During the far-too-short strawberry season, we can pluck the plump red berries from the vine and plop them straight into our mouths. But the rest of the time, we choose to satisfy our strawberry cravings with a strawberry cocktail. Whether they’re fresh, puréed or distilled into a sweet liqueur, strawberries are surprisingly versatile in cocktails. Here are some of our favorite ways to use them.
This sophisticated cocktail sprung from some unlikely inspiration: the ‘90s kids' snack, Gushers. Bursting with tart flavor, this sour vodka and Aperol cocktail gets its bright color and fruity flavor from a strawberry oleo saccharum, made by macerating strawberries in sugar, lime zest and lime juice. Garnish with real strawberry Gushers to re-live those lunchroom days.
The Essentials
Vodka
Strawberry oleo saccharum
Strawberry gushers
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The combination of pisco, avocado and chocolate may seem bizarre, but fruity strawberry liqueur ties this creamy, blended drink together. The melding of sweet and savory achieves a delicate balance, creating a complex and delicious brunch drink.
The Essentials
Avocado Pisco
crème de cacao
crème de fraise
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Though it’s as shockingly red as a bad sunburn, this summery cocktail is actually made with cooling aloe tea syrup. The refreshing syrup is paired with funky rum and strawberry liqueur, for a lightly herbal version of liquid strawberry jello.
The Essentials
white rum
liqueur
honey syrup
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Get your romantic night started on the right foot with this drinkable aphrodisiac, which combines sultry ingredients like Champagne, pomegranate, chocolate and strawberries to yield a sexy, stimulating cocktail.
The Essentials
Crème de cacao blanc
Strawberry purée
Sparkling wine
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Boozify your morning strawberry smoothie by adding gin into the mix (OK, maybe don’t have it in the morning). Vanilla ice cream, frozen pink lemonade and frozen strawberries come together with a generous pour of London Dry gin for some added bite. Garnish with fresh strawberries if you have them for an extra treat.
The Essentials
Gin
Frozen Pink Lemonade
Frozen Strawberries
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A British garden party favorite, the Pimm’s Cup is made with fruity and herbaceous Pimm’s liqueur, along with fizzy lemonade and a bounty of fresh garnishes like mint and cucumber slices. While not strictly a strawberry cocktail, you’d be hard-pressed to find a proper Pimm’s Cup made without strawberries for garnish.
The Essentials
Pimm’s No. 1
British Lemonade
fresh lemon juice
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When it’s time for dessert, look no further than this gorgeous float, made simply with strawberry ice cream and dry rosé wine, plus a splash of bitter orange-flavored Aperol to keep it from getting too sweet. Frothy and fruity, this easy cocktail can be shared with two spoons, but we won’t judge if you keep it all to yourself.
The Essentials
Rosé
Aperol
Ice Cream
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