Summer at The Lavender Hazel: 5 Cocktails That Need to Be on Repeat This Summer

5 Cocktails That Need to Be on Repeat This Summer

There’s just something about summer evenings that makes a good cocktail feel like part of the experience.

Maybe it’s the slower pace, the extra daylight, or simply having a reason to gather outside on the patio with good food and even better company. Summer cocktails should feel refreshing, easy, and uncomplicated, something you can make for yourself after a long day or serve when friends stop by.

This summer, I’ve found myself reaching for the same five cocktails again and again. They’re crisp, refreshing, simple to make, and each one brings something different to the table.

Whether you love gin, tequila, vodka, or sparkling cocktails, this list has something for everyone.

Here are 5 cocktails that deserve to be on repeat all summer long.

Set the Mood: Summer on the Patio Playlist

Before we get to the 5 cocktails that need to be on repeat this summer, let’s talk about one of the most important ingredients of a summer evening, the music.

A good playlist sets the tone for the entire night. For me, summer on the patio sounds like a mix of classic rock, disco, 80s favorites, and 90s nostalgia playing in the background while cocktails are poured and the sun slowly sets.

I created a playlist called Summer on the Patio to pair with these drinks.

A few songs from the playlist:

• House of the Rising Sun

• Never Gonna Give You Up

• Tennessee Whiskey

• Golden Hour

• Last Dance

• Red Red Wine

• Into the Mystic

1. Hugo Spritz

Light, floral, bubbly, and incredibly refreshing, the Hugo Spritz feels like summer in a glass. It’s crisp without being too sweet and perfect for patio evenings.

Ingredients

• Ice

• 1 oz elderflower liqueur

• 4 oz Prosecco

• 2 oz club soda or sparkling water

• Fresh mint leaves

• Lime slices

Instructions

Fill a large wine glass with ice.

Add elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, and club soda. Stir gently.

Add fresh mint and lime slices. Serve immediately.

2. Blackberry Gin Fizz

Fresh blackberries give this cocktail a gorgeous color and just enough sweetness, while the gin and citrus keep it bright and refreshing.

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin

• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice

• ½ oz simple syrup

• 4–5 fresh blackberries

• Club soda

• Ice

• Mint and lemon slice for garnish

Instructions

Muddle blackberries in a shaker.

Add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice. Shake well.

Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with club soda.

Garnish with mint and lemon.

3. Paloma

A Paloma is crisp, citrusy, and incredibly refreshing. If margaritas feel too heavy in summer, this is the perfect alternative.

Ingredients

• 2 oz tequila

• 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice

• 1 oz fresh lime juice

• ½ oz simple syrup

• Club soda

• Ice

• Lime wedge or grapefruit slice for garnish

Instructions

Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.

Shake until chilled.

Pour over fresh ice and top with club soda if desired.

Garnish with lime or grapefruit.

4. White Linen

This cocktail is crisp, cool, and incredibly refreshing. The cucumber and citrus make it feel light and elegant, perfect for warm evenings.

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice

• ¾ oz elderflower liqueur

• 3 cucumber slices

• Club soda

• Ice

Instructions

Muddle cucumber slices in a shaker.

Add gin, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, and ice.

Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice.

Top with club soda.

Garnish with cucumber.

5. Tom Collins

A true classic for a reason. Crisp, citrusy, and refreshing, the Tom Collins is timeless, and easily made with gin or vodka.

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin or vodka

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice

• ½ oz simple syrup

• Club soda

• Ice

• Lemon slice and mint for garnish

Instructions

Fill a Collins glass with ice.

Add gin (or vodka), lemon juice, and simple syrup.

Top with club soda and stir gently.

Garnish with lemon and mint.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that summer entertaining doesn’t need to be complicated.

A simple cocktail, a good playlist, and time spent with people you love often end up being the moments we remember most.

So whether you’re planning a gathering or simply enjoying a quiet evening on the patio, I hope one of these cocktails makes its way into your summer rotation.

Cheers to long summer nights, cold drinks, and making the most of this season.