Entertaining

9 Perfect Poolside Cocktails to Sip Before Summer Ends

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are two kinds of people at the pool: Those who sunbathe until they’re a very bronze shade of putty, and those who hit the high dive on repeat and actually, you know, swim in the pool. For the latter sort, here’s a Red Bull-spiked drink that will keep you fueled all summer long.

It’s hard to destress at the pool if your mind is on your bloated belly, a self-conscious struggle helped little by extra-filling cocktails. You could suck in that gut for the next three hours, or you could swap your sugary drink for a slim green sipper, all without losing the booze in the process. This kale-spiked Martini may go easy on the mixers, but it doesn’t diet down in the booze department.

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 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.

This frozen pink sensation is suitable for every drinking situation during the months of June, July and August. If you haven’t sipped at least one of these obligatory slushies within 10 feet of a body of water, you haven’t really partaken in true summer fun. Hype aside, it’s still a gleeful treat fit for any watering hole.