6 Drinks You Need For The Pool This Summer

Summertime is fast approaching, and that means spending plenty of quality time by the pool, cocktail in hand. Ahh, yes, you've been waiting months for this — except then you log on to Pinterest looking for a few refreshing summer pool drink recipes, only to find that you don't have the ridiculous ingredients that they require (namely: artisanal bitters, unicorn blood, liquid gold, or the tears of badgers). Yeah, we've all been there... and it's definitely less than ideal.

But I am here to bring good news — you don't need to go out and wrangle a unicorn to whip up an awesome poolside cocktail. There are only two steps involved to make sure that your summer is on-point: First, you just need to make sure that your bar is stocked with pool drink basics (a.k.a everything on this list). Second, hunt down a sexy cabana boy to fan you and your friends with palm fronds while feeding you peeled grapes. Summer priorities, y'all.

Whether you're people watching at your local pool or catching up on your beach reads in Maui, there's no reason you shouldn't have one of these pool drinks in your hand at all times. Because they really are that delicious, and therefore 100 percent necessary. Not to mention, a tiny umbrella in your pool drink just makes everything better.

1. Blood Orange Caipirinha

Never been to Brazil? Me either, but I like to pretend I'm cultured because I can pronounce this insanely cool cocktail's name (it's pronounced kai-pee-reen-YA, BTW). This blood orange version from A Spicy Perspective is also hot pink, so can you really NOT have one this summer?

2. Coconut Margarita

Is there anything that transports you to the Caribbean faster than the taste (or smell) of coconut? Foodie Crush knows what summer drinks are all about — and I'll have two, please.

3. Grapefruit Margaritas

*Technically* this recipe from Joy the Baker is a winter cocktail, but I personally think that anything with fresh citrus and tequila screams summer.

4. Kiwi Mint Mojitos

Because I'm a born-and-bred South Floridian, mojitos will always be a staple in my summer drink arsenal. There's something so fresh about the mint and rum... you really just can't beat this delicious drink by Joy the Baker.

5. Fancy Pineapple Daiquiris

If nothing else, drink these bad boys from A Cozy Kitchen as an excuse to drink OUT OF A PINEAPPLE.

6. Two-Ingredient Pina Coladas

If you like pina coladas — and not having to buy an entire list of tropical things that will eventually rot in your fridge — then these two-ingredient pina coladas are going to be your summer jam! Make a pitcher, and go to town on it poolside... because, summer.

Images: A Spicy Perspective; Foodie Crush; Joy the Baker (2); A Cozy Kitchen; The Kitchn