Summer Drinks - Cooking Light

The sweet tang of lime balances the blackberry flavor perfectly, for a refreshing beverage that's perfect over ice. If you're feeling creative, try making the limeade into a base for a cocktail.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Blackberry Limeade

Blackberries are too often overlooked in favor of their flashier berry cousins, but this drink elevates them to their proper status. The sweet tang of lime balances the blackberry flavor perfectly, for a refreshing beverage that's perfect over ice. If you're feeling creative, try making the limeade into a base for a cocktail.

Veiw Recipe: Blackberry Limeade

Tropical coconut and pineapple combine with melon liqueur and the subtle flavor of kiwi in this blended iced cocktail.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Kiwi Colada

Tropical coconut and pineapple combine with melon liqueur and the subtle flavor of kiwi in this blended iced cocktail whose green color looks absolutely gorgeous on any party table. If you can find them, try using golden kiwifruit instead for a sweeter taste and pretty golden color.

View Recipe: Kiwi Colada

The bright citrus flavor of the lemon-verbena syrup will also add sparkle to a variety of cocktails, so make an extra batch.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Lemon Verbena Iced Tea

Nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than a tall glass of sweet tea with just the right amount of tart lemon flavor, especially if sipped in a rocking chair on the porch. The bright citrus flavor of the lemon-verbena syrup will also add sparkle to a variety of cocktails, so make an extra batch.

View Recipe: Lemon Verbena Iced Tea

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Jamaica Margaritas

Agua de jamaica is a sweet beverage made with hibiscus blossoms, popular on hot days all over Latin America. We've taken that concept to the next level by incorporating the floral, summery taste of hibiscus into a classic margarita for an elegant outdoor-party cocktail.

View Recipe: Jamaica Margaritas

Photo: Anna Williams

Minted Lemon-Lime Watermelon Agua Fresca

Sweet, tangy, and absolutely thirst-quenching, this beverage is one the whole family can enjoy.

View Recipe: Minted Lemon-Lime Watermelon Agua Fresca

Photo: Anna Williams

Blueberry Thrill

Sweet blueberries infuse spicy gin for summer’s most refreshing sipper. For a fizzy cocktail, pour gin, cardamom syrup, and lemon juice over crushed ice in a glass; top with chilled club soda.

View Recipe: Blueberry Thrill

This effervescent creation contains lots of fruit for sweetness and summer flavor.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Sparkling Sangria

This effervescent creation contains lots of fruit for sweetness and summer flavor of course, and then we add cava, a Spanish sparkling wine, for bubbles and a kick.

View Recipe: Sparkling Sangria

Fresh, sweet berries blended into ice cream are a great way to cool off after anything hot and spicy or grilled.

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Brandied Berry Milk Shake

Fresh, sweet berries blended into ice cream are a great way to cool off after anything hot and spicy or grilled. The brandy adds a nice depth to this shake, but it's almost as good without alcohol.

View Recipe: Brandied Berry Milk Shake

Randy Mayor

Lemon Verbena Gimlet Cocktails

The tartness of lime juice and the herbal freshness of verbena both make this cocktail taste light and refreshing. If the party's outside, pour these over ice to keep them cold, but for a more elegant look indoors, shake with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into chilled martini glasses.

View Recipe: Lemon Verbena Gimlet Cocktails

Photo: Gentyl & Hyers

Sparkling Rosemary-Peach Cocktails

A heady punch of woodsy rosemary creates an herbaceous riff on the classic Bellini.

View Recipe: Sparkling Rosemary-Peach Cocktails

Photo: Gentyl & Hyers

Agua Fresca de Pepino

Serve this refreshing cooler on a hot day–it's perfect with spicy Mexican food. Because we only include a tiny amount of seeded serrano pepper, the beverage doesn't become very spicy but picks up the "green" vegetal flavors of the pepper. Use the remaining serrano pepper in your favorite salsa recipe, or toss it into a lime-based salad dressing with cilantro.

View Recipe: Agua Fresca de Pepino

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Cilantro-Jalapeño Limeade

Jalapeño adds a subtle kick, and cilantro brings grassy, herbal notes to classic limeade. Adults might like to stir in a little tequila.

View Recipe: Cilantro-Jalapeño Limeade

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Peach Lemonade

Peaches add sweet, mellow roundness to traditional lemonade. Stir in white rum or bourbon for grown-ups.

View Recipe: Peach Lemonade

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Champagne Mango Margaritas

Champagne mangoes are also called Ataulfo mangoes. Other varieties may be used but won't be as smooth. Use more mango nectar to compensate.

View Recipe: Champagne Mango Margaritas

Photo: Johnny Miller

Cucumber Pimm's Cup

A traditional Pimm's Cup may include slices of lemon and orange, mint, and sometimes rosemary or thyme, along with cucumber spears. We steeped the lemonade overnight with cucumber slices to bring out their flavor.

View Recipe: Cucumber Pimm's Cup