Spirits

5 Refreshing Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Summer Cookout

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Tony Maples Photography

 

A great summer tradition that we Texans excel in is the cookout. Be it any long weekend from May through September, or just a random gathering of family and friends for a barbecue, outdoor games, and fun, we know how to do it up right. When it comes to the beverages we choose to pair with our meals, most often times we stick with that KISS adage: “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” This generally means we grab a case of beer, or some good Texas wine, and sip to our heart’s content. But if you’re looking to change it up a bit, and serve some actual mixed drinks that will make you look like a superstar (not to mention taste pretty dang good), here are some refreshing and ready-to-go drinks your guests will love!

1. Michelada

Refreshing Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Summer Cookout

Photo: Facebook/Tajin

If you’re looking for something to spice up your life as well as your favorite beer, then look to the popular Michelada. Texas knows its Micheladas, and they pair well with everything you can pull off a grill! They also have a lot more taste to them than your standard cold one. A simple cocktail to make, you can get the recipe at Ever In Transit, and enjoy!

2. Rosemary Lemonade

Refreshing Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Summer Cookout

Photo: Facebook/Santee Trolley Square

What’s a cookout without a great lemonade drink? This one is easy and tastes wonderful. A splash of vodka in the mix doesn’t hurt the cocktail one bit, nor the drinker of said cocktail (wink, wink). Some rosemary-infused ice cubes would really pull this off, and your crowd will most definitely be impressed. Grab the recipe at Epicurious.

3. Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Cocktail

Refreshing Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Summer Cookout

Photo: Facebook/BourbonBlog.com

Mixed specifically for a beer, bourbon, and barbecue festival, BourbonBlog shared a video on the creation of this masterpiece that ties in three things we love…A LOT! Watch the maker and the recipe, and see if you can’t mimic that same wonderful taste at home. We’re betting you can and will want to for your next cookout!

4. Hawaiian Iced Tea

Refreshing Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Summer Cookout

Photo: Flickr/Whitney

If you like Long Island Iced Tea, then you’ll love its tropical cousin, Hawaiian Iced Tea. This version trades out the soda pop mix for pineapple juice, and practically makes you feel closer to the Equator just by sipping it! Get the recipe at The Spruce, mix, and sip it on back!

5. El Diablo

Refreshing Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Summer Cookout

Photo: Facebook/The Local Peasant – Sherman Oaks

A zippy combination of ginger beer, tequila, lime, and creme de cassis, the El Diablo is as easy and fun to make as it is to say. A wonderful change of pace from the average cookout cocktail mix, this drink has no froo-froo about it and can blend well with the steak and burgers you’re hauling off the barbecue. Grab the recipe at Imbibe, and enjoy. Cheers!