21 Classic Summer Cocktails to Beat the Heat

This tropical alternative to Gin and Tonic is a blend of white run, Fever-Tree Indian tonic water (ideally), and lemon bitters. Some recipes call for two types of white rum and sugar.

The Salty Dog is a variation of the 1930s-era Greyhound, a popular highball of gin or vodka and grapefruit juice. The Salty Dog gets its name by adding a rim of salt around the glass to counter the tartness of the grapefruit juice.

Sangria is basically a wine punch, which makes it perfect for outdoor brunches. Stir red wine (Spanish Rioja is recommended), brandy, orange juice, and sugar with a generous helping of apple, lemon, and orange slices into a punch bowl filled with ice. Sangria can also be made with white wine.

The Screwdriver is a simple combination of vodka and orange juice dating back to the 1940s. Where and how it was invented are a bit murky, but one legend has it was favored by American oil workers in the Persian Gulf who mixed the drink with a screwdriver when a spoon couldn’t be found.

Popularized in the 1980s, the Sea Breeze is another vodka-based summer cocktail. A cooling combination of vodka and cranberry and grapefruit juices, the Sea Breeze is garnished with a lime wheel.