Surfs Up Cocktails: Easy Pool Beverages

Pool days are a summer rite of passage! They define the lazy days of the heat-soaked season and offer a fun getaway from the daily grind. And any trip to paradise needs to taste like it too! So, instead of, or along with, the standard beach and pool beverages of beer and wine, why not try some drinks you can mix up before hittin’ the water? We’ve put together some recipes that you can either premix at home or just make them at the pool with some simple ingredients.

Of course, make sure to verify the rules for the particular beach you’re heading to and never bring glass cups or containers! Everything you need can be transferred or replaced with unbreakable items.

Orange Crush

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. Vodka
  • 1 oz. Triple Sec
  • 3 oz. Fresh orange juice
  • Splash of Sprite
  • Orange slice for garnish
  • Ice

Directions

  1. Add vodka, Triple Sec, and orange juice to a glass filled with ice.
  2. Top with a splash of Sprite and mix well.
  3. Garnish with orange peel or orange slice.

Blue Hawaiian

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. Coconut Rum
  • 1 oz. Blue Curacao
  • 1½ oz. Pineapple juice
  • Ice

Directions

  1. Shake it all up and serve

Mint Bourbon Lemonade

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 9 oz. Bourbon
  • 24 oz. Lemonade
  • 2 big handfuls of fresh mint leaves

Directions

  1. At home: Combine 9 ounces of bourbon, 3 cups of fresh lemonade, and two big handfuls of fresh mint leaves. Keep chilled in a sealable container until ready to use.
  2. At the beach: Pour into a glass with ice and garnish with a mint sprig.

Starfish

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 9 oz. Gin
  • 3 oz. Aperol
  • 24 oz. Italian Orange Soda
  • Ice

Directions

  1. At home: Combine 9 ounces of gin (we’re using Beefeater) and 3 ounces of Aperol. Keep chilled in a sealable container until ready to use. Bring along 2 cans of Italian orange soda.
  2. At the beach: Divide evenly between 6 glasses with ice. Pour a third of a 12-oz can of Italian orange soda atop each one. Garnish with an orange half-moon.

Rum & Grapefruit

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 9 oz. Rum
  • 24 oz. Grapefruit juice
  • 10 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 6 oz. Club Soda
  • Ice

Directions


At home: Combine the rum, grapefruit juice, and bitters. Keep chilled in a sealable container until ready to use. Bring along club soda.

At the beach: Divide evenly between 6 glasses with ice. Pour about 1 ounce of club soda on top of each one.

Spec's
Owned and operated by the same Houston family since 1962, Spec’s is a true destination shopping experience. We now operate over 150 stores all over the great state of Texas and offer a large selection of wines, spirits and finer foods.

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