Best Summer Drink Recipes

 May 26, 2025 - Terri Williams

Warmer and longer days call for cocktails, poolside sippers, and recipes that make the most of the seasonal harvest. 

The most popular drink is still undoubtedly the one made with Aperol, a drink created in Italy and made from sweet oranges, gentian and rhubarb.

In the 21st century the spritz has become so much more than a drink: the sight of its effervescent glow, like a Summer sunset, transforms into a portent of a moment of relaxation.

But why stop at a spritz or apéritif when there are so many versions of refreshing drinks to pick from? Below are some of Barflies mixologist's favorites for the Summer to come. They guarantee these are the drinks you’ll want to sip throughout.

APEROL GIN AND TONIC

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz gin (Edinburgh Seaside or Gin Mare)

• 0.5 oz Aperol

• 4.5 oz Mediterranean tonic water

• 1 dash Angostura bitters

• 1 dash of orange bitters

DIRECTIONS: Make it in glass and serve it on the rocks

APEROL SOUR

Ingredients:

• 1.5oz Aperol

• 0.5oz gin

• 0.75 fresh lemon juice

• 0.5oz Prosecco syrup

• 1 egg white or 0.5 oz Aquafaba

• 3 drops of orange cocktail bitters 

DIRECTIONS: Add the Aperol, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake hard for at least a minute until chilled and lightly frothy. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with a twist of lemon peel. 

LIMONCELLO SPRITZ

Ingredients:

• 60ml Prosecco

• 50ml Limoncello

• 25ml Soda 

DIRECTIONS: Make in in the glass and over ice, garnish with half a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint or basil.

MOSCATEL SPRITZ

With crystallised oranges and notes of honeysuckle and melon, this is a refreshing sip to pour at the end of a barbecue

Ingredients:

• Moscatel de Valencia or other fortified muscat 

• Prosecco 

• Soda 

DIRECTIONS: Mix equal parts of fortified muscat, prosecco and soda and serve over ice with a slice of strawberry.