Enjoying a nice cool drink on hot summer days is even better when you add some of the good stuff. Nooooo- we’re not talking about adding a spoonful of Allulose, this is all about making a cocktail that soothes the nerves while you watch the sun go down. Here are our top cocktail recommendations that will knock your socks off.

Healthy and Tasty Summer Greats

We’ve left most of the typical summer cocktails off this list since they are over-used and overly hyped anyway. The problem with most of the popular names such as the Tequila Sunrise is that they are packed with hidden sugar including grenadine syrup, off-the-shelf orange juice, and that ever-present candied cherry. With so many other traditional summer drinks working exactly like this, we’ve hunted down healthier alternatives that are all tasty cocktails. Pair any of these tasty drinks with a little surf and turf for the ultimate BBQ get together.

Red Sangria

Loulies

You can’t ask for the healthiest mixture of fresh fruit added to rosé wine with a bit of brandy added and loads of freshly sliced fruit. You want to avoid red wine since this is much heavier for calories. Here’s an easy recipe to make this refreshing drink:

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Total Time 10 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine European

Calories 215 kcal

Equipment

• Pitcher
• Tall glass

Ingredients

  

• 1 Bottle Rosé wine (or white wine)
• Honey to taste (or maple syrup)
• 1/4 Cup Brandy
• Chopped fresh fruits

Instructions

 

• Take a large glass pitcher and pour your rosé wine into the pitcher. It’s better to have your wine chilled beforehand. Now add ¼ cup of brandy and squeeze fresh orange juice and half a lemon into this liquid. You can add honey or maple syrup to sweeten this naturally and is according to your taste and liking. Now add freshly chopped fruits such as apples, oranges, nectarines, or strawberries. Let this mixture chill and then pour into a tall glass and enjoy.

Rosé Spritzer

This refreshing concoction only requires a simple recipe that includes some rosé wine and some sparkling water. To make this a bit more satisfying, you can also add a little bit of sugar-free ginger ale

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Total Time 5 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine European

Calories 150 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 Bottle Rosé wine
• 1 Bottle Sparkling water
• 1 Bottle Ginger ale
• Fresh thyme sprigs (if making more than one)

Instructions

 

• The general ratio to follow is 3-parts rosé wine to 1-part sparkling water. Add a splash of ginger ale for extra flavor by throwing in a small sprig of thyme as a garnish and enjoy.

Gin Basil Smash

This is our first Smash recipe that uses dry gin mixed with fresh lemon juice and honey that’s mixed with fresh basil. It’s similar to cocktails like the Bee’s Knees or Yellowjacket and just as refreshing on a hot day. The smash name comes from how a shaker is smashing added ingredients around with ice cubes.

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Total Time 5 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine European

Calories 166 kcal

Equipment

• Fine strainer
• Shaker
• Tall glass

Ingredients

  

• 1 Bottle Dry gin
• Fresh lemon juice
• Fresh bay leaves
• Fresh mint
• Honey

Instructions

 

• Into a cocktail shaker, add 2 ounces of dry gin and ounces of lemon juice. Now you add ounces of honey and 10-12 fresh basil leaves. Also, add ice into the shaker so this helps to crush the basil leaves to get the beautiful green color. Shake this with enthusiasm for a minute or so. Use a fine strainer over the shaker and pour into a tall glass filled with ice. Add a little bit of fresh mint for a unique and fresh flavor.

Blueberry Smash

Here is another great healthy smash cocktail that will temp your taste buds with the fresh flavor of blueberries. While the alcohol is vodka for this version it’s a bit of the pink bubbly that really turns this into a cool summertime treat. It’s all-natural and will give you chills just thinking about how bubbly sweet this mixture will make you feel!

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Total Time 10 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine European

Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients

  

• ¼-⅓ Cup Fresh blueberries
• 1 Ounce Fresh lemon juice
• 1 Ounce Honey
• 1 Ounce Blueberry-flavored vodka (Stoli makes this)
• Pink champagne

Instructions

 

• You will first pre-chill your drinking cup with ice cubes. Now add your vodka, blueberries, lemon juice, honey, and ice cubes. Shake this to muddle your mixture for a minute like crazy. Now use a fine filter and pour this mixture into your chilled cup about filled. Top this off with pink champagne and add a drinking straw. Add some extra blueberries as a decorative garnish.