38 Top-Rated Cocktails

By Virginia Switzer and Cooking Light Staff
June 08, 2009
Photo: Brian Woodcock
These cocktails received rave reviews for their refreshing and delicious taste.
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Peach Mojitos

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Peach Mojitos

This Cuban cocktail features a unique twist with the addition of a sweet seasonal favorite. “The fresh peaches added a nice light, refreshing flavor, especially good on a hot day,” explains Lisa. “The lime and the mint balanced out the sugar. I much prefer these mojitos to the traditional version.”

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Frozen Lemonade with Coconut Rum

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Frozen Lemonade with Coconut Rum

Skip the extensive ingredient list and go with a recipe that features only three. Try fallschurchcook's suggestion if you don’t have all the gadgets. “My blender isn't so good with ice, so I also tried this in an on-the-rocks version (added some cold water to the lemonade concentrate and rum and shook with ice cubes, then strained it into a glass with fresh ice cubes) and it was great that way as well--a nice combination of flavors.”

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Raspberry Orange Sunrises

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Raspberry Orange Sunrises

This classic brunch cocktail shines at any special occasion, as reader christine slight discovers: “Very good! I made it for my mother's birthday along with German Apple Pancakes and strawberries, perfectly sweet.”

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Rum Punch

Photo: Douglas Merrian and Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Rum Punch

It’s hard to beat the relaxing Caribbean flavors of this fruity rum punch. “I made this punch for a Girls' Night party. It was a big hit,” raves Theresa. “I couldn’t refill the punch bowl fast enough!”

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Sparkling Sangria

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Sparkling Sangria

“This is so easy to make! All of my friends loved it,” claims Johnena. The nice thing about it is it uses the fresh fruit in season and is a light drink for summer.” Top with a mint sprig for a fragrant garnish and serve a big batch for a summer evening gathering.

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Strawberry Margaritas

Photo: Howard L. Puckett
View Recipe: Strawberry Margaritas

“Yum...This is really good. I was surprised at how authentic a margarita flavor it had―expected it to be far more fruity,” says chelliel. For a festive impromptu fiesta, pair this cocktail with Three-Pepper Salsa and crisp tortilla chips.

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Planter's Punch

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Planter's Punch

A combination of sweet guava nectar, cool fruit juices, and rum create an island cocktail that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Annjones389 says, “It tastes exactly like what you would expect to get on a tropical vacation. You can substitute passion fruit or another tropical juice if you can't find guava nectar, and it is just as good!”

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Cucumber-Mint Tequila Tonic

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Cucumber-Mint Tequila Tonic

This is the perfect warm-weather cocktail. Made with fresh mint, cilantro leaves, and chopped cucumber, it's refreshing and fabulous.

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Champagne Mango Margaritas

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Champagne Mango Margaritas

Champagne mangoes make these brightly-colored frozen margaritas as smooth as can be. Spicy chiles balance the fruity sweetness.

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Lemon Verbena Gimlet Cocktails

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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Campari and Orange Sparkling Cocktail

Photo: Charles Masters
View Recipe: Campari and Orange Sparkling Cocktail

Campari, an Italian aperitif, gives the drink a bitter edge and beautiful rosy color.

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Cucumber Pimm's Cup

Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: 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.

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Sparkling Rosemary-Peach Cocktails

Photo: Gentl and Hyers
View Recipe: Sparkling Rosemary-Peach Cocktails

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

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Watermelon and Cucumber Tonic

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Watermelon and Cucumber Tonic

A reinterpretation of the familiar gin and tonic, this cocktail includes fresh watermelon and cucumber juices for a refreshing taste.

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Satsuma Cocktail

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Satsuma Cocktail

Frozen satsuma sections serve both to decorate the glass and keep the drink chilled.

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Jamaica Margaritas

View Recipe: Jamaica Margaritas

Make a welcoming, Caribbean-inspired margarita with fragrant hibiscus blossoms. The slightly tart blossoms steep in a sugar-and-water mixture, resulting in a fresh and tangy drink. Serve over ice and garnish with lime.

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Gingered Pear and Brandy Cocktail

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Gingered Pear and Brandy Cocktail

This is a timely concoction for a party: Simply prepare the gingered sugar syrup, and refrigerate it until you're ready to shake and serve the cocktails.

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Sparkling Cranberry Tea Cocktails

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Sparkling Cranberry Tea Cocktails

Serve an adults-only tea, flavored with orange liqueur, for neighborhood happy hour gatherings.

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Mulled Cranberry-Apple Cider

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Mulled Cranberry-Apple Cider

A swivel-bladed vegetable peeler works well for removing the orange peel. Be sure to remove only the colored part of the peel–which contains the flavorful oils–and no more; the white pith is bitter.

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Blackberry Margaritas

Photo: Levi Brown
View Recipe: Blackberry Margaritas

Blend fresh blackberries with simple syrup, agave blanco tequila, Grand Marnier, and fresh lime juice for a delicious margarita that pairs perfectly with hot summer weather.

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Cranberry Kir Royale

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Cranberry Kir Royale

Leftover cranberry sauce helps concoct a lightly sweet homemade cranberry liqueur in this twist on a classic French cocktail. Allow four days to steep the liqueur. Garnish with cranberries, if you like.

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Rosemary Lemon Drop

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Rosemary Lemon Drop

A serving of this zingy cocktail provides 20 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.

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Kiwi Colada

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Kiwi Colada

Here's a fun twist on the classic summertime umbrella drink. Kiwifruit and melon liqueur give the cocktail a green hue and slightly tangy flavor. Although we used green kiwi, you can substitute the golden variety for a sweeter taste and golden color.

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Blueberry Thrill

Photo: Anna Williams
View Recipe: Blueberry Thrill

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

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Watermelon Bellinis

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Watermelon Bellinis

This drink is a twist on the classic Bellini, a post–World War II cocktail of white peach puree and Champagne, first mixed at Harry's Bar in Venice. Freezing the watermelon before pureeing lends the drink a slightly slushy consistency. If you prefer a smoother texture, simply chill the watermelon. Serve in Champagne flutes.

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Slushy Watermelon Mojitos

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Slushy Watermelon Mojitos

The classic Cuban mojito cocktail is the inspiration for this ruby-hued watermelon version. Be sure to keep the limeade frozen so the beverage will be slushy.

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Apple Sangria

Photo: Gentyl and Hyers
View Recipe: Apple Sangria

Apple pick: Honeycrisp apples

Sugary-sweet Honeycrisp apples balance the spiced wine in this festive drink. Pink Lady or Ambrosia apples—which are slow to oxidize—would make good substitutes.

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Clementine Sparkler

Photo: Charles Masters
View Recipe: Clementine Sparkler

Like a modern mimosa, this fruity drink is ideal for a brunch with family and friends.

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Champagne Limoncello Cocktails

Photo: Sang An
View Recipe: Champagne Limoncello Cocktails

A sugared rim is a pretty touch—rub a cut lemon wedge on the rim of the glass, and roll in sugar. You don't need to purchase expensive Champagne for this cocktail; just be sure to use brut, the driest Champagne, or a dry cava or prosecco.

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Cranberry-Whiskey Sour Slush

Photo: Levi Brown
View Recipe: Cranberry-Whiskey Sour Slush

Is it a drink or dessert? Who cares? It satisfies both cravings. Our garnet-colored slush has all the qualities of a delicious cocktail–a not-too-sweet combination of high-quality liquor and fruity tang. Make sure to steer clear of above-80-proof bourbon; it won't freeze solid enough to become slushy. Garnish with any fresh herb.

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Blackberry-Chambord Royale

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Blackberry-Chambord Royale

This simple yet elegant aperitif is garnished with icy blackberries. Purchase fresh berries, and freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet so they'll hold their shape.

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Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail

In the tradition of sparkling libations like the Buck's fizz and Bellini, this cocktail starts with Champagne and fruit juice.

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Sparkling Pear Cocktail

Photo: Charles Masters
View Recipe: Sparkling Pear Cocktail

Pear liqueur and a dry sparkling wine make for a heady combo in this beautifully aromatic sipper.

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Piña Coladas

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Piña Coladas

You'll like our way of losing almost all the sat fat while keeping the delicious coconutty goodness. Freezing the pineapple adds a velvety texture and keeps the cocktail frozen longer. The riper the pineapple, the more concentrated the flavor will be.

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Whiskey Sour Punch

Photo: Marcus Nilsson
View Recipe: Whiskey Sour Punch

Look for fresh orange juice in the refrigerated part of the produce department.

Make-ahead tip: Combine all ingredients except club soda up to two days ahead; gently stir in club soda shortly before serving.

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Grapefruit Negroni

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Grapefruit Negroni

Satisfy your boozy craving with this simple, sweet, and lighter rendition of a classic cocktail. 

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Amaretto-Lime Shiner

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Amaretto-Lime Shiner

Reward yourself for a day of smart and healthy choices with this irresistable sweet-and-sour shiner.

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