6 refreshing cocktails you need to make this summer

You don’t need to be a master mixologist to craft a delicious cocktail. We’ve rounded up six of the best, and easiest, make-at-home drinks recipes for you to enjoy. Start with the classic Margarita, Mojito or Moscow Mule, try a sophisticated sipper like the Aperol Spritz and Whiskey Sour, then break out the blender for a slushie Tiki favourite: the Piña Colada. Paper drink umbrellas optional.

Each recipe makes one cocktail, but you’ll want to multiply by 4 or 6 to mix up a pitcher with friends.

[Photo Credit: iStock.com/ Aleksandrs Muiznieks]

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces vodka
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice
• 4 ounces ginger beer
• lime wedge

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill a copper mug (or similar) with ice. Add vodka and lime juice. Fill glass with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with lime wedge.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 ounces Aperol
• 3 ounces dry Prosecco
• 1 ounce club soda
• orange slice

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill a wine glass with ice and add Aperol and Prosecco. Top with club soda and garnish with orange slice.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups frozen pineapple chunks
• ½ cup ice
• 1 ounce white rum
• 1 ounce dark rum
• 1 ounce cream of coconut
• fresh pineapple slice and a maraschino cherry

INSTRUCTIONS

Add all ingredients to blender, and blend until desired consistency. Garnish with pineapple and cherry.

INGREDIENTS

• 10 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2 ounces white rum
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 3 teaspoons simple syrup (see recipe at end of article)
• club soda

INSTRUCTIONS

Add mint to glass and using a muddler, or the back of a spoon, gently crush leaves to release their flavour. Fill glass with ice. Add rum, lime juice and simple syrup. Stir, then top with club soda.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¾ ounce simple syrup (see recipe at end of article)
• orange wheel and a maraschino cherry

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill a lowball glass with ice. Add all the ingredients and stir well. Garnish with orange wheel and cherry.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces tequila
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• 1 ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup (see recipe at end of article)
•  lime wedges
• Kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare a lowball glass by moistening the rim with a lime wedge and dipping it in a plate of Kosher salt. Fill glass with ice. Add the first four ingredients to a cocktail shaker full of ice and shake vigorously. Strain into prepared glass and garnish with lime wedge.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

Add sugar and water to a small saucepan. Heat on low, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool and store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to a month.