The best summer cocktails

What do you associate with summer? With long evenings, barbecue parties, good conversations among friends or a bicycle tour to the bathing lake? There are so many things that make summer unique. During the warm months the memories are made, which you still feed on during the dark winter.

Of course, every summer also brings its own unique trends. Not only fashionably there is always something new to see, but especially with the cocktails, the bartenders of this world always come up with unique drinks.

But what are the characteristics of a good summer cocktail anyway?

untreated ingredients
inspired by classics from overseas
fresh reinterpretations
refreshing and light
sparkling and effervescent
looks good
can also be easily copied at home
brewed in the twinkling of an eye

When you think back to the cocktail trends of the last few years, it quickly becomes clear why certain long drinks and blends have hit the scene like a bomb, while others have had to live a rather marginal existence. Summer cocktails that want to be a big success depend on a certain coolness factor. This is becoming increasingly important, especially in the age of social media. Of course, it is crucial how good the cocktail tastes and whether it appeals to a broad mass of people, but if the cocktail doesn't convey a certain flair, its chances of becoming a trend in 2020 are rather slim.

New creations are shared with all friends, acquaintances and family within minutes. This also explains why in recent years the most popular summer cocktails have become a big trend not only regionally, but all over the world. Anyone who treats himself to a new cocktail creation for the summer in his favourite bar would naturally like to share this with his followers. Thanks to the innovative mobile phone case from MRSÉY, you'll always have your smartphone close at hand and no longer have to worry about not getting the perfect snapshot.

If you remember a true classic of recent years, the Aperol Spritz, you immediately have a certain image of the cocktail in your mind. It is the unmistakable orange colour that makes this cocktail so unique.

The recognition value is therefore particularly important. The question of the name or the composition of a drink should not even arise. If you order the trend of the year, you know immediately what you are getting. At first glance, it doesn't seem so easy for bartenders to create a long drink or cocktail that meets these many requirements correctly. Of course, a certain portion of luck is also part of it. Which star was spotted with a certain cocktail or which hip bar has a new drink on the menu? If certain drinks crystallize slowly, it can often happen very quickly. As soon as a hip magazine reports about it, the cool bars in the world don't hesitate long and want the drink on the menu. This is where the drink, whose ingredients and spirits are globally available, has the biggest advantages. Of course, even the classics are always adapted a bit to the tastes of the bar boss or the bartender, but in principle the customer knows exactly what he or she is ordering when he or she orders the best summer cocktail for the year 2020.

The basis for fruity summer cocktails is often wine or sparkling wine. On the one hand, this has the advantage that the drink can be offered at a reasonable price and on the other hand, it is no problem if the evenings should be a little longer. The refreshing character of the summer cocktails is also reflected in the volume of the drinks. While especially "hard" cocktails are based on strong spirits, the summer cocktail can also be a thirst quencher.

Of course, a cocktail can look good on a picture, but in the end, taste is still the deciding factor. A good cocktail brings back memories. The taste has to be so distinctive that already with the first sip one is transported back to the last beach holiday. If a cocktail succeeds in doing this, then it definitely has what it takes to become a trend. If you take a look at the most popular cocktails of the past years, you will see that they can stay on the cocktail lists for many years after they first appear on the cocktail lists. Once you've made it into people's heads with its intense taste nuances and refreshing character, you can usually get a firm foothold there. Looking back, there are always certain moments that one associates with a certain summer. Maybe one was allowed to spend some nice days on an island or had a nice round trip. Maybe one was even allowed to get to know the big love. Every summer has its own characteristics, which are best refreshed by plunging into the great adventure. The best way to do this is with a well made and fresh cocktail in your hand. Then nothing can really go wrong.

Refreshing, simple and perfect for the year 2020

If you feel like having a cocktail because the sun is shining mercilessly from the sky, you don't want to wait long for it. This applies to ordering at the bar, but also at home if you want to mix your own trendy cocktail quickly. Most of the following cocktails are based on a simple principle. They are prepared within a few minutes and because of their simplicity they taste particularly good. They are the perfect drinks for in-between drinks or when unexpected friends come to visit.

The Wormwood Highball

This cocktail is based on its intense aromas. If you cycle through the Provence, you will find a new and stimulating scent after every bend. This is exactly what this classic wants to show in a new interpretation. But this highball also clearly shows that the trend is more towards dry variants. The times when sweetness was the dominant element in a drink seem to be over. Bar visitors are also paying more and more attention to the composition and ingredients of a cocktail. What's more, the tart refreshment is perfect on a warm summer's day when crickets chirp in the background. There are not many ingredients needed for Wormwood Highball and these can be adapted very precisely to one's own taste by choosing one's own favourite varieties. So it is definitely worth trying a little bit until the perfect combination is found. The best way is to invite your best friends, so the search for the perfect recipe is guaranteed to be great fun.

5 cl white wormwood
1 cl herb liqueur
10 cl tonic water

Simply pour the ingredients into a long drink glass with ice and decorate as you like. Because of the taste, orange slices or a sprig of rosemary are particularly suitable. In no time at all, a Mediterranean summer cocktail is conjured up. The ingredients are available almost everywhere and you can create something great within minutes. To enjoy your summer cocktail ice-cold, it is only important that there is always fresh ice in the freezer at home.

The Gin-Tonic - reinterpreted for the summer

What is the Gin-Tonic doing on the list of the most popular and best summer cocktails? - More than you might think at first. Of course the G&T is a classic for many decades. Especially in recent years there has been a real gin revolution. In almost every good house bar today you can find one or two good bottles of gin. However, if you've had enough of the gin and tonic, you shouldn't just switch to another drink, but consciously try something new. Again, it is the simplicity of this drink that leaves so much room for creative reinterpretation. The gin itself is a strong and intense carrier of aromas, but perhaps some people have already gotten too used to the familiar juniper and citrus aromas. If this is the case, the following recipe is a good opportunity to interfere a little with the taste of the classic. This is easier than you might think. All you need is an intensive and high-quality liqueur and the classic gin and tonic will have a refreshingly new effect. In summer, it is of course a good idea to use a liqueur based on ripe fruit or Mediterranean herbs. Even convinced purists can be won over with it.

3-4 cl gin
3 cl fruit liqueur of your choice
1 cl lemon juice

All ingredients are put into a long drink glass or even into a wine glass that has been filled with sufficient ice beforehand. If the herbal aromas should come to the fore a bit more, the decoration with fresh mint is a good choice. If you strike the mint on the back or palms of your hands before serving, small amounts of essential oils are released. These scent the summer drink even more. Again, it is worth trying something. Which gin harmonises best with which liqueur? You will certainly quickly find a combination that is perfect for hot July days. Of course, you can also talk to the bartender in the bar, as he or she will have the odd insider tip at the ready.

White wormwood - the rebirth of a classic

Wormwood is a true cult drink, especially in Italy. It is available in many different varieties and almost every region swears by its own regional product. If you want to be at the forefront in 2020, you should jump on the wormwood bandwagon. It can be observed that something similar is currently happening with vermouth as with gin a few years ago. Especially small and independent manufacturers are pushing into the market. They attach great importance to the careful selection of the best ingredients. The results are taste nuances that were forgotten for a long time. White wormwood varieties are particularly suitable for the summer. These are mostly dry and therefore offer the greatest possible scope for long drinks and cocktails. The preparation of the following drink is particularly easy, as it is mainly based on wormwood as the only ingredient.

5 cl white dry wormwood
Soda water to refill

For this simple drink, which is perfect as a sundowner in the summer, the right temperature is important. The colder the cocktail, the more refreshing it is. It is therefore best to cool down the long drink glass or wine glass with lots of ice before preparing it. The larger the ice cubes used in the drink, the less watery it is. This means that the aromas always remain present in the foreground. With such a simple and straightforward cocktail, a colourful decoration is a good idea. Here the bartender can show all his creativity. The range can go from orange slices to mint and olives. This is an advantage if the wormwood cocktail is to be prepared at home. Then you simply take what your own kitchen still has to offer. It can be as simple as that.

Rum - the spirit for summer 2020

Rum alone has the potential to invite you to dream. A single sip of this will take you to the Caribbean. That's why there is hardly a spirit as a basis for cocktails that is more suitable for the summer than rum. On the one hand, this is due to rum and its many variants themselves, but also to the many recipes that have been created since the 18th century. Summer cocktails with rum for the year 2020 stand for South and Central American passion. They stand for danced through nights, lots of music and the feeling that summer never ends.
In 2020 the rum classics will again play a major role. You don't always have to travel, even if a well-made cocktail can put you in the mood that you can otherwise only find on the streets of Havana.

The Cuba Libre - a true symbol for the summer

The Cuba Libre is very probably the most famous rum drink of all. In principle, it only needs rum, cola and fresh limes. This drink stands for the eventful history of the country Cuba. For more than 100 years this drink has been enjoyed on the island. It was the Americans who brought cola from the United States to Cuba. There you discovered how refreshing and tasty the combination of rum and the soft drink is. But it tasted even better when a few eighths of a fresh lime were added to the mixture. This was the birth of a cocktail that can show its many strengths, especially during the summer months.

4-6 cl rum
Cola to refill
one lime

All ingredients are put into a long drink glass filled with ice cubes. Then squeeze 2-4 eighths of the lime slightly over the glass and then also add it to the glass. If the quality of the rum is right, hardly anything comes close to the refreshing character of this classic.

The Mojito - the concentrated power of mint

Just as famous as the Cuba Libre is the Mojito. This also comes from Cuba and has a long tradition. The most famous connoisseur of these summer cocktails par excellence is the US writer Ernest Hemingway, who spent the last years of his life on the island in the Caribbean. The Mojito is a cocktail that is designed for pure refreshment. It is somewhat more complex than the long drink Cuba Libre, but can be quickly mastered by laymen. This cocktail stands and falls with the quality of the mint. The Mojito becomes particularly good when mixed with original Cuban rum. Such a cocktail is much cheaper than a long distance trip and also causes much less stress. Those who plan an evening with mojitos or a Cuban theme day should buy the ingredients fresh on the same day if possible. The fresher the mint, the stronger the notes of the essential oils in the finished drink become noticeable.

6 cl white young rum
3 cl lime juice
2 cl sugar syrup
lots of fresh mint
Soda water or sparkling mineral water

Young, white rum is deliberately used for the Mojito. This helps to bring out the aromas of lime and mint. Matured rum would compete too strongly with its woody and vanilla aromas. The preparation of the mojito is simple. The prerequisite is a wooden pestle. First, the lime juice, syrup and a few leaves of mint are added to the glass. The mint is gently crushed to release the aromas. Then the glass is filled with large ice cubes, the rum is poured in and the whole thing is then filled with soda or mineral water. The glass is decorated with more sprigs of fresh mint.

The Pina Colada - the best of the coconut

Some cocktails are a big trend for a year or maybe two. Far too often, however, these trendy drinks disappear even faster than they once appeared. With Pina Colada you can be sure that this world-famous classic will never again disappear from the cocktail lists. The drink is simply far too good and far too refreshing. If the Pina Colada is missing, it's not really summer. In 2020 this exotic cocktail will be a hit again. It is the most complex cocktail in the list of summery rum cocktails, but with a little practice it can also be mixed in the house bar. If you have the chance to visit a good bar, you should take a look over the shoulder of the bartender of confidence. Thus, one can learn one or two tricks.

6 cl rum
10 cl pineapple juice
2 cl cream
2-4 cl Cream of Coconut

The many ingredients and the somewhat more elaborate preparation should not deter you from the Pina Colada. As so often the preparation is crucial. To be able to make this cocktail to perfection, you need a shaker. Only with the shaker it is possible to get the cocktail creamy.
First, a fancy or long drink glass is filled with crushed ice. This can also be easily made at home by crushing ice cubes in a bag. In a shaker, ice cubes are mixed with all ingredients and then shaken vigorously and intensively. The longer this process takes, the cooler the cocktail will be. The cocktail is then strained into the glass. For decoration, a cocktail cherry and a slice of pineapple are suitable in the classic way.

Alcohol-free - unrepentant fun

Alcohol is not always needed to enjoy the summer of 2020 to the full. As was described earlier, bar visitors nowadays pay more attention to what ingredients are in a cocktail. If you want to experience the pure taste of summer and still keep a clear head, in 2020 you simply choose a variant that does not require alcohol. For a long time, non-alcoholic cocktails have played a secondary role. Too often they were simply designed as non-alcoholic variants of the well-known classics. It seems to have been forgotten that the spirit used also contributes significantly to the taste of the finished cocktail.
These times are over, because the non-alcoholic cocktail is more popular than ever before. The non-alcoholic summer cocktail is no longer an alternative, but a variant in its own right. The pleasure is the same and the next day there is no hangover. For sporty bar visitors who pay attention to their figure, these cocktails are the best choice.

The Mango-Shot - simple and simply ingenious

This small shot consists of only one ingredient - the mango. Like hardly any other fruit, the mango stands for the exotic and the longing for the faraway. This sweet temptation has been a true classic for many years and is a great dessert. In the summer of 2020 the mango will be enjoyed as a shot for the first time. When the tender flesh is pureed, it becomes very liquid. It can be drunk directly from small shot glasses. So it doesn't matter if you look a little deeper into the glass. The mango is rich in many vitamins. If children are sitting at the table, they may lift the glass together with the adults.

1 ripe mango
perhaps a pinch of cinnamon

The flesh of the ripe mango is released and then put into a blender as quickly as possible. If you want the flesh to keep its beautiful bright colour during processing, add a few squirts of lemon juice to the mixture. This slows down the oxidation and the finished pureed mixture can be stored in the fridge without any problems. If you like cinnamon, you can sprinkle a pinch of the spice on the poured mango shot. The mango and the spice, which is actually known from the Christmas season, work perfectly together. The shot works perfectly as an aperitif. It can also be served in a champagne glass. The pleasant acidity of the mango stimulates the appetite and prepares the stomach for a true feast.

The summer-fresh soda - simple and effective

Syrup and water do not sound very exciting at first hearing. But the prejudices are completely unjust. Today's syrups have hardly anything to do with the sweet varieties that some of us still know from our childhood. The production of a syrup is super simple and homemade tastes better and better. Even those who don't have the time to make the syrup themselves can now fall back on a wide range of high-quality products. In combination with ice-cold water, a nice glass and the right decoration, you can conjure up a perfect refreshment with little effort. The beauty of syrups is that they have a higher density than water. This means that the coloured syrup sinks to the bottom. Only shortly before the first sip you stir the drink. The summer-fresh soda is perfect if you want to rehydrate after a long walk or even after a bike ride.

Lime juice
almond syrup, elderberry syrup, grenadine or another syrup of your choice
rosemary twigs, lime slices, berries and pomegranate seeds for decoration

If you want to achieve a particularly beautiful effect, you can put the selected glasses in the freezer for an hour before serving the cocktail. This not only cools the finished drink, but also creates a unique frosted effect. When preparing the soda-mix, first pour as cold water as possible into the glass. Then add the desired amount of syrup. When decorating the glasses you can let off steam creatively. The eye finally drinks with you. The design becomes especially loving when fruits are used for decoration, which are also part of the syrup.

The wrong coconut - pleasure like on Bali

Who does not dream of lying under palm trees and drinking with pleasure from a coconut that has just been opened? Unfortunately, coconuts are not always available in the local areas and because of the long journey, they rarely reach the freshly harvested varieties. But this is no reason to despair, because with only a few ingredients, the unmistakable taste of coconut water can be imitated.

1 cup of natural yoghurt
1/2 cup of coconut milk
2 tablespoons coconut powder

Stir the ingredients well together until the consistency becomes creamy. If you like it more liquid, you can add almond milk or even some water to the mixture. The result is very close to the original. This is mainly due to the coconut powder, which slowly hydrogenates in the liquid and thus comes very close to the fresh pulp of a coconut. The finished mixture can be stored loosely in the refrigerator for one or two days. This is ideal if the homemade coconut drink is to be used as an ingredient in another cocktail.

The Picara Mix - the concentrated power of fresh fruits and berries

Fruit and berries are healthy, every child knows that. Unfortunately, the average person eats far too little of them. With the Picara mix this problem can be quickly eliminated. There is hardly a tastier way to present fruit than in this non-alcoholic cocktail for the year 2020. The basic structure for this cocktail, or rather mocktail, consists of many different types of berries. As is so often the case, this drink also offers the possibility of adjusting individual elements as desired. This is especially useful if some of the ingredients are already at home.

Strawberry puree or other berry puree
fresh mint
Tangerine puree or the puree of another sweet citrus fruit
fresh strawberries or other berries for decoration
Lemon or lime juice
Herbal syrup (for example rosemary)

To prepare this cocktail you need a mixer. You put all the liquid ingredients, a few mint leaves and a handful of crushed ice in it. Then the whole thing is mixed quickly and as effectively as possible. It is important to make sure that the process does not take too long, otherwise the mixture will become too warm. Once the desired consistency is reached, the drink is served in a chilled champagne glass. The Picara mix is decorated with a slice of strawberry and a sprig of mint. In the mouth, when the mixture slowly warms up, the entire taste spectrum is revealed. The sweet notes are in perfect balance with the acidity of the fruit. Simply a dream for special moments.

Non-alcoholic cocktails can be described as one of the major trends for the year 2020. The times when a drink had to be as strong as possible are finally over. Today the taste is in the foreground. The bartenders are getting better and better, and from their creative pen cocktails are being created today that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The simpler, the better. But you also have to consider that the fewer ingredients a cocktail has, the better they have to be. Whoever manages to create something special from a few good ingredients is a true cocktail master.

In times when an order is only complete when it has been photographed and shared with its followers, the presentation of a cocktail becomes more and more important. So the trend will be towards healthy and colourful cocktails, which, no matter from which angle they are photographed, will give a good picture.
You always have your own camera with you in the form of your mobile phone. If you use a trendy case from MRSÉY, not only the cocktail becomes a real eye-catcher. Crossbody cases are not only extremely practical, but also fashionable and elegant - just perfect for your next visit to the beach bar. In the summer you like to move around and you are much more active than in the cold winter months. Therefore, a case to wear around the neck can be just the right thing if you don't want to constantly think about your smartphone. In the fashionable cross-body case it is safe and always handy. So you can concentrate better on your trendy summer cocktail. The phone is also much better protected against dust and dirt. Even the danger of involuntarily sitting on it is eliminated. As with summer cocktails, the simple solution can sometimes be the best.