Ways to Cooke Summer Drink Guide

Ways to Cooke Summer Drink Guide

12 Cocktails to Sip All Season

Summer is the season for bright, balanced cocktails. Whether you're hosting a dinner outdoors, sitting on the porch, or mixing something for a late afternoon moment, these recipes are designed to be both timeless and simple to master. Below you’ll find 12 of my favorite drinks for 2025, worth knowing, worth serving.

Paper Plane

Ingredients

  • ¾ oz Bourbon
  • ¾ oz Aperol
  • ¾ oz Amaro Nonino
  • ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake well until chilled and frothy.
  3. Double strain into a coupe glass.
  4. Garnish with a thin lemon twist, if desired.

Tip: Fresh lemon juice makes all the difference here.

Hugo Spritz

Ingredients

  • 3 oz Prosecco
  • 2 oz Elderflower Liqueur (St-Germain)
  • Splash of Soda Water
  • Fresh Mint
  • Lime Wedge

Directions

  1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
  2. Add Prosecco and elderflower liqueur.
  3. Top with soda water.
  4. Garnish with mint and a lime wedge.

Tip: Lightly slap the mint leaves to release their aroma.

Classic Margarita

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Tequila
  • 1 oz Cointreau or Triple Sec
  • ¾ oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • Salt for rim
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Directions

  1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip in salt.
  2. Combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice in a shaker with ice.
  3. Shake well and strain into the glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with lime wedge.

Tip: Use good tequila and fresh lime juice for best flavor.

Paloma

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Tequila
  • ½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • 4 oz Grapefruit Soda
  • Pinch of salt
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Directions

  1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
  2. Add tequila, lime juice, and pinch of salt.
  3. Top with grapefruit soda and stir gently.
  4. Garnish with lime wedge.

Tip: Swap soda for fresh grapefruit juice and club soda for a brighter flavor.

Tom Collins

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Gin
  • ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • ½ oz Simple Syrup
  • Club Soda
  • Lemon wheel and cherry for garnish

Directions

  1. Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
  3. Top with club soda.
  4. Garnish with a lemon wheel and cherry.

Tip: This is a perfect gin drink for warm weather entertaining.

French 75

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Gin
  • ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • ½ oz Simple Syrup
  • Champagne
  • Lemon twist for garnish

Directions

  1. Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice.
  2. Strain into a champagne flute.
  3. Top with chilled champagne.
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Tip: Chill your flute ahead of time for a crisp finish.

Negroni Sbagliato

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Campari
  • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • Prosecco to top
  • Orange slice for garnish

Directions

  1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
  2. Add Campari and sweet vermouth.
  3. Top with chilled Prosecco.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice.

Tip: Pour Prosecco gently to preserve its bubbles.

Whiskey Smash

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Bourbon
  • ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • ¾ oz Simple Syrup
  • Fresh Mint
  • Lemon wedge for garnish

Directions

  1. Muddle mint with simple syrup and lemon juice in a shaker.
  2. Add bourbon and ice, then shake well.
  3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  4. Garnish with a mint sprig and lemon wedge.

Tip: This is a great way to showcase your favorite bourbon in summer.

White Sangria

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle Dry White Wine
  • ½ cup Brandy
  • ¼ cup Orange Liqueur
  • ½ cup Orange Juice
  • Assorted fresh fruits (oranges, peaches, berries)
  • Club Soda to top

Directions

  1. Combine wine, brandy, orange liqueur, and orange juice in a large pitcher.
  2. Add fresh fruit slices and chill for at least 2 hours.
  3. When serving, top with club soda and spoon fruit into glasses.

Tip: The longer it rests, the better the flavors meld.

Raspberry Gimlet

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Gin
  • 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • ¾ oz Simple Syrup
  • Fresh Raspberries

Directions

  1. Muddle a handful of raspberries in a shaker.
  2. Add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup with ice.
  3. Shake well and double strain into a coupe glass.
  4. Garnish with a few fresh raspberries.

Tip: Works beautifully with either London Dry or a more floral gin.

Aperol Spritz

Ingredients

  • 3 oz Prosecco
  • 2 oz Aperol
  • 1 oz Soda Water
  • Orange slice for garnish

Directions

  1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
  2. Add Prosecco, then Aperol.
  3. Top with soda water.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice.

Tip: For a deeper orange flavor, add a small splash of fresh orange juice.

Cucumber Gin Cooler

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Gin
  • ½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • ½ oz Simple Syrup
  • 4–6 Cucumber Slices
  • Club Soda
  • Cucumber ribbon or mint for garnish

Directions

  1. Muddle cucumber slices with simple syrup and lime juice in a shaker.
  2. Add gin and ice, then shake well.
  3. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
  4. Top with club soda.
  5. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon or mint sprig.

Tip: Try with gin that has fresh botanical notes to complement the cucumber.

Final Notes

There’s no need to overcomplicate summer drinks. A few good spirits, plenty of citrus, and fresh herbs will take you far. I hope this guide gives you a few new favorites to mix, serve, and share.

If you make any of these, tag @waystocooke I love seeing what lands on your table.

Cheers.

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