12 Easy & Tasty Drinks to Make for Memorial Day

Kick off summer with these Memorial Day drinks

With Memorial Day comes poolside parties and BBQs, and any celebration isn’t complete without a few refreshing mocktails or cocktails thrown into the mix. Here are 12 easy and tasty Memorial Day alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks you can make to help commemorate the three day weekend:

1. Watermelon sangria

This refreshing cocktail is made with watermelon and other summertime fruits. The recipe below yields ten servings.

Ingredients:

1 large watermelon
1 bottle of white wine
2 cups of white rum
1 cup seltzer water
1/3 cup lime juice
2 limes sliced thinly
1 cup of frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup of frozen blueberries

Directions:

Slice up the watermelon and scoop out the fruit inside
Transfer the watermelon chunks to a blender
Blend the watermelon until smooth, and then strain any seeds
Pour the watermelon juice into a large pitcher
Add the white wine, rum seltzer water, and lime juice, and stir until combined
Then add the lime slices and frozen fruit
Refrigerate for two hours, and then serve

2. Black cherry ginger ale

This mocktail combines black cherry juice with ginger ale, honey, and lime for a refreshingly light and unique twist. Recipe makes two drinks.

Ingredients:

1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce honey syrup
1 cup of black cherry juice
A few mint leaves
2 cans of ginger beer

Directions:

Combine and shake all ingredients except ginger beer in a shaker tin with ice
Strain over a glass containing fresh ice
Top with ginger beer and serve

3. Strawberry pink lemonade

This spiked lemonade is made with rose wine, vodka, and fresh strawberries—the recipe yields below six servings.

Ingredients:

1 bottle of sparkling rose wine
1 cup vodka
1 can of frozen lemonade
1/2 cup club soda
2 cups sliced strawberries
3 thinly sliced lemons

Directions:

In a large pitcher, combine the wine, vodka, lemonade, club soda, strawberries, and lemon slices
Stir and refrigerate for two hours, and then serve

4. Blackberry mojito

This cocktail is a spin on the traditional mojito — fresh blackberries give it a sweet kick. The recipe below yields two servings.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh blackberries
A handful of fresh mint leaves
2 juiced limes
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup white rum
Crushed ice
Club soda

Directions:

Muddle the fresh blackberries in a small bowl
Take two glasses, and place some mint at the bottom of each one
Divide and spoon the blackberries on top
Add some crushed ice to each glass
In a larger glass, combine the rum, sugar, and lime juice
Stir together to combine
Then pour the mixture into each of the two glasses
Top with club soda and serve

5. Lavender lemonade

This isn’t your ordinary lemonade — the flavors of floral lavender and zesty lemon compliment each other nicely in this drink. This recipe makes four drinks.

Ingredients:

6 cups water
1/2 cup honey
5 tablespoons dried lavender
1 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions:

In a large pot, bring water and honey to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat
Using a mortar and pestle, gently crush the lavender
Add the crushed lavender to the pot then remove it from the heat
Cover, refrigerate, and steep for three hours
Strain the liquid through a mesh sieve
Stir in lemon juice and serve over ice

6. Tequila sunset

This cocktail officially marks the start of summer. The recipe below yields one serving.

Ingredients:

1 cup crushed ice
1 1/2 ounces tequila
1/2 cup grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce grenadine
Maraschino cherries

Directions:

Fill a glass with ice, tequila, and juice
Add the grenadine
Garnish with some maraschino cherries and serve

7. Cucumber margarita

This ultra-refreshing margarita is made with cucumber-infused vodka and lime juice. The recipe below yields one serving.

Ingredients:

Salt
Ice
2 1/2 ounces cucumber-infused tequila
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
1 slice cucumber

Directions:

Wet the rim of a margarita glass with water and dip it in salt
Fill the glass with ice
Using a cocktail shaker, combine the cucumber-infused tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup, and then shake well
Strain the cocktail into the glass and garnish with a cucumber slice

8. Lemongrass jasmine iced tea

This nonalcoholic drink is nice and sweet with a tropical twist — lychee juice. This recipe makes one drink.

Ingredients:

5 pieces of lemongrass
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce lemon juice
4 ounces of jasmine tea
2 ounces lychee juice

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a shaker and shake with ice
Double strain into a high ball glass and add cubed ice
Top with crushed ice and garnish with lemongrass

9. Peach sweet tea

This traditional southern summer cocktail contains bourbon, peaches, and lemon. The recipe below yields one serving.

Ingredients:

2 ounces bourbon
2 ounces peach preserves
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
Dash of Aperol
Sweet tea
Sprig of thyme
Lemon round

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, peach preserves, Aperol, and lemon juice until well blended
Fill a glass with ice and pour the cocktail into the glass
Top with sweet tea and garnish with thyme and lemon round

10. Virgin piña colada

This nonalcoholic version of the classic piña colada is a creamy and tropical delight. The recipe below yields two servings.

Ingredients:

2 cups of fresh pineapple chunks
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 cups crushed ice
Pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries for garnish

Directions:

In a blender, combine the pineapple chunks, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and crushed ice
Blend until smooth and creamy
Pour into two glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries

11. Grapefruit elderflower spritzer

This refreshing nonalcoholic spritzer combines grapefruit and elderflower flavors for a light, fizzy drink. The recipe yields one serving.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1/4 cup elderflower cordial
Club soda
Crushed ice
Grapefruit slice for garnish

Directions:

Fill a glass with crushed ice
Pour the grapefruit juice and elderflower cordial over the ice
Top with club soda and gently stir to combine
Garnish with a slice of grapefruit

12. Mango mule

This fruity, vodka-based twist on the Moscow Mule is perfect for summer celebrations. The recipe below yields one serving.

Ingredients:

2 ounces vodka
1 ounce mango puree
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
Ginger beer
Crushed ice
Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, mango puree, and lime juice
Shake well and strain over crushed ice in a copper mug or a highball glass
Top with ginger beer and gently stir to combine
Garnish with a lime wheel and a sprig of mint

Here’s to the start of summer!

These twelve delicious and refreshing drink recipes are perfect for your Memorial Day celebrations. Whether you prefer mocktails or cocktails, there’s something for everyone. So grab your glass, kick back, and enjoy the start of summer!