Best Summer Drinks {Mocktails or Cocktails}

Cool down on a hot summer day with one of these delicious summer drink recipes – choose from both refreshing cocktail and mocktail options!

The Best Summer Drinks

Nothing beats the summer heat like a cold, refreshing beverage! But between all of the BBQs, picnics and other get-togethers, the sugary drinks and boozy cocktails can really add up. That's why I've come up with five delicious summer drink recipes that are sure to keep you hydrated.

The refreshing summer drinks I've listed below are healthy and hydrating because they use sparkling water as the base and are sweetened with fresh fruit. If you feel like changing it up this summer, try making your own summer drink by combining a sparkling water base with your fruit of choice and add on some fresh herbs or citrus as garnish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Honeydew Mojito

This honeydew mojito is such a refreshing summer drink! This drink uses the natural sweetness of the honeydew to sweeten the drink, eliminating the need for any added sugars. The honeydew paired with the mint and lime makes a delicious, energizing drink to fight off the summer heat.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Honeydew – use another melon of choice such as watermelon or cantaloupe.
• Limes – limes are essential in classic mojitos, but if you're in a pinch use lemon or another type of citrus to create a refreshing taste.
• Mint – a classic mojito uses mint and limes, so I recommend using a fresh bunch of limes for this recipe. In a pinch, try using basil as a garnish for a similar energizing taste.
• Sparkling water – use plain or a citrus flavoured sparkling water.

Best liquor pairings:

• Vodka
• Gin
• Rum

Watermelon Lemonade

This watermelon lemonade is bound to be a fan favourite at any BBQ or picnic. Watermelon is a summer fruit and lemonade is definitely a summer drink, so paired together it's the ideal summer drink! However, when you purchase a store-bought lemonade, it's usually packed with sugar. The watermelon comes to the rescue in this drink by adding natural sweetness to the lemonade!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Watermelon – you can use another type of melon such as honeydew or cantaloupe or another fruit that is high in water content to make this drink.
• Lemon – use fresh lemons so that you can add in a beautiful garnish to your drink as well! In a pinch, use bottled lemon juice.
• Water – use filtered water or add a kick to this drink with sparkling water.

Best liquor pairings:

• Vodka
• Tequila
• Whiskey

Mango Iced Tea

This drink takes iced tea to a whole new level! If you like flavoured iced teas, I have a strong feeling that this drink is about to be your summer drink! It's packed with the antioxidants of green tea and sweetened with the sweet, fresh taste of mango nectar.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Mango nectar – use fresh lemons so that you can add in a beautiful garnish to your drink as well! In a pinch, use bottled lemon juice.
• Green tea – if you don't want to use green tea, then use black tea or white tea.
• Mango – to garnish.
• Mint – to garnish.

Best liquor pairings:

• Vodka
• Gin

Pineapple Coconut Cooler

This pineapple coconut cooler is the best way to keep fresh on those trips to the beach because they replicate the taste of the perfect summer pina colada. The best part – since there's no excess sugar or heavy cream, there's no headache the next day! Since it's made with a base of coconut water, you're actually guaranteeing that you'll be hydrated the whole time!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Coconut water – use a no-sugar added bottle of coconut water for the best results.
• Pineapple juice – use passionfruit juice, grapefruit juice or mango juice for this recipe to keep on the tropical theme.
• Pineapple – to garnish.
• Mint – to garnish.

Best liquor pairings:

• Vodka
• Gin

Strawberry Basil Fizz

The strawberry basil fizz is the perfect way to upgrade your regular sparkling water. With muddled strawberry and basil, there is so much flavour and natural sweetness added to this drink! It truly is the best substitute for sugary sodas on a hot summer day.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Strawberry – use fresh strawberry or any other berry of choice for this recipe.
• Basil – mint would also work really well for this drink.
• Strawberry sparkling water – use plain sparkling water in place of strawberry sparkling water.

Best liquor pairings:

• Vodka
• Rum
• Rosé