Five Easy Summer Cocktails For The Silly Season

Five Easy Summer Cocktails For The Silly Season

By Kat Chrisoulis

In a season where sunscreen becomes your signature scent and your social calendar looks like a game of Tetris, the last thing anyone needs is a cocktail that requires a degree in mixology. 

That’s why these five summer cocktails are the real MVPs of the silly season. Bright, breezy, and just complicated enough to look impressive, they’ll elevate your festive season without adding to the chaos. 

CLASSIC GIMLET

The silly season calls for quick, crowd-pleasing cocktails, and the gimlet delivers every time. With just three ingredients, it’s the ultimate time-saver for effortless hosting. 

Serves: 1 

Ingredients: 

  • 60ml gin (opt for a juniper-forward gin like this one )  
  • 30ml fresh lime juice 
  • 20ml simple syrup 
  • Ice 

Method: 

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. 
  2. Add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. 
  3. Shake vigorously until well chilled. 
  4. Strain into a chilled glass and serve. 

Grapefruit Margarita

Spicy margaritas may have ruled last summer, but this year, it’s all about the gin and grapefruit margarita. With botanical depth and vibrant citrus notes, gin brings a fresh, zesty edge to this sunny classic. 

Serves: 1 

Ingredients: 

  • 60 ml Saltbeard Grapefruit Gin 
  • 30 ml Triple Sec or Cointreau 
  • 30 ml fresh lime juice 
  • 15 ml Agave syrup (or sugar syrup) 
  • 60ml Grapefruit juice 
  • Salt rim 
  • Grapefruit or lime, for garnish

Method: 

  1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a martini or rocks glass, then dip it into salt. Set aside. 
  2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add gin, triple sec, lime juice, agave syrup, and grapefruit juice. 
  3. Shake vigorously until well chilled. 
  4. Strain into the prepared glass. 
  5. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and a lime wheel. 

Gin Summer Punch

The perfect drink for picnics or summer gatherings, this refreshing punch is easy to prepare, ideal for sharing, and guaranteed to impress.

Serves: 6 

Ingredients: 

Method: 

  1. Place the ice into a 3.5-litre serving bowl or drink dispenser. 
  2. Pour in the pineapple juice, gin, and elderflower cordial. Stir well to combine. 
  3. Add lime wedges and mint leaves for garnish. 
  4. Top with soda water to taste, give it a final stir, and serve.

Pink G&T

No summer cocktail list would be complete without the quintessential gin and tonic. A cult favourite for good reason, it’s refreshing, simple, and bursting with flavour. This version gives the classic a playful twist by featuring a pink gin for a vibrant, fruity finish—perfect for the silly season. 

Serves: 1 

Ingredients: 

Method: 

  1. Fill a glass with ice. 
  2. Add the pink gin and top with tonic water. 
  3. Stir gently to combine. 
  4. Garnish with fresh berries and a sprig of mint for a pop of colour and aroma. 

Aperol Spritz

Bright, bitter-sweet, and endlessly drinkable, the Aperol Spritz is a summer staple that needs no introduction. And, as with most things in life, it only gets better with gin. A splash of gin elevates this classic to something sharper, fresher, and undeniably more exciting.

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

Method: 

  1. Add your dry gin of choice, Aperol, and a squeeze of lemon juice to a large glass. 
  2. Fill the glass with ice and top with soda water. 
  3. Stir gently to combine. 
  4. Garnish with a fresh or dehydrated orange slice and enjoy. 

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