There’s something about sitting near a body of water that makes booze taste better. While the beach is one ideal summer drinking spot, the pool has its merits too. Whether you’re holding a small gathering of swimming enthusiasts at your backyard baby pool, turning out in your best bathing suit at an epic pool party, or smuggling al fresco cocktails (not that we condone that type of behavior) into your local public pool, these are the drinks you need to sip poolside before summer ends. Roll your bar cart outside and mix up these nine refreshing cocktails while there’s still time.
The bartenders at Nashville’s Pinewood Social are well versed in oppressive heat waves, so they know how to find salvation via a pool-drink combo. Their go-to relief libation is this cooling Sangria, which amps up red wine with Applejack, dry curaçao and St-Germain. There’s even some lemony, limey Sprite in the mix to further cool you down on a 90-something degree day.
The Essentials
Slushy cocktails have become a summer staple, but the hulking blender on your countertop can be a real drag when the mercury hits sweltering temps—hauling that monster out to the pool is a back injury waiting to happen. Instead, prep a few baggies of cocktail slushie in advance, lay them out in your freezer, and simply grab one along with your towel on the way out to the pool.
The Essentials
Pull out the chaise lounge, put on an ambient noise recording set to crashing waves, close your eyes, and you could almost believe your poolside seat was perched along the picturesque cliffs of Santorini. This Greek-ish cocktail uses Mediterranean mastiha to transport you on an imaginary getaway, along with enough pisco and rum to truly remove you from daily worries. Should your eyes accidentally slip open, simply gaze upon the cocktail’s brilliant azure hue and imagine yourself in the outrageously blue waters of the Aegean.
The Essentials
Long summer nights are the perfect time to experiment with 20-step cocktail recipes. But during daylight hours, your number one priority should be getting into the sun as soon as possible. This two-ingredient sipper is the fastpass ticket to relaxation. No worries if your mind turns to total goo as you lounge—just combine the two namesake ingredients in a highball over ice, and keep refilling your glass over the course of the afternoon.
The Essentials
The Essentials
The Essentials
Don’t risk your precious glassware by setting it on the ground in prime foot traffic. Instead, make yourself some boozy popsicles for no-glass, no-fuss boozing. This brilliant red hibiscus Margarita pop packs enough tequila for the chillest of vibes, and it’s cooler than even the most frozen of slushies, making it the perfect summer refresher.
The Essentials
The pool is little fun without some company, so entice a fellow bather with this sharable drink. It combines two perfect summer champions—the Aperol Spritz and the Tom Collins—and it’s even served in a poolside-appropriate fishbowl.
The Essentials
The Essentials
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