When you live in beautiful and sunny Southwest Florida, you want to spend as much time outside as possible, soaking in the sun’s rays and splashing around in your custom pool or the area’s award-winning beaches. Stay cool and have fun with our collection of cocktails guaranteed to refresh and rejuvenate your body when you are having an al fresco dining experience in your outdoor living space. If you prepare something non-alcoholic, these "mocktails" will hit the spot. These don’t require a lot of complicated ingredients and you can easily enjoy them on any hot summer day.
Top 5 Cocktails for southwest florida
With some organic fruits, libations, and some classic ingredients, you can easily enjoy the following cocktails that are sure to please.
1. Watermelon Moscato Slush
A classic Watermelon Moscato served with a watermelon garnish
Serves: 4
- Watermelon juice – 4 cups
- Granulated sugar – ¼ cup
- Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon - freshly squeezed
- Moscato –– 1 cup – can be substituted with other white wines as well
In a pan, mix watermelon juice, lemon juice, and granulated sugar. Stir them together until the sugar is dissolved then turn off the heat and add the Moscato. When the mixture has cooled slightly, pour it into ice cube trays and pop into the freezer. Chill for 2 to 3 hours. To serve, simply blend the cubes and add some Moscato to your tasting preference. Garnish with fresh fruit slices.
2. Rosé Sangria
Chilled sangria is always a party favorite and easy to make in large batches
Serves: 4
- Dry Rosé - 1 bottle
- Brandy – ½ cup
- Grand Mariner – ½ cup
- Club soda – 2 cups
- Oranges – 2 – sliced
- Limes – 2 – sliced
- Watermelons – 1 cup – balled
- Melons – 1 cup – balled
- Strawberries – 1 pint – roughly sliced
Don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients, making a tasty sangria is easy and a crowd favorite for parties and get-togethers.
First, take a giant pitcher and add all the fruit first. Pour all the liquor and club soda on top of the fruit and give it a good stir. Place the pitcher in the fridge and allow to marinate for a few hours before serving chilled.
3. Prosecco Mimosas
Mimosas are most known as a perfect breakfast cocktail but can be enjoyed any time of day
Serves: 3 to 4
- Prosecco - 1 bottle
- Angostura Bitters
- Lemon sorbet – 1 pint – any brand
- Blood orange sorbet – 1 pint – any brand
- Mint leaves – to garnish
Take your drinking glasses and add three dashes of bitters. Next, add two to three scoops each of the lemon sorbet and the blood orange sorbet. Finally, pour the Prosecco over it and fill to the top of the glass. Garnish with mint and serve chilled.
4. Lime, Chili, and Mango Margaritas
One of the most famous cocktails in the world, a margarita is easy and delicious
Serves: 3
- Mango – 1 ripe – cubed, frozen
- Orange juice – 1 cup
- Limes – 2 – small, juiced
- Silver Tequila – 2.5 oz to 3 oz
- Orange liqueur – 1 oz
- Hot sauce – as needed
- Agave nectar – 1 to 3 tablespoon
Margarita making is deliciously easy. Just, add all the ingredients into a blender and blend until you get a smooth and creamy consistency. Taste and adjust spice, sweetness, and alcohol strength to your taste. Serve in a margarita glass (or any glass you choose). Optional garnishes are fruit and salt on the rim.
5. Watermelon and Mint Juleps
Watermelon and mint juleps are a refreshing way to enjoy bourbon outside
Serves: 1
- Bourbon – 1 ½ oz
- Watermelon juice – 2 oz, fresh
- Mint syrup – 1 oz
- Club soda – 1oz
- Ice – crushed - as needed
- Mint leaves – to garnish
Add the watermelon juice, bourbon, and mint syrup together and shake well. In a glass, add crushed ice, then pour the mixture and top it off with some club soda. Add mint leaves on top and serve chilled.
Top 5 Mocktails to enjoy in southwest florida
If you’re not a fan of liquor, you can still enjoy some non-alcoholic "mocktails" during the summer to stay refreshed. Relax in the sun with these non-alcoholic drinks.
1. Strawberry Sangrias
Sangrias without alcohol remain a refreshing and fruity drink that is easy to make in bulk for parties
Serves: 10
- Orange juice – 2 cups
- White grape juice – 1 cup, chilled, unsweetened
- Cranberry juice – 1 cup
- Carbonated soda – 1 liter – lemon or lime flavored
- Orange wedges – 1 cup
- Pineapple slices – 1 cup
- Strawberry chunks – 1 cup
- Peach slices – 1 cup
- Ice cubes – crushed - as needed
Even without alcohol, a pitcher of sangria is a tasty way to liven up the party Take a giant pitcher and add all the fruit first. Second, in a separate pitcher, mix the orange, cranberry, and white grape juice together. Now, add the juice to the fruit and slowly add the carbonated soda on top. Give the mixture a good stir. Place the pitcher in the fridge and allow it to marinate for a few hours before serving.
2. Tropical Punch
Another great party drink, tropical punch is a popular mocktail that everyone will love
Serves: 20
- Cranberry juice – 64oz
- Pineapple juice – 36oz
- Cream of coconut – ½ cup
- Orange wedges – 1 cup
- Pineapple slices – 1 cup
- Strawberry chunks – 1 cup
- Peach slices – 1 cup
Add all the fruit into a giant pitcher first. In a separate jug or pitcher, mix all the juices and the cream of coconut completely. Add this pitcher to the jar with fruits and mix them thoroughly. Serve with crushed ice or chilled.
3. Faux-jito
Minty and refreshing, mojitos are a South Florida staple even without alcohol
Serves: 1
- Mint leaves – 1 sprig
- Lime – 3 slices
- Honey or agave nectar – 1 tablespoon
- Soda water or seltzer – 6oz
- Ice – as needed
First, add the mint and lime to the glass and mash them up. Now, add the ice, honey, and soda water to the glass and give it another good stir or shake. Taste and make adjustments as needed and enjoy!
4. Mint Berry Soda
Mint Berry Soda is highly refreshing and the pop of fizz adds texture to this summer classic
Serves: 1
- Raspberries – a handful
- Blueberries – a handful
- Mint leaves – 1 sprig - fresh
- Lime juice – 1oz
- Honey – 1 tablespoon
- Ice cubes– as needed
- Soda water – as needed
In a tall glass or shaker, add the blueberries, raspberries, and mint and be sure to mash them well. Now, add the lime juice, the ice, and the sweetener; shake or mix well. Pour the mixture into a glass with a few ice cubes and add soda water to taste.
5. ACO Mocktail
A great party mocktail, ACO mocktails are easy to make in bulk
Serves: 12
- Apple juice – 32 oz
- Cranberry juice – 32 oz
- Orange juice – 32 oz
- Ice – crushed – as needed
- Oranges – sliced – as needed
- Honey or agave nectar – as needed
Take a large pitcher or a punch bowl and add all the juices. Stir them to combine completely. Add the crushed ice and the orange wedges on top. Taste. If too bitter, add honey or agave nectar until it's just right.
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