With summer ending, you might find yourself craving a cocktail that combines the best summer fruits with some of the season's rich, dark liquors. This month's roundup is for you if you want to use up your last-call summer fruits or start a slow transition into fall's spirits.

And if you want to try other refreshing cocktails, take a look at our July list. Likewise, do yourself a favor and join our free VIP club to take advantage of our exclusive rebate program.

1. Pink Dragon

If you've seen the famous pink drink made by Starbucks, you'll love this Pink Dragon cocktail from La Chica Mixologica. It has the edge over other rosy refreshers, thanks to a splash of tequila and gorgeous pink pitaya.

This festive drink would be an ideal way to ring in the new year or celebrate Valentine's Day with your sweetheart. For a non-alcoholic version, you can muddle dragonfruit with sparkling water or seltzer and serve it to kids who might like to help you raise a glass!

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Tequila
• ½ oz. Pamplemousse liqueur
• 1 oz. Grapefruit juice
• 1 oz. Dragon fruit syrup
• Muddled jalapeño
• Salt and lime zest for garnish

Directions

1. Combine the dragon fruit syrup, tequila, Pamplemousse liqueur, grapefruit juice, and muddled jalapeño in a mixing glass. 
2. Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add the mixture. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
3. Dip the rim of the glass into a shallow bowl of salt and lime zest.
4. Fill the glass to the brim with ice and strain the mixture from the shaker into it.
5. Garnish with a dragon fruit wedge if desired.

2. Tequi La Banane⁣⁣

Russell, a drink enthusiast, says that many of the modern cocktails in the book ‘Easy Tiki’ by Chole Frechette are interesting and beg to be tried out, like this Tequi La Banane made by Orlando Franklin McCray of the New York City bar Nightmoves. 

You won't need fresh fruit to make a fruit-forward tiki cocktail the way it should be. You can also play the song ‘Banana Clip’ while making this cocktail since the track’s laid-back vibe pairs nicely with the drink.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Tequila
• ½ oz. Lemon juice⁣⁣
• ½ oz. Orgeat syrup⁣⁣
• ¼ oz. Banana liqueur⁣⁣
• ¼ oz. Passion fruit liqueur

Directions

1. Put all of the ingredients into a shaker, then add ice.
2. Shake the mixture vigorously.
3. Strain and transfer the liquid to a glass filled with crushed ice. Sip away!⁣⁣

3. Raspberry-Honey Lemonade

Raspberry-Honey Lemonade by Caroline Pace will surely brighten your day! Citron-flavored vodka gives this cocktail a citrus kick, while the raspberries and cucumber juice adds freshness and a pleasant aroma. It is easy to make, and you can serve it any time.

Substitute the vodka with citron tea, and you can turn this recipe into a mocktail for pregnant guests who love sweet beverages. But if you want a boozy summer drink that's a standout on its own, just add your favorite liquor.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Absolut Citron
• 1 oz. Raspberry syrup or 5 raspberries muddled
• ¾ oz. Honey
• 1 ½ oz. Lemon
• 1 oz. Water
• 1 ½ oz. Cucumber juice (freshly squeezed)

Directions

1. Fill a pitcher halfway with raspberry syrup.
2. Stir in the Absolut Citron, cucumber juice, and honey.
3. Stir in the water to combine. Taste the sweetness and tartness, and add more syrup, lemon juice, or honey as needed.
4. Serve in glasses filled with ice.

4. Lillet Vive

This cocktail by Insight Mixology is perfect for a hot summer afternoon or as an aperitif before dinner. Lillet Vive is made with Lillet Blanc, an aromatized light wine with floral, herbal, and citrus notes. It has the flavor of semi-sweet white vermouth with interesting herbal notes on the finish.

The name “Lillet Vive” means “Live Lille,” referring to the fact that the drink is meant to be enjoyed while it is still fresh.

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ oz. Lillet Blanc
• Raspberry
• Cucumber
• Mint
• Tonic water

Directions

1. In a wine glass, place 4-5 ice cubes.
2. Cut the cucumber and put 1-2 slices in the glass. Add the raspberries.
3. Pour the Lillet Blanc and tonic water into the glass.
4. Garnish with a mint sprig.

5. Italian Greyhound with Fresh Grapefruit Juice

Try this Italian Greyhound with Fresh Grapefruit Juice by Dana J for a refreshing beverage with just the right sweetness and rawness. This cocktail is sure to please any crowd, so be sure to give it a try the next time you're looking for something new to try.

Unlike Campari, Aperol has a slightly sweeter taste and more complex herbal-citrus flavors. This helps counterbalance the sourness of the grapefruit. Cheers!

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Gin
• 1 tbsp. Fresh chopped rosemary
• ¼ cup Sugar
• 4 oz Freshly squeezed pink or red grapefruit juice
• 1 oz Aperol or Campari liqueur
• 1 Fresh rosemary sprig for garnish

Directions

1. On a small plate, combine the rosemary and sugar.
2. Rim your glass with the rosemary sugar.
3. Fill the glass halfway with ice and pour in the gin, grapefruit juice, and Aperol.
4. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary. Gently stir.

6. Purple Gin Sour

This Purple Gin Sour recipe by Kevin has a striking color and classic flavor profile, making it an ideal cocktail for all seasons.

Butterfly pea flowers change from indigo to purple or pink when acids like citrus are added. The combination of Bombay Sapphire gin, aromatic bitters, and fresh lemon juice results in its deep purple cocktail.

Ingredients

For the Butterfly Pea Flower Syrup:

• 1 cup Water
• ½ cup Sugar
• 1 tsp. Butterfly pea flower tea
• 1 tbsp. Honey

For the Purple Sour:

• 2 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Butterfly pea flower syrup
• 3/4 Fresh lime juice
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Directions

For the Butterfly Pea Flower Syrup:

1. In a medium pot, combine water and sugar and cook for a few minutes until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Pour the butterfly pea flower into the sugar liquid and continue to boil for 15-20 minutes until the liquid is dark blue.
3. Cook the syrup for a few minutes longer to allow water vapor. Remember to use low heat for steam.

For the Purple Sour:

1. Mix the gin, butterfly pea flower syrup, bitters, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake vigorously with ice.
3. Pour the mixture into a glass. Serve and enjoy!

7. Maiden’s Prayer

Also known as Between the Sheets, Maiden's Prayer is a sexy drink in which rum and brandy join forces for fun. It is thought to have originated in the 1920s at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, which was a popular spot for great cocktails, such as the French 75 and the Monkey Gland.

The brandy and rum combo is a common ingredient in classic cocktails like the Boston Sidecar and the Embassy Cocktail. This recipe delicately enhances the mixture with triple sec and lemon juice.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Longueteau-aged rum⁠
• 1 oz. Bache-Gabrielsen cognac⁠
• 1 oz. Fair Kumquat triple sec⁠
• ½  oz. Lemon juice⁠
• 1 tsp. Simple syrup⁠

Directions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients and mix for 5 seconds.
2. Pour the liquid into a large snifter or other suitable glass.
3. Add more ice and garnish with dried hibiscus flowers.

8. Blueberry Basil Gimlet

A traditional Gimlet is a simple combination of sugar, lime juice, and gin - a blank canvas ready to take on a variety of fruits and herbs.

The Blueberry Basil Gimlet has a pleasant sweetness and a strong aroma. With blueberries and a high-quality gin, It's 5'oclock Mixing created something beautiful and delicious that’s too good to pass up.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Lime juice
• 1 oz. Sugar syrup
• Basil leaves
• Blueberries

Directions

1. Muddle the blueberries and basil leaves in your shaker, then add the sugar syrup.
2. Add the gin and lime juice and shake everything together with ice.
3. Double strain and pour into a glass.
4. Garnish and enjoy!

9. Clover Club

The Clover Club cocktail is a tangy Gin Sour that first appeared in print in 1908. It was named after the Clover Club in Philadelphia, which housed prominent lawyers, writers, and politicians. This drink fell out of favor but is now back in style thanks to the revival of classic cocktails!

The original Clover Club was made using grenadine syrup but has now been updated to use raspberry syrup. This drink is on the International Bartender Association's IBA official cocktails list, which means it has an official definition.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Gin
• ½ oz. Raspberry syrup
• ½ oz. Fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz. Aquafaba or 1 pasteurized egg white

Directions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients and dry shake for 15 seconds.
2. Shake the mixture again for 30 seconds with ice.
3. Pour the liquid into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist or fresh raspberries if desired.

10. Gin Elderflower

The Gin Elderflower is an iteration of the Elderflower Aviation cocktail. Perfect for summertime sipping, this drink is made with gin, elderflower liqueur, and maraschino liqueur, with a beautiful foam from the egg white.

This cocktail is light and floral with a hint of sweetness. Best of all, it's easy to make at home. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a glass and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. Gin
• ¾ oz. Fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz. Maraschino liqueur 
• ½ oz. Elderflower liqueur
• 1 Large egg white
• Maraschino cherry for garnish
• Lemon peel for garnish

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients except the garnishes in a cocktail shaker with no ice. Dry shake for 20-30 seconds. Shake for another 20-30 seconds with ice.
2. Double strain the mixture into a glass.
3. Serve immediately with a cherry and lemon peel garnish.

Conclusion

Cocktails are a big deal. They can make or break your night, and they’re definitely an art form. In fact, some cocktails are so intricate that they take years of practice to master. But don’t fret because mixology leaves much room for creativity and experimentation.

With this list, we hope you've found an interesting cocktail recipe that you want to try. Keep up with trendy drinks and bartending techniques from the industry’s best talents by following us on Instagram and subscribing to our Youtube channel. Cheers!

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Cocktail Recipes

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