Summerโs got it all: long days spent in unicorn pool floats, warm nights with friends at outdoor patio bars and, above all, a bounty of fresh, bite-sized fruit to use in cocktails. From raspberries and strawberries to blackberries and blueberries, there are endless ways to incorporate the seasonโs tiniest fruits into boozy delights. Here are nine of our favorite ways to use berries in cocktailsโbonus points if you spend the afternoon picking them yourself.
Frosรฉ (aka frozen rosรฉ) has become a national obsession, and bars all over the country are adding the frosty pink drink to their menusโbut you donโt have to go out to enjoy the blended masterpiece. This take on Frosรฉ is super simple and loaded with summer berries. Whip up a homemade berry syrup from fresh raspberries and strawberries to highlight the fruity notes of the pink wine. Then add a bottle of rosรฉ and a little dry vermouth, stick it all in the freezer and youโve got your very own delicious frosty treat.
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We love a classic Strawberry Daiquiri made from a blend of strawberries, rum, lime juice and simple syrup. But this faux frozen Daiquiri will help you appreciate the seasonโs fresh, juicy strawberries even more. The berries get muddled straight into the glass to release as much juice as possible and are then mixed with lemon, rum, triple sec and crushed ice. The resulting drink is full of texture and fresh strawberry flavor.
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This Southern-inspired punch was made for porch swinging on a hot day, but itโs just as enjoyable on the beach or by the pool. Bourbon and fresh lemon juice are shaken with blackberry purรฉe to yield a sweet, tart and boozy remedy to the oppressive summer temperatures. No blackberries on hand? Donโt worry; this cocktail tastes just as delicious with blueberries or raspberries instead.
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This classic from Philadelphiaโs eponymous Clover Club has been the cocktail of choice for high class drinkers since the 1800s. Thankfully you no longer have to be filthy rich to enjoy this fruity, frothy cocktail. Made with gin, lemon, raspberry liqueur and egg white, the Clover Club tastes best when garnished with a skewer of plump, fresh raspberries.
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Inspired by the traditional Mexican raspado dessertโshaved ice with fresh fruitโthis granita-like beverage tastes like a grown-up snowcone. Vegetal tequila is blended with fresh strawberries, kiwis and lime juice, and is then poured over shaved ice. A ginger beer topping gives the treat some fizz, making for a simple, spritzy pick-me-up that will fuel your summer fun.
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This classic Pimmโs Cup is a delicious way to enjoy a bouquet of fresh fruitโbut this colorful, blackberry-flavored version does it even better. Not only are fresh blackberries muddled into the bottom of the glass, but the fruitโs rich flavor also has a starring role in a boozy base of Pimmโs Blackberry Elderflower liqueur. Add a little floral Lillet Blanc and some mint for levity to get the perfect daytime sipper.
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You may be too old to run after the melodious call of the ice cream man, but you can still relive that childhood joy with a Strawberry Shortcake Fizz, inspired by the delicious ice cream truck staple. Creamy and decadent, this nostalgic treat gets its rosy hue and fruity flavor from homemade strawberry syrup.
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When the sun really starts beating down on you, these Margarita popsicles will give you a chill better than any traditional cocktail can. Plus, they pack a boozy punch with a heavy dose of silver tequila thatโs complemented by tart hibiscus flowers and a mix of fresh blueberries and blackberries. Itโs the best way to preserve the berriesโ fresh flavor, so you can enjoy them all season long.
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Sangria traditionally leans on fruits like orange slices and apple chunks for flavor, but this patriotic version embraces summer berries and tropical fruit instead. Raspberry liqueur and pineapple rum give white wine a punch of fruity flavor, while generous heapings of raspberries and blackberries get plopped in to soak up all the boozy goodness. Cut pineapple slices into stars to make this punch a festive centerpiece to any holiday bash.
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