Life
13 Summer Cocktails, Wines, and Beers to Drink Now While You Still Can
Warm weather and longer days are great, but everyone knows the best part of summer has everything to do with seasonal drinking (you know it's true). From glasses of rosé to pitchers of sangria and minty mojitos, summertime drinks are one of the (many) things we are going to miss most about these long, hot days. Because we’re nearing the end of this delightful season, we think a toast (or two) is in order. Here are 13 of our favorite light and refreshing summertime drinks so that you can make the most of what little time we have left to drink them. Ready, set, go!
Image: How Sweet It Is
Rosé
Everyone knows rosé reigns supreme over all other summertime wines. So get the most out of what little warm weather we have left by imbibing on this seasonal favorite. Go for the 100 percent French Grenache Notorious Pink rosé with notes of cherry, grapefruit, and strawberry. Yum.
Image: Notorious Pink
Mojito
This refreshing minty cocktail is a summertime staple. Get in your last batches of the season with one of these delicious recipes and thank us later.
Image: How Sweet It Is
Coolers
These vodka-infused beverages are basically the holy trinity of summer cocktails: they’re easy to make, easy to drink, and diverse in variety. We say try out Big Girls Small Kitchen’s minted cucumber cooler for the perfect refresher.
Image: Big Girls Small Kitchen
Prosecco
Summertime is perfect for a nice glass of bubbly on your porch or patio. Go for a nice dry Italian prosecco like Valdo, Mionetto, or Botter, whose light bubbles perfectly complement the heat.
Image: Hillary Eaton
Negroni
This bitter Campari, gin, and vermouth cocktail is the ideal drink to combat summer heat. Give this sparkling version by Crepes of Wrath a try, because everything is always better with champagne. Even Negronis.
Image: Crepes of Wrath
Sangria
Without a doubt, sangria is the official pitcher drink of summer. And whether it’s white, rosé, red, or sparkling you like best, we’ve got you covered with enough sangria recipes to last you until fall. Get mixing!
Image: How Sweet It Is
Margarita
Let’s be serious — margaritas are a year-long favorite, but somehow they just taste better when it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside. So get it while the getting is good with one of these mouthwatering tequila recipes.
Image: Crepes of Wrath
Summer Beers
With warm weather comes a slew of special summertime beers to make life all the more delicious. Get your summer beer fix with one of these seasonal favorites before these beverages are off the shelves for good (or at least, until next summer).
Image: Brooklyn Summer Ale, brooklynbrewery.com
Piña Colada
An ice cold Piña Colada laced with pineapple rum is basically tropical summer in a glass. Make things easy on yourself and give this simple recipe from The Kitchn a go so that you can enjoy one of these heavenly concoctions even sooner.
Image: The Kitchn
Spritzer
This fizzy goodness is the perfect way to get your summertime drink on. Try a blueberry lemonade version like Simply Scratch for all out summer in spritzer form.
Image: Simply Scratch
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc’s crisp acidity and refreshing taste is the perfect white wine for summer sipping. Go with Uproot Wine’s 2012 Sauvignon Blanc with hints of orange, pineapple, mint, basil, and lemonade for pure summer in a glass. Not only is their wine a perfect pairing for the warm weather, the label, which highlights the wine’s tasting notes, is a definite conversation starter.
Image: Uproot Wines
Pimm's Cup
Basically the cocktail equivalent of a garden in full summer swing, the Pimm’s Cup is undoubtedly best enjoyed during the hot months. Joy the Baker is the brains behind our favorite Pimm’s Cup out there.
Image: Joy the Baker
Boozy Lemonade
Everything is better with alcohol, and that holds especially true for lemonade. Give your favorite thirst quencher a grown-up twist by adding a splash of booze of your choice. We say give A Beautiful Mess’ basil lemonade cocktail a try.
Image: A Beautiful Mess
