Margaritas, Mojitos and More Refreshing co*cktail Recipes (2024)

Recipes Drinks

Spring is the time for picnics in the park, cheering on our favorite baseball teams and, of course, doing a lot of outdoor eating and drinking. Nothing truly says "spring" quite like shaking up a co*cktail— or mocktail— or cracking open a cold one with your friends. Welcome back your favorite critters, flowers and warmth with these incredible spring beverages, and don't forget to fire up the grill while you're at it.

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This recipe for a classic margarita can be made as is, or you can treat it as a blank canvas for other fun ingredients. Want the co*cktail to be spicy? Muddle in some jalapeños. Prefer something sweet? Toss in puréed fruit. No matter which direction you choose to go, the co*cktail is perfect to serve with any of these Mexican recipes.

For the Classic Margarita recipe, click here.

Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune

The bees are back in town! Nothing says spring quite like this bee's knees co*cktail. The fragrant beverage is made with a blend of honey, lemon, gin and lavender. Its effervescent flavors will welcome warmer weather with the sweetest hello.

For the Bee's Knees co*cktail recipe, click here.

Courtesy of the Mango Board

The easiest way to upgrade a Moscow mule is by adding a little bit of mango purée to it, like this recipe does. To make the purée, add the pulp of one to two mangoes to a blender with a little bit of lime juice and blend until smooth. You can also use the fresh fruit purée to make margaritas, mojitos, bellinis and more.

For the Mango Mule recipe, click here.

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Sangria is an affordable way to make a pitcher of co*cktails for a small crowd. Follow the wine to fruit ratios in this recipe but feel free to get creative with your ingredient choices. Use red or white wine and your pick of fruits — we like to use apples, pears and oranges.

For the Sangria recipe, click here.

Courtesy of the National Mango Board

Bellinis are an elegant co*cktail to offer at any brunch or holiday event. If you're serving them during spring or summer, this recipe gives the beverage a fun tropical twist. Use mangos and raspberries in place of peach nectar and garnish the prosecco-based co*cktail with a mint sprig.

For the Fresh Mango Raspberry Bellini recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Tribune Archives

Gin's citrusy flavors and spice from the juniper berries make it a perfect spirit for spring co*cktails. This recipe mimics a Moscow mule by incorporating muddled mint and ginger beer, but it swaps the vodka for gin to give the beverage a botanical, springtime flare.

For the Gin Gin Mule recipe, click here.

apolonia/Shutterstock

Although palomas aren't as popular as margaritas, the bubbly refreshing beverage is a great way to quench your thirst this spring. The bright pink co*cktail can be made with just three ingredients: tequila, grapefruit soda and lime juice. Add a salt or sugar rim if you're feeling sassy.

For the Paloma recipe, click here.

Jane Bruce/The Daily Meal

Despite its spooky name, this arsenic and old lace co*cktail is a delight during the spring. Its delicate purple-blue color is achieved by combining orange bitters, crème de violette, dry vermouth gin and absinthe. The strong, yet sweet beverage is packed with layers of flavor.

For the Arsenic and Old Lace recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Bits+Bites

If you're a fan of kombucha, then you're going to love this co*cktail. The fermented drink adds a subtle but welcomed tang to whiskey.

For the Kombucha Whiskey Ginger Smash recipe, click here.

iStock/courtneyk

You'll definitely need a frozen co*cktail on the docket this spring season, and nothing fits the bill more than a strawberry daiquiri. The fruity drink is sweet, refreshing and so easy to make.

For the Strawberry Daiquiri recipe, click here.

Tod Caviness/Orlando Sentinel Correspondent

The secret to a good spring co*cktail is florals, florals and more florals. Here, elderflower liqueur and fresh grapefruit juice cut the vodka with citrusy and floral notes. Garnish the "spring fling" co*cktail with crystallized hibiscus, an orchid flower or a dehydrated lemon wheel.

For the Spring Fling recipe, click here.

Courtesy of PATRÓN

Get hydrated while you drink with this cucumber-coconut margarita, which is perfect for Cinco de Mayo. The drink is made with the usual suspects like tequila and lime juice but the addition of coconut water and cucumber will make you feel more refreshed with every sip.

For the Cucumber-Coconut Margarita recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Bits and Bites

Limoncello is a traditional Italian lemon liqueur that adds a bright and citrusy flavor to co*cktails. You can find it at most stores, but if you feel ambitious, you can also make limoncello at home. In this recipe, combine your choice of citrus with one part limoncello and two parts Champagne. Top the beverage with club soda and you've got the perfect spring spritzer.

For the Limoncello Spritz recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Ann Hsu Kaufman/Grits and Chopsticks

Although margaritas are traditionally made with limes, this recipe is the perfect way to use up extra lemons and get a little creative. Use 3-ounces of freshly squeezed meyer lemon juice and mix it with the usual margarita suspects like tequila and triple sec.

For the Meyer Lemon Margaritas recipe, click here.

Jacqui Wedewer/The Daily Meal

A base of muddled blackberries and simple syrup sets the tone for this co*cktail that's made with fresh produce. Top it off with tequila, elderflower liqueur, crushed ice and fresh mint and you'll be saying "gimme mora" in no time.

For the Gimme Mora co*cktail recipe, click here.

LauriPatterson/E+ via Getty Images

Mojitos are the essence of spring, the light co*cktail uses vibrant and restorative flavors like mint and lime (mixed with a little bit of rum). You'll also need simple syrup to complete the co*cktail, but you can make it at home by mixing 1/2 cup of granulated sugar with 1/2 cup of water in a pot over medium heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Once it cools down, add it to your co*cktail shaker.

For the Mojito recipe, click here.

Recipe courtesy of PATRÓN

You should have at least one fabulous Carrie Bradshaw moment a year, and this citronge cosmopolitan is the perfect way to do so. The pink beverage is so easy to make and pairs perfectly with a decadent, chocolaty dessert for a night cap or romantic dinner for two.

For the Citrónge Cosmopolitan recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Levi Miller

This is your sign to start making beverages with elderflower liqueur. The sweet elixir adds a floral, honeysuckle-like flavor to co*cktails. In this elderflower spritz, it's mixed with Champagne, club soda and lemon. The light drink is perfect if you're craving a co*cktail but don't want a lot of alcohol.

For the Elderflower Spritz recipe, click here.

Courtesy of Levi Miller

If you're looking for something fun and low maintenance to sip on, make it this sherry cobbler co*cktail. Sherry is a fortified wine, so it's higher in alcohol content than traditional wine because of the brandy. But in this drink it's cut with club soda, simple syrup and orange slices making it the perfect low alcohol co*cktail to sip on after work.

For the Sherry Cobbler recipe, click here.

Gianluca Congiu/Shutterstock

Aperol is an Italian bitter aperitif that brings a beautiful bright orange hue to any co*cktail it's added to. It's most commonly used in a spritz, which is an ideal co*cktail to keep under your belt thanks to its simple 3-2-1 ratio of prosecco, aperol and club soda. An aperol spritz is one of many easy co*cktails that pair great with dinner.

For the Aperol Spritz recipe, click here.

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