and soaking up the sun while sipping on a nice cool beverage. Or swimming up to the pool bar and having a frozen drink while lounging in the pool. If you can’t make it to a beach resort, I’ve got you covered with recipes from some of the most popular summer sips. Whether you’re longing by your pool at home, soaking up the sun on your patio, or hosting a backyard BBQ, these tantalizing drinks are sure to elevate your summer to new heights.
Recipes for 11 summer cocktails
Rum runner
The rum runner is a classic, popular tropical drink said to have originated in the Florida keys. It’s named after the rum runners who smuggled alcohol during Prohibition during the early 1900’s. This drink made my top 3 list. It packs a punch with 2 kinds of rum and a not to overly sweet or fruity taste. Like Goldilocks said, “This one is just right.”
Rum runner
(serves 1)
1 ounce spiced rum
1 ounce white rum
1/2 ounce blackberry liqueur
1/2 ounce banana liqueur
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce orange juice
Splash of grenadine
Crushed ice or small ice cubes
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a rocks glass with ice.
Strawberry daiquiri
The strawberry daiquiri is one of the quintessential frozen summertime drinks. Derived from the daiquiri cocktail- rum, lime juice, and sugar that originated in Cuba, you only need to add strawberries and ice for this classic drink.
Strawberry daiquiri
(serves 1)
2 ounces rum
5 large strawberries
2 tsp sugar
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1 cup ice
Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth.
Electric lemonade
This electric lemonade is a refreshing drink that uses sour mix for the lemonade flavor and also uses vodka and not rum which is in a lot of “beachy” cocktails.
Electric lemonade
(serves 1)
1 ounce vodka
3/4 ounce blue curacao
2 ounces sour mix
lemon wedge for garnish
In a shaker with ice, add vodka, blue curacao, and sour mix. Shake well. Pour into a glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Bahama mama
The ever popular Bahama mama combines coffee liqueur with rum and fruit juices creating one of the ultimate tropical drinks said to have originated in the Bahamas of course.
Bahama mama
(serves 1)
1 ounce dark rum
1 ounce coconut rum
1/2 ounce white rum
1/2 ounce kahlua or coffee liqueur
2 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce lemon juice (some recipes use orange juice instead of lemon juice)
1/2 ounce grenadine
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well. Pour into a glass. It’s most often served in a hurricane glass but if you don’t have one a tall glass will do.
Dirty banana
This frozen dirty banana is probably my favorite of all 11 summer cocktails. So tasty and refreshing. Also very easy to make. I’ve also seen this recipe made with ice cream for a creamier, milkshake like consistency but I just used milk and ice.
Dirty banana
(serves 1)
1 ounce banana liqueur
1 ounce creme de cocoa
2 ounces milk of your choice
1 ounce kahlua or coffee liqueur
1 cup ice
Place all ingredients in a blender with ice. Blend well. Pour into a glass.
Island breeze
This island breeze is my favorite of the fruity, rum cocktails. It’s really well balanced with it being not too fruity or not too sweet. It was almost a tie between this island breeze and the rum runner but the island breeze wins for it’s smoothness.
Island breeze
(serves 1)
1 1/2 ounces coconut rum
1 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce cranberry juice
1 ounce peach schnapps
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well. Pour into a glass.
Blue Jamaica
My blue Jamaica looks more green but that’s just because the Champagne I used had a bit of a yellow tinge to it and I didn’t have any other kind to use. But fear not it still tastes good and is for all of you that like mimosas and champagne or prosecco and still want a tropical drink.
Blue Jamaica
(serves 1)
2 ounces pineapple juice
1 ounce blue curacao
3 ounces Champagne
Pour pineapple juice into a champagne flute or glass. Next, pour in blue curacao. Top with champagne. Garnish with pineapple slice, optional.
Caribbean rum punch
Caribbean rum punch is a Caribbean island cocktail. It consists of different kinds of rums and fruit juices. There are many different variants on the different islands of the Caribbean. Each island giving it’s own unique flavors to this popular drink.
Caribbean rum punch
(serves 2 or 1 obnoxiously)
2 1/2 ounces dark rum
2 ounces light rum
3 ounces orange juice
3 ounces pineapple juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
splash of grenadine
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well. Pour into a big glass.
Dirty monkey
Another delicious frozen summer cocktail, the dirty monkey uses frozen banana, banana liqueur, coffee liqueur, coconut milk, rum, pineapple juice, and chocolate syrup. I originally made this recipe in July of 2022 and you can find the full recipe here.
Blue Hawaiian
This delicious tropical cocktail blends together rum, pineapple juice, blue curacao, and coconut milk and is garnished with a maraschino cherry and a pineapple wedge. This Blue Hawaiian is not to be confused with the Blue Hawaii. Did you know there were 2 very similarly named drinks with almost the same ingredients? The Blue Hawaiian has cream of coconut ( I used coconut milk) and the Blue Hawaii has sweet and sour mix. But both contain rum, blue curacao, and pineapple juice. Originally posted in July 2022, you can find the recipe here.
Pina colada
And last but certainly not least, is the ever popular, another ultimate summer cocktail- the pina colada. Combining rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream (or milk), and pineapple chunks with ice for a quintessential summertime drink. Originally posted in August 2023, find the full recipe here.
There you have it my friends! The ultimate list of 11 of my favorite and classic summer cocktails!
Cheers to endless sunshine and unforgettable sips!