Top 5 Summer Festival Cocktails

Kacie Farrell
Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Top 5 Summer Festival Cocktails

Summer is festival season, giving you many opportunities to spend time outdoors soaking up the sun while listening to great music. Having a drink in hand can enhance the experience. While many festival-goers opt for beer, you might want to take your beverage selection to the next level with a tasty cocktail.

We've put together a list of the best summer festival cocktails to help you out. These drinks will quench your thirst and keep you refreshed throughout the entirety of any festival.

Festival Drink to Enjoy This Summer

We asked the expert mixologists at mybartender to put together our list of festival cocktails with an eye towards diversity. The following selection includes everything from rum-based to wine-based drinks. Peruse these festival drink ideas and choose the one that best suits your style.

Mojito

The classic mojito hails from Havana, Cuba, and a great rum is the basis for this cocktail. According to popular myth, the drink was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway's (the author spent time in Cuba). There's even a handwritten note from Hemingway on the wall of a bar in Havana, La Bodeguita, which reads: "My mojito in La Bodeguita, My daiquiri in El Floridita."

To mimic Hemingway and make your mojito, you'll need:

1 and 1/2 ounces white rum
3/4 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Mint leaves
Club soda

Put the lime juice in a glass. Next, muddle in the mint leaves and simple syrup. This helps to release the flavor of the mint. You'll need at least three mint leaves. Finally, fill the glass with crushed ice. Stir in the rum and then add the club soda. Garnish with the leftover mint.

Pina Colada

Nothing screams "beach vacation" like a classic pina colada. Even if your summer festival isn't ocean-side, sipping on this drink will make you feel like your toes are in the sand. The drink traces its roots back to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Here's what you need to make it and get that beach vibe:

2 ounces rum (white or dark, either one is fine)
2 ounces coconut cream
1.5 ounces pineapple juice
1 ounce lime juice
Pineapple wedge for a garnish, if desired

Mix all of the ingredients along with crushed ice in a blender. Blend until it's smooth. Then, pour it into a chilled glass and garnish it with pineapple.

Peach Sangria

A summer festival is fun, but it can also be exhausting. You're on your feet for most of the time, and the heat and sun can be draining, depending on where you are. This peach sangria will help you stay refreshed and keep you on your feet from morning until night.

Here's what it takes to make:

1 pound yellow peaches in slices
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup peach liqueur (alternatively, you can use peach schnapps if you prefer)
1 bottle of white wine
1 bottle of chilled ginger ale

Get a pitcher and place the sliced peaches in the bottom. Next, bring the sugar and water to boil in a small saucepan. Stir until the sugar has dissolved completely. Finally, pour this mixture (your simple syrup), peach liquor, and white wine over the peaches. Stir and put it in the fridge overnight to chill.

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

A frozen strawberry daiquiri is another drink with a great beachy vibe. Get together these ingredients to make this tasty and pretty drink:

8 ounces rum (light rum is best)
32 ounces strawberries, fresh or frozen
2 ounces simple syrup
4 ounces lime juice
Ice

Add the rum, strawberries, lime, and syrup into a blender and blend until smooth. Then, add the ice. The more ice you add, the thicker it will be. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Pink Lady

If you want a summer cocktail with some feminine flair, the Pink Lady is a perfect choice. It's also fast and easy to make, making it a great option for quick festival fixes. Here's what you'll need to prepare it:

1 and 1/2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce applejack
1/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2 splashes of grenadine
1 egg white
1 maraschino cherry for optional garnish

Pour all the ingredients except for the garnish into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake for 30 seconds and pour into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with the cherry.

Final Thoughts on Festival Cocktails

A summer festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The right drink can add to the vibe and make the event even more memorable. There's no need to grab a boring beer to quench your thirst this summer festival season. Instead, let the above list of summer festival cocktails inspire you.

Mix up your favorite drink, put it into a festival-friendly non-breakable tumbler, and you're good to go!

Author: Kacie Farrell