12 Light and Bright Cocktails to Celebrate the Summer Solstice
Is it even summer without a floral, fruity, or spritz cocktail to enjoy? Get ready because the summer solstice—the one day a year where the sun hits the Earth an extra long time—is here. This is the day when one of the Earth’s poles reaches the maximum tilt towards the sun. It’s the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, meaning the sunset occurs later in the evening.
So, say cheers to the end of the workweek, the arrival of a new season, and a day absolutely abundant with sunshine! Here are eleven cocktails perfect for the occasion.
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Summer Solstice Sparkling Chamomile Sangria
Natalie Jacob of Arsenic Lace creates a cocktail that strikes the perfect balance with calming chamomile and peppy prosecco. It tastes as sweet as a summer’s day.
Courtesy of @arseniclace
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G
- 2 cups chamomile tea
- 3/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup gin
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup elderflower liqueur
- Lemon wheels
- Strawberries
Instructions
First, bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 2 chamomile tea bags and let steep 5 minutes. Remove bags and discard. While tea is still hot add your 1/2 cup of sugar and stir until fully dissolved.
Next, cut up the fruit and then add it to your pitcher or large serving vessel. Pour tea, lemon juice, gin, and elderflower liqueur into the vessel and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours. The longer you let the fruit steep the better!
Just before serving your Sparkling Chamomile Sangria, add ice and finally top with a bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. To make a boozier sangria I suggest using 2 bottles instead.
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Lime Balm Cocktail
Influencer Adaleta Avdić shares one of her favorite summer treats—a cocktail that’s both tasty and healthy. Did you know tequila has a naturally occurring prebiotic, which is a food source for the healthy bacteria that populate the gut? This drink is also 100% gluten and guilt free!
Courtesy of Twenty20
Ingredients
- Sparkling water
- Squeeze of organic blue agave sweetener
- Squeeze of lime juice
- 2 shots El Padrino tequila
- Ice
Instructions
Place 4-5 ice cubes in the crystal whiskey glass. Drop 2 full shots of tequila into the ice, a squeeze of agave, squeeze a little lime juice into the mix, and then fill the rest of the glass with the sparkling water. Stir everything together. Cut a piece of the lime as a garnish, and then drop a few leaves of the lemon balm plant into the drink. Add 1-2 more ice cubes.
Dirty Banana
What says summer more than a frozen drink? We love this one from The Weekend Mixologist because it’s easy to make and delightfully creamy. A Dirty Banana is basically like drinking dessert!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwrn1GVBkWY/
Ingredients
- 1½ oz White Rum
- 1 oz Banana Liqueur
- 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
- 2 oz Half and Half
- 1 Whole Banana
Instructions
Add all ingredients into a blender and then add 1 large scoop of crushed ice. Blend until smooth and pour into a highball. Garnish with banana.
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Jalisco Sunrise
Summer solstice is the perfect day to celebrate until sunrise. So, why not enjoy a spicier take on the classic cocktail created by Sipping With Stella?
Courtesy of Sipping With Stella
Ingredients
- 2 oz YaVeTequila Jalapeño Reposado
- 1/2 oz Campari
- 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
- 1 oz fresh tangerine juice (approx 1 small tangerine)
- 1 oz fresh lime juice – 1/2 oz for rimming, 1/2 oz for drink (approx 1 lime)
- 5 jalapeño pepper slices (seeds removed) – 2 for muddling, 3 for garnish
- 1 tbsp Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Seasoning Blend for rimming
Instructions
Squeeze & pour 1/2 oz or 1 tbsp fresh lime juice (or a little more if you need it) on one small plate and tip lip of highball glass at 45-degree angle. Rotate the glass through juice to wet approx 1/4”-1/2” of the outside of rim. Pour 1 tbsp of chili lime seasoning blend on other plate and coat top of outer rim in the same fashion. Tap the glass with your hand over your plate or sink to get rid of any excess seasoning.
Muddle 2 slices of jalapeño pepper in 1/2 oz of fresh lime juice for about 15 seconds in shaker. Add tequila, Campari, Velvet Falernum, and freshly squeezed tangerine juice to shaker & fill with ice. Shake until frosty, double strain into highball glass filled three-quarters of the way with ice, and garnish with 3 jalapeño slices.
Our/Los Angeles Vodka Kombucha Spritz
There’s nothing more summer solstice apropos than a cocktail that has refreshing kombucha. Easy to make, it’s a sensible spritz that isn’t too dehydrating. While you can choose your favorite flavor, may we suggest mango, guava or watermelon?
Ingredients
- 2 oz Our/Los Angeles Vodka
- 1/4 oz lemon juice
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- Splash of your favorite kombucha
- Edible flower
Instructions
In a mixing shaker add Our/Los Angeles vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. Add ice and shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top off with cold kombucha. Garnish with an edible flower. Enjoy!
The Blueberry Gin Solstice
Named for the celebration, this cocktail was created by The Bitter Fairy. It uses blueberries, which are more than pretty and tasty, they’re also perfectly in season.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByDO4agJrBn/
Ingredients
- 2 oz Hendricks Midsummer Solstice gin
- 1/2 oz Cappelletti aperitivo
- 1/2 oz Luxardo Bitter Bianco
- 1/2 cup blueberries, muddled
- Elderflower tonic to top
- Blueberries, Campanula, and mint garnish
Instructions
Combine ingredients and serve!
Mango Sunrise Pina Colada
No blender? No problem! This cocktail combines classic pina colada flavors and mango for a yummy treat on the rocks.
Courtesy of @coctailrecipes
Ingredients
- 2 oz coconut rum
- 2 oz mango juice
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon coconut cream
- 1 tablespoon grenadine
- Pineapple slice garnish
Instructions
Add juices, cream, and grenadine in a shaker. Shake to mix. Add in the coconut rum, shake, and garnish with a pineapple slice.
Summer Solstice Sparkling Sangria
This inspired drink from The Sweetest Occasion is served in a pitcher. So, it’s just right for a party. Luckily, this fresh, fruity recipe serves 12!
Courtesy of The Sweetest Occasion
Ingredients
- 1 cup mango, fresh
- 1 cup raspberries, fresh
- 3 cups ginger ale
- 1 cup raspberry vodka
- 1 bottle sauvignon blanc wine
Instructions
Add raspberries and mango chunks to a large pitcher. Pour in the wine and vodka, then stir well. Refrigerate for 2 – 3 hours, or longer. Just before serving, top off with ginger ale then stir gently again.
Blood Orange Mezcal-Rita
Mezcal is smoky like the sun setting in the solstice sky. It’s easy to sip on this citrusy drink created by Sara Lehman of Somm In The City.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSTf7Ijgp_I/
Ingredients
- 1 Limoneira blood orange
- 3.5 oz Alacrán Mezcal
- 1.5oz lime juice
- TT salt (for rim if desired)
- Dried orange slice (for garnish)
Instructions
In a shaker, juice the blood orange completely. Next, measure out your mezcal and lime juice. The blood orange juice is sweet enough, you do not need simple syrup, however if you feel you do, add in some agave. Add ice to the shaker and shake well. Pour into a cocktail glass, garnish with a dried orange, and enjoy!
Loose Skrew
This cocktail is like a summer solstice sunset with lots of different colors. The dark shades come from Skrewball, which is a delicious peanut butter whiskey. The light colors come from the fruit juices and coconut cream. If you thought a pina colada couldn’t get better, cheers to this cocktail proving you wrong!
Courtesy of Screwball
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Skrewball
- 1/2 oz coconut rum
- 1/2 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz pineapple juice
- 1/4 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz coconut cream
Instructions
Mix together and garnish with nutmeg and pineapple leaf!
Classy Vodka Martini
Influencer Elizabeth Deo knows that you can’t go wrong with a reinvented version of an old school cocktail. It’s a little sour, a little sweet and entirely delicious.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhNcSytDee8/
Ingredients
- 2 oz Absolut Elyx
- 1/2 oz elderflower liquor
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Instructions
Shake or stir ingredients together, and don’t forget the garnish!
Summer Watermelon Ginger Spritzer
This deliciously refreshing cocktail was created by Mike Prasad specifically for the summer solstice. Serve this drink in a long glass to commemorate the longest day of the year. It’s also fun to share with friends. Just multiply the ingredient portions and serve in a punch bowl with ice!
Courtesy of Mike Prasad
Ingredients
- 1 oz lime juice (1–2 limes)
- 1 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 1 oz rum (white/silver/light)
- 4 oz watermelon juice
- 2 oz ginger ale
Instructions
Add lime juice, St. Germain, rum, and watermelon juice in a shaker with a single large piece of ice or only 2-3 smaller pieces of ice (to minimize dilution). Shake briefly. Pour into a tall glass over ice.Top with ginger ale and serve.
Lead photo designed by Horoscope.com
