Got blueberries and vodka? (Or blueberry vodka?) Try this refreshing summer cocktail, the Blueberry Vodka Smash! This pairing of sweet berries, fresh mint, simple syrup and vodka is just the thing for enjoying on the patio or deck. Served over crushed ice, it’s a reference to a classic cocktail but done up with summer berries! You can make it with fresh berries or add in flavored vodka for an even strong blast of fruit.

What’s a blueberry vodka smash?

This blueberry vodka smash is our favorite way to pair berries and vodka (though the Blueberry Martini also comes close!) It’s a spin on the classic Whiskey Smash, which originated in the Victorian era as a cooling summer cocktail first published in a bartender guide in 1887. That first smash had lemon, mint, whiskey, and sweetener, served over crushed ice.

Many variations have popped up on the theme over time, like the Vodka Smash, Gin Basil Smash and Watermelon Smash. The blueberry vodka smash is another fruity spin. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fresh blueberries
• Fresh mint
• Vodka (or blueberry vodka)
• Lime juice
• Simple syrup
• Crushed ice

Can I make it with blueberry vodka?

There are many types of blueberry vodka on the market, which is the spirit infused with an artificial berry flavor. If you’re looking for a drink to make with this type of vodka, the smash is a perfect option! You can simply substitute it for the standard vodka in the recipe below. Combining it with fresh blueberries makes an even more intense blueberry flavor.

How to make crushed ice

The most characteristic part of a smash cocktail is the crushed ice. What’s the best way to crush ice? We’ve developed a quick and easy method using a blender (though our newest refrigerator now makes crushed ice automatically: score!). Here’s the best way to crush ice:

• Place the ice in a blender.
• Fill the blender about halfway with cold water. This is the important part! The water helps everything blend to a uniform size.
• Pulse until it’s uniformly crushed! Then strain. Pick out any large chunks with your fingers, but this method should result in a great texture.

How to make a blueberry vodka smash

Once you’ve got all the required ingredients, it’s time to shake up the drink! Here’s how to make a blueberry vodka smash:

• Muddle the berries and mint in a cocktail shaker to release the oils. Here are all our tips on How to Muddle Mint with a muddler (if you don’t have one, use a wooden spoon).
• Shake: Add the vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup. Add 1 handful of ice and shake until cold!
• Strain & add crushed ice: Strain into a lowball glass. Add crushed ice.
• Garnish: Cocktails are all about the presentation. Garnish with blueberries, lime wedges and mint sprigs!

More blueberry cocktails

Berries make the best drinks! There are lots of different classic cocktails that can be done up with a berry spin. Try these blueberry cocktails for your next party:

• Shake up a Blueberry Martini
• Make a pitcher of Blueberry Vodka Lemonade (it’s great for a crowd!)
• Go for a bright and beautiful Blueberry Margarita
• Mix up a minty Blueberry Mojito

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Blueberry Vodka Lemonade

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Blueberry Martini

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Blueberry Mojito

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Blueberry Margarita

Blueberry Vodka Smash

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

The blueberry vodka smash is a refreshing cocktail pairing berries, vodka and mint! Serve over crushed ice.

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Ingredients

• 8 large mint leaves, plus more to garnish
• ¼ cup blueberries, plus more to garnish
• 2 ounces vodka*
• ¾ ounces lime juice, plus wedges to garnish
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• Crushed ice, for serving
• Soda water, for serving (optional)

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Instructions

1. Place the mint leaves and blueberries berries in cocktail shaker. Muddle (gently mash) them to extract their flavor.
2. Add the vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and 4 ice cubes. Shake until cold, then pour everything into a glass. Serve with crushed ice and garnish with additional blueberries, fresh mint and lime wedges.

Notes

*If you’re looking for a way to use blueberry vodka, you can use it in place of the vodka for an even more intense berry flavor.

• Category: Drink
• Method: Shaken
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Blueberry vodka

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s a fun twist on everyone’s favorite cocktail, the Aperol Negroni! Swap out bitter Campari for Aperol and you’ve got an entirely different drink. Aperol is sweeter, making a milder drink with a subtle citrus essence. Often we’re looking for creative ways to use Aperol outside of the spritz, and this is the perfect idea! (Plus, you don’t have to open a bottle of bubbly!)

Ingredients in an Aperol Negroni

The Negroni is a popular Italian cocktail that’s popular around the world, but it dates back to the 1920’s. It was invented by Count Negroni in Florence, Italy, who ordered an Americano cocktail (an 1860’s cocktail with Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water). He asked for the drink with gin to give it a little more kick, and the Negroni was born!

A classic Negroni uses Campari, a very bitter Italian liqueur, sweet vermouth and gin. Swap out the Campari for Aperol, and you’ve got an Aperol Negroni! The flavor is subtler with Aperol, with more sweet and citrusy notes instead of the searing bitter aftertaste that Campari brings. The ingredients you’ll need are:

• Aperol
• Sweet red vermouth
• Gin

For the vermouth

There are two main types of vermouth: sweet (usually red) and dry (usually white). Sweet vermouth is subtly sweet and spicy, with a hit of bitter on the back end. Dry vermouth tastes floral and herbal, with a dry finish.

Can you use dry vermouth for an Aperol Negroni? At first we thought this would taste better for this drink, since Aperol is so much sweeter than Campari. However, after trying them back to back we liked the flavor with sweet vermouth best. It tasted most like a Negroni and wasn’t overly sweet.

How to make an Aperol Negroni (basic steps)

The Aperol Negroni is so easy to make and memorize: use just 1 ounce of each of the ingredients! You don’t even need to shake it. Simply stir the ingredients together in a cocktail mixing glass or the base of a cocktail shaker. Here are the basic steps to make it (or go to the recipe below):

• Mix. Add the ingredients to a mixing glass with 1 handful of ice and stir for 30 seconds. This chills the cocktail and dilutes it less than shaking in a cocktail shaker would.
• Strain and serve. Strain into a lowball or Old Fashioned glass filled with ice.

More about Aperol vs Campari

Aperol is an Italian bitter aperitif with a bright orange color and lightly sweet, citrusy flavor. The first ever aperitif, Campari, was invented in Italy in the 1860’s. Aperol came along in 1919, and it was later bought by the Campari company in the 1990’s.

Aperol is most commonly used in the popular Aperol spritz. It tastes lightly sweet, bitter, and balanced, with notes of herbs and citrus. Its light flavor is much more approachable than bitter Campari, which can be polarizing. Here’s more about Campari vs Aperol!

Step it up with clear ice

The best way to make a next level Aperol Negroni? Use clear ice! Clear ice is crystal clear ice that’s different from the cloudy ice cubes made in an ice tray. It has a beautiful look in the glass and also melts slower than regular ice cubes.

It’s easy to make at home with a small cooler, or there are now several clear ice makers on the market. However, all you need is a small cooler that fits inside your refrigerator! Go to How to Make Clear Ice.

More Aperol cocktails

And that’s it! Let us know what you think of this Aperol Negroni. If you’ve got a bottle of Aperol to use up, check out these drinks for creative ways to use it:

• Make a Aperol Spritz, aka Spritz Veneziano
• Go for the modern classics, the Paper Plane or Naked and Famous
• Mix it with rum for Aperol & Rum Cocktail
• Try these Top 10 Aperol Cocktails

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Aperol Spritz

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Paper Plane Cocktail

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Aperol Cocktail

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Top 10 Aperol Cocktails

Aperol Negroni

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

The Aperol Negroni is a refreshing spin on the classic using Aperol instead of Campari! It makes a slightly sweeter drink with a citrus nuance.

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Ingredients

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) gin*
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) sweet or semi-sweet red vermouth
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Aperol
• Ice, for serving (try clear ice!)
• For the garnish: Orange peel

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Instructions

1. Combine the gin, sweet vermouth, and Aperol in a cocktail mixing glass (or any other type of glass). Fill the mixing glass with 1 handful ice and stir continuously for 30 seconds.
2. Add ice to a lowball glass, and strain the drink into the glass (or you can use a cocktail glass without ice).
3. Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the orange peel. Squeeze the orange peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, then place it in the glass and serve.

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Aperol Negroni

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

If you love a Negroni, you’ll love this twist on the original. Not a Negroni fan? You’ll love it too! Meet the Negroni Sbagliato, a mixed up version of the classic cocktail using sparkling wine instead of gin. The lightly sweet Prosecco against the bitter Campari and sweet vermouth makes for a better balanced flavor than with gin. This Negroni spin-off has gone from relatively unknown to trending recently, and for good reason. (Who can resist a little bubbly?)

What’s a Negroni Sbagliato?

The Negroni Sbagliato is a Negroni with Prosecco. It’s a spin-off on the classic Negroni, a 1920’s Italian cocktail that’s equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. The Sbagliato version, which translates to “mistaken” or “incorrect” in Italian, trades Prosecco for the gin. It’s a modern spin and was invented in the 1980’s in Milan.

The drink’s lore says that the owner of a bar called Bar Basso was making a Negroni, and mistakenly reached for a bottle of Prosecco instead of gin. You can still get a Negroni Sbagliato at Bar Basso if you’re ever in Milan (life goals). How to pronounce sbagliato? It’s pronounced spal-yacht-oh. The ingredients in a Negroni Sbagliato are:

• Campari
• Sweet vermouth
• Sparkling wine: Prosecco, champagne, or another variety

How did it get popular?

The Negroni Sbagliato jumped in popularity in October 2022 thanks to TikTok, when HBO posted a behind-the-scenes interview for the show House of the Dragon. As actors Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke chatted about their favorite cocktails, D’Arcy mentioned “Negroni Sbagliato…with Prosecco in it.” The video went viral, and soon Negroni Sbagliato orders at bars skyrocketed (see this NPR story).

When we posted this recipe in 2020, the Negroni Sbagliato was relatively unknown. So we were excited to learn that the viral video had taken this Negroni spin-off to new heights. Remember when ordering it at a bar or restaurant, you need only “Negroni Sbagliato” (the word Sbagliato signifies “with Prosecco”).

How to make a Negroni Sbagliato

The Negroni Sbagliato is one of the easiest cocktails out there! It’s equal parts of all the ingredients. You don’t even need a cocktail shaker: just mix right in the glass! Here’s what to do (or go to the recipe below):

• Mix. Add 1 ounce each of Campari and sweet vermouth to a lowball glass. Add ice.
• Pour in sparkling wine. Add the Prosecco and serve!

Ways to serve it

The Negroni Sbagliato can be served in various different glassware, depending on the occasion. Here are a few ways to serve it:

• On the rocks: The classic way to serve a Negroni Sbagliato is on ice in a low ball glass
• “Up” in a champagne flute: Because of the sparkling wine, you can serve a Negroni Sbagliato in a champagne flute like traditional champagne and Prosecco cocktails
• Stemmed wine glass: Its similarity to a spritz makes the Negroni Sbagliato work in a stemmed wine glass.

More on Campari

Campari is the Italian bitter that makes a Negroni a Negroni, with its bright red jewel-toned color and bitter, spicy flavor. It’s is infused with different herbs and fruits, part of a secret recipe. Because it’s so bitter, it can be an acquired taste. Either you love it or you hate it! If you do love it, there are lots more Campari cocktails to try.

About vermouth

Vermouth is a fortified wine, meaning liquor has been added to the wine. There are two main types of vermouth: sweet (usually red) and dry (usually white). Sweet vermouth is subtly sweet and spicy, with a hit of bitter on the back end.

Sweet vermouth is used in many classic cocktails: most famously the Manhattan, Martinez, and the Negroni. Dry white vermouth is totally different; it’s used in martinis, like the Classic Martini, Dirty Martini and Cucumber Martini. Whatever vermouth you have on hand, make sure to store it in the refrigerator; it will stay good for up to 3 months.

More Negroni variations!

There are lots of variations on the Negroni; most of which we think make it taste better! Here are the top best ways to vary up your Negroni:

• Boulevardier: A Negroni with whiskey! Campari, sweet vermouth, and whiskey.
• Old Pal: A cleaner, drier Negroni! Campari, dry vermouth, and whiskey.
• Aperol Negroni: A sweet, citrusy Negroni with Aperol, sweet vermouth, and gin.
• Mezcal Negroni: A smoky Negroni! Campari, sweet vermouth, and mezcal.
• White Negroni: The bright yellow color and light floral flavor come from Lillet Blanc and Suze.

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Negroni

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Boulevardier Cocktail

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Aperol Negroni

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Mezcal Negroni

Negroni Sbagliato

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• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 2 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 2 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

The Negroni Sbagliato is a spin on the classic cocktail using Prosecco. It’s bitter, sweet, bubbly…and better than the original.

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Ingredients

• 1 ounce* sweet or semi-sweet red vermouth
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce Prosecco (or other sparkling wine)
• Ice, for serving (try clear ice!)
• For the garnish: Orange peel

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Instructions

1. Stir the vermouth and Campari in a lowball glass. Add ice.
2. Top off the glass with the sparkling wine. Garnish with an orange peel and serve.

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

• Category: Drink
• Method: Stirred
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Negroni sbagliato

More great cocktails

Here are a few more of our great cocktails to add to your repertoire:

• French 75 Cocktail A sophisticated cocktail made with gin and lemon! Or browse more champagne cocktails, like the 2-ingredient Chambord & Champagne.
• Tom Collins Cocktail This popular sweet sour cocktail is light and bubbly! Don’t forget the cherry.
• Classic Margarita The very best classic margarita: lime, tequila and Cointreau. Perfection! And 10+ more ways to make a margarita.
• Favorite Whiskey Sour Perfectly balanced and so easy to make! Or add a foam topping to make it a Boston Sour.
• Bellini This sparkling Italian cocktail pairs peach puree and Prosecco for bubbly fresh flavor.
• Classic Mojito Perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Looking for an iconic classic cocktail? Enter: the Negroni! It’s equal parts refreshing, bitter, and complex: a drink that you’ll want to sit with and savor. The bright red of the Campari makes for a stunning jewel-tone statement of a drink! This three ingredient cocktail is easy to make and memorize, because it uses 1 ounce of each of its three components. Here’s how to make a Negroni!

Negroni ingredients

A Negroni is an Italian cocktail that was originally intended as an apéritif: a drink for before a meal. It was invented in the 1920’s by a Count Negroni in Florence, Italy, or so the story goes. Count Negroni ordered an Americano, an 1860’s cocktail with Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water, but wanted it with a little more kick. He asked for it with gin, and the Negroni was born!

The Negroni is a classic cocktail that’s on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This means that there’s an “official” definition for Negroni ingredients, which is equal parts:

• gin,
• sweet vermouth, and
• Campari.

How to make a Negroni: basic steps

The Negroni is so easy to make and memorize: use just 1 ounce of each of the ingredients. Simply stir them together in a cocktail mixing glass, the base of a cocktail shaker, or any glass you have on hand. Here are the basic steps to make it (or go to the recipe below):

• Mix. Add the ingredients to a mixing glass with 1 handful of ice and stir for 30 seconds. This chills the cocktail and dilutes it less than shaking in a cocktail shaker would.
• Strain. Strain into a lowball or Old Fashioned glass filled with ice (use clear ice for the best look!).
• Garnish and serve. Use a knife to remove a 1-inch wide strip of the orange peel. Squeeze the orange peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, then place it in the glass and serve.

Negroni variations

The Negroni is so iconic, it’s spawned many variations over the years. The Boulevardier is a spin off on the Negroni using bourbon whiskey instead of gin. Even better, make it a Negroni Sbagliato, a bubbly version with sparkling wine! You can also swap out the Campari for Aperol. Here are a few well-known variations on the Negroni:

• Boulevardier: swap out 1 ounce gin with 1 ½ ounces bourbon whiskey.
• Old Pal: swap out the gin for whiskey and swap the sweet vermouth for dry.
• Americano: swap out the gin for soda water for a bubbly highball cocktail.
• Aperol Negroni: replace Campari with Aperol for a sweeter, citrusy spin
• Mezcal Negroni: swap out the gin for mezcal.
• Negroni Sbagliato: swap out the gin for Prosecco!
• White Negroni: for a lighter, floral take, use Lillet Blanc instead of vermouth and Suze instead of Campari.

Campari makes it a Negroni!

Campari is what makes a Negroni a Negroni. It’s an Italian bitter with a bright red jewel-toned color. It’s also used in classic cocktails like the Americano, and is easy to find at most liquor stores.

Campari tastes bitter, fruity, and spicy all at once. It’s infused with different herbs and fruits, part of a secret recipe. Fun fact: Campari was originally colored so brightly red due to a dye made of crushed insects! That’s no longer in the modern recipe, so it shouldn’t deter you from grabbing a bottle.

What else can you make with Campari? Try all of these great Campari Cocktails! Some favorites: the Jungle Bird, a tropical rum drink, or the Garibaldi, an Italian cocktail with Campari and orange.

All about vermouth

A Negroni isn’t the same without vermouth! Vermouth is a fortified wine, meaning liquor has been added to the wine. There are two main types of vermouth: sweet (usually red) and dry (usually white). Sweet vermouth is subtly sweet and spicy, with a hit of bitter on the back end.

• Sweet vermouth is used in many classic cocktails: most famously the Manhattan and the Negroni. It’s also in this Hanky Panky, anther 1920’s style gin cocktail. You can also drink it straight up as an aperitif.
• Dry white vermouth is used in martinis, like the Classic Martini, Dirty Martini and Cucumber Martini.

Whatever vermouth you have on hand, make sure to store it in the refrigerator; it will stay good for up to 3 months. Here are all our favorite Vermouth Cocktails for using up a bottle!

Use good quality gin

Simple drinks are all about quality. The better the gin, the better the drink. The easiest way to tell if a gin is high quality? Don’t buy the cheapest gin you can find. Try to invest in a mid-price range gin: the drink will only taste as good as the gin you invest in.

One note: with the Negroni, because the Campari and vermouth are so strong, the gin can be overshadowed. You’ll want to use your very best gin for gin cocktails that are gin forward like the Gin and Tonic or Gin Fizz. For the Negroni, a mid-range gin works just fine.

When to serve a Negroni

The Negroni cocktail is a sophisticated and complex classic cocktail that’s also refreshing and summery. It’s perfect for sipping as a:

• Happy hour drink
• Dinner party drink
• Summer drink
• Before dinner drink
• Late night drinks drink
• Guys or girls night drink
• Cocktail hour drink

Negroni

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• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

The Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail with three ingredients: gin, vermouth, and Campari! It makes a memorable bittersweet drink.

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Ingredients

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) gin*
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) sweet or semi-sweet red vermouth
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Campari
• Ice, for serving (try clear ice!)
• For the garnish: Orange peel

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Instructions

1. Combine the gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a cocktail mixing glass (or any other type of glass). Fill the mixing glass with 1 handful ice and stir continuously for 30 seconds.
2. Add ice to a lowball glass, and strain the drink into the glass (or you can use a cocktail glass without ice).
3. Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the orange peel. Squeeze the orange peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, then place it in the glass and serve.

Notes

*We like the Boulevardier even better, a classic cocktail that’s a spin on the Negroni. Substitute 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) bourbon whiskey for the gin. It has a rounder flavor that’s more balanced by the bourbon.

• Category: Drink
• Method: Stirred
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Negroni, Negroni cocktail

More classic cocktails

Here are a few more of our classic cocktails to add to your repertoire:

• Tom Collins Cocktail This popular sweet sour cocktail is light and bubbly! Don’t forget the cherry.
• Classic Margarita The very best classic margarita: lime, tequila and Cointreau. Perfection! And 10+ more ways to make a margarita.
• Favorite Whiskey Sour Perfectly balanced and so easy to make! Or add a foam topping to make it a Boston Sour.
• Classic Old Fashioned The oldest cocktail there is! The classic method uses a sugar cube, bitters, and bourbon whiskey for a truly timeless drink. Or try it smoked!
• Manhattan Cocktail Add style to your evening with this easy classic whiskey cocktail made with just three ingredients.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Looking for a refreshing tequila cocktail? Try the Paloma! Cousin of the margarita, the Paloma is a a classic Mexican cocktail that features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime. Switching up the citrus makes for a simple sour that’s sweet tart and refreshing. It’s perfect for happy hour drinks, or water it down and it could be a brunch drink too. Add a salt rim and you’re in business! This is one of our favorite cocktails of all time, and here’s how to make it.

What’s in a Paloma cocktail?

Why is it called a Paloma? Paloma means “dove” in Spanish. The history around the drink is a bit murky, though many believe it to have originated in the 1950’s. Some attribute the drink to a legendary bartender in Tequila, Mexico, Don Javier Delgado Corona (source). It’s possible it could be named after a popular folk song called “La Paloma.”

However it originated, the classic Paloma is just two ingredients: tequila and grapefruit soda. However, you can also make it with homemade soda using fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, lime juice, and soda water. It turns out perfectly balanced: sweet, tart, and with the sharp undertone of tequila. Make whatever version you prefer! Here are the ingredients in this Paloma cocktail:

• Tequila
• Lime juice
• Grapefruit soda OR grapefruit juice, simple syrup and soda water

Love grapefruit cocktails? Try the Greyhound, Salty Dog Cocktail, Brown Derby, Hemingway Daiquiri, or Sea Breeze.

How to make a Paloma (3 basic steps!)

A Paloma is a laid-back tequila drink that’s so easy to make, you don’t even need a cocktail shaker! Outside of making the salt rim, it’s simply stirred together right in the glass.

1. Rim the glass with salt. The salt isn’t just for looks: it enhances the overall flavor of the drink!
2. Stir tequila, grapefruit, lime and syrup in the glass. This cocktail is so simple, you don’t even need to dirty up a cocktail shaker! Mix it all together in the glass.
3. Add ice and top with soda water. Fill the glass with ice and top with soda water. Or if you’re using grapefruit soda, simply pour the soda into the tequila. A grapefruit wedge makes a nice garnish!

Tips for making a salt rim

For the salt rim on this Paloma, we use flaky sea salt. You can also use kosher salt if you have it, which has large grains. Just don’t use iodized table salt: it tastes much too salty! Here are a few tips to making a salt rim:

1. Spread the salt on a plate in an even layer.
2. Take a grapefruit wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the glass rim without having to use your fingers.
3. Tilt the glass and gently turn so the outside edge goes into the salt. Try to keep the salt on the outside rim. Shake off any loose salt into the sink.

Variations on the Paloma

Want to add a unique spin to your Paloma? Here are a few ideas:

• Mezcal: Try it with mezcal! This agave-based liquor goes well with tequila drinks to give them a smoky nuance. Adding it to a Paloma gives it just the right smoky flavor. Go to Mezcal Paloma.
• Jalapeño: Slice a jalapeño pepper into 3 thin slices, then shake it in a cocktail shaker with the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and simple syrup before pouring in a glass and topping with soda water.
• Strawberry: Use strawberry syrup instead of simple syrup.
• Ginger: Use ginger simple syrup instead of simple syrup.

Dress it up with clear ice!

Clear ice is artisanal ice used in cocktails because of its crystal clear look and beautiful organic shapes. We made a batch of clear ice for this Paloma, and it made it look stunning! Alex worked out a method so you can make clear ice at home, and it’s so easy! All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours. Here’s How to Make Clear Ice.

Variations and related drinks

There are a few drinks that are similar to the Paloma cocktail:

• Cantarito This spin on the Paloma is even more delicious, with a few more citrus juices.
• Greyhound Uses grapefruit juice and gin! The Paloma is a little stronger and more flavorful.
• Salty Dog Same as the Greyhound but with a salt rim.
• Classic Margarita The Classic is our favorite, but also try it Skinny, Italian, Jalapeno, Cadillac, or Frozen.
• Tequila Sunrise Another famous tequila cocktail: this one looks like the colors of a summer sunrise! Try it with our homemade grenadine.

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Cantaritos

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Greyhound Cocktail

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Best Simple Margarita (Classic Recipe!)

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Tequila Sunrise

Paloma Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

This Paloma drink recipe pairs tequila and grapefruit to make the most refreshing sweet tart classic cocktail!

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Ingredients

• 2 ounces* tequila blanco
• ½ ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
• 2 ounces** fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 1 ounce soda water
• Flaky sea salt & grapefruit wedge, for the garnish

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Instructions

1. Cut a notch in the grapefruit wedge, then run the grapefruit around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt.
2. To the glass, add the tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup and stir until combined.
3. Fill the glass with ice (clear ice if you want to get fancy!). Top with soda water and serve!

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons. 

**Or, substitute 4 ounces grapefruit soda for the grapefruit juice, simple syrup and soda water. 

• Category: Drink
• Method: Stirred
• Cuisine: Cocktail

Keywords: Paloma, Paloma Drink, Paloma Cocktail

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

There is nothing traditional about this cocktail, but it’s a fun mash-up of two tasty drinks: a Sangria Margarita! This one pairs the unlikely combination of a Spanish red sangria with a classic Mexican margarita for a pitcher-style refreshing drink. The red wine and tequila really work together, complimented by triple sec, lime juice and orange juice. It’s perfect for parties and patio season!

What’s in a sangria margarita?

A sangria margarita is a drink that pairs traditional Spanish sangria with a classic margarita. Interestingly, these drinks have a cross-over ingredient: they both include triple sec or Cointreau orange liqueur as a backup to the primary liquor (brandy and tequila, respectively). So, we took our classic Spanish red wine sangria and swapped in tequila for the brandy and added lime juice: voila, sangria margarita! Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Fruity dry red wine
• Tequila
• Triple sec or Cointreau
• Simple syrup
• Orange juice
• Lime juice

Best wine for a sangria margarita

For this sangria margarita recipe, you’ll need a bottle of dry red wine. Any dry red will do. Of course, if you’re a sweet wine person (we see you out there!), you may want to opt for a sweet red wine instead for this drink. Some of the best varietals for dry red wine are:

• Rioja Tempranillo
• Garnacha (Grenache grown in Spain)
• Malbec
• Pinot Noir

Flavor notes

Often in America, sangrias served in restaurants and bars are incredibly sweet. This sangria margarita is closer to a traditional Spanish sangria in flavor. It tastes bold and fruity, with a balance of dry and sweet.

If you prefer sweet drinks, you may want to use a sweet red wine or add a bit more simple syrup after tasting the pitcher. You also may find that you’d like more of a noticeable tequila flavor, so feel free to add a splash more of tequila to the mix. You can customize it to your liking! This is the blend we like, but our tastes tend more towards the dry side for sangria.

Garnishes for a sangria margarita

Besides tequila, the other part of a sangria margarita that’s more like a margarita? The salt rim! Add some citrus slices and it makes for the most beautiful presentation. Here’s what you’ll need for garnishing the glass:

• Kosher salt or flaky salt: The easiest way to rim a glass is to cut a notch in a lime wedge, then slide it around the rim. Then, dip the outside edge of the glass rim into a plate of salt.
• Lime and orange slices: It’s all about presentation with a sangria margarita, so load up on citrus slices: especially if you’re entertaining!

More sangria & margarita recipes

This sangria margarita makes a big pitcher that’s perfect for entertaining! Here are a few more variations on these cocktail recipes:

• Try our Best Simple Margarita
• Opt for 21 Popular Homemade Margarita Recipes
• Go for Red Sangria, White Sangria, Strawberry Sangria or 8 Easy Sangria Recipes

01

Best Simple Margarita (Classic Recipe!)

02

21 Popular Homemade Margarita Recipes

03

Red Sangria

04

8 Easy Sangria Recipes

Sangria Margarita

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 6

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Description

A sangria margarita blends red wine with tequila and lime juice to make the most of both drinks! It’s a fun cocktail mash-up.

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Ingredients

• 750 ml bottle fruity dry red wine, chilled
• ½ cup tequila
• ½ cup triple sec or Cointreau
• ½ cup simple syrup
• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup lime juice
• For the garnish: 2 limes and 1 orange, sliced
• Kosher salt, to rim the glass

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Instructions

1. In a large pitcher, stir together the red wine, tequila, triple sec or Cointreau, simple syrup, orange juice, and lime juice. Taste and if desired, add more syrup or tequila for a sweeter or boozier vibe. Garnish the pitcher with lime and orange wedges and 1 handful ice cubes.
2. To serve, cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of each glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of the salt. Add 1 handful ice and pour in the sangria. Garnish with orange and lime slices.

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Cocktail
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Sangria margarita

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Want a lemon drop martini? Really, who could turn down this one? This zingy martini is perfectly balanced and refreshingly tart, served with a sugar rim and a lemon twist. It looks so festive that it’s great for celebrations of all kinds. Whatever the occasion: this drink delivers! When we first tried it, we were surprised by its cool, clean flavor and the sophisticated vibe. It’s now solidly a part of our cocktail repertoire.

Ingredients in a lemon drop martini

A Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet and sour version of a vodka martini. It’s similarities with the classic martini are in name only! The Lemon Drop is a classic alcoholic drink that makes the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. That means it has an official definition of how to make it:

• Citron vodka (or vodka)
• Cointreau or triple sec
• Lemon juice
• Simple syrup

For our spin on the Lemon Drop Martini, we use standard vodka to keep it simple. In our taste tests, citron vodka only adds a subtle citrus hint to the finish. But if you have citron vodka, by all means use it here! We also use Cointreau instead of triple sec as the orange liqueur, and add simple syrup to balance the flavors. This makes the drink very close to a Vodka Sidecar, which uses similar ingredients.

How to make a lemon drop martini (3 basic steps!)

If you’re ready to get drinking, here are the basic steps to the lemon drop martini:

1. Rim the glass with sugar. A classic lemon drop is served in a martini glass with sugar on the rim. This helps to balance out the tart flavor of the cocktail.
2. Shake in a cocktail shaker. Take the vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and shake it together in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
3. Strain into a glass and add garnish. Strain the drink into the martini glass and add a lemon twist.

How to make a lemon twist

The lemon twist is what makes the lemon drop martini! But how to make it? Here’s our method for making to make a lemon twist garnish using no special tools. Head to How to Make a Lemon Twist (with a Knife!).

How to make a sugar rim

Lastly, let’s talk about that sugar rim! The granulated sugar rim on the martini glass makes for a festive look: and it helps to balance out some of that tart flavor! Here are our tips to making the perfect rim:

1. Spread the sugar on a plate in an even layer.
2. Take a lemon wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the rim without having to use your fingers!
3. Tilt the glass into the sugar so that the sugar sticks to the outside edge.
4. Shake off any loose sugar into the sink.

Cointreau vs triple sec

The very best lemon drop martini recipe has Cointreau, not triple sec. Cointreau has a orange perfume flavor that’s well balanced between bitter and sweet. Triple Sec has a more straightforward, intense flavor. If you’re not sure whether you want to buy a bottle, there’s a long list of great Cointreau drinks that use it: like the Classic Margarita and the Cosmopolitan.

Fun fact: “triple sec” means triple distilled: it’s actually not a brand name! Cointreau is a brand made by Remy Martin, but it’s technically also a triple sec because it’s triple distilled. (How’s that for confusing!)

When to serve a lemon drop martini

The lemon drop martini cocktail is tart and tangy, with a festive vibe. It works well for so many occasions. It’s great as a:

• New Year’s Eve drink
• Christmas or holiday drink
• Bachelorette party drink
• Girls night drink
• Celebration drink (you got that job or promotion, had a baby, etc!)
• Dinner party drink

More martini recipes

There are lots of spins on the martini! Here are a few more:

• Classic Martini or Dirty Martini Here’s how to make a classic dry martini: that crystal clear cocktail that oozes sophistication.
• Gibson Cocktail The same as a martini…except for the garnish!
• Vesper Martini Invented by James Bond, it stars Lillet Blanc with gin and vodka.
• Pomegranate Martini or Watermelon Martini These jewel-toned drinks are tangy and light: the perfect fruity variation.
• Cucumber Martini This cool spin on the classic is botanical and fresh.
• French Martini Perfectly balanced with vodka, pineapple juice, and raspberry liqueur.
• Mexican Martini Full of zingy flavor, with lime, tequila and an olive garnish.

01

French Martini

02

Espresso Martini

03

Pomegranate Martini

04

Watermelon Martini

Best Lemon Drop Martini

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★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

Here’s the best lemon drop martini you’ll have! It’s zesty and refreshing, sweet tart with a crunchy sugar rim.

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Ingredients

• 1 ½ ounces* citron vodka or vodka
• ½ ounce Cointreau or triple sec
• ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Superfine sugar, for the rim (or substitute granulated)
• For the garnish: Lemon twist or lemon wheel

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Instructions

1. Cut a notch in a lemon wedge, then run the lemon around the rim of a martini glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of superfine sugar.
2. Make the lemon twist garnish.
3. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, fill it with ice, and shake until cold.
4. Strain the liquid into the glass with the sugared rim. Garnish with the lemon twist.

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

**To achieve a yellow color for this drink, use maple syrup as the sweetener or use citron vodka. With simple syrup and standard vodka, the drink is clear in color. 

• Category: Drink
• Method: Shaken
• Cuisine: Cocktails

Keywords: Lemon Drop Martini

More classic cocktails

Here are a few more of our best cocktail recipes you might enjoy:

• Classic Margarita The only margarita recipe you need! Here’s how to make the very best margarita with 3 simple ingredients: lime, Cointreau and tequila—and no added sugar.
• Classic Mojito It’s perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
• Salty Dog Here’s a refreshing citrus cocktail that pairs grapefruit juice, gin, and a salted rim. (The classic version has no salt and is called…a Greyhound!)
• Tom Collins This tall highball drink is a gin sour, a sweet and sour classic cocktail made with gin. It’s refreshing, bubbly, and nostalgic.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Got white rum? Here are all the best white rum cocktails for using up a bottle! This liquor has inspired some of the most iconic rum cocktails, most notably the minty mojito and tangy daiquiri. But there are many more to try! This list includes a few more lesser known white rum cocktails and loads of fruity variations on the most popular drink themes. Ready to get started?

And now…the best white rum cocktails!

Classic Mojito

The most classic white rum cocktail of them all? The Mojito. This iconic Cuban drink is one of the greats. This standard is just sweet enough, bubbly, and minty fresh. It’s perfect for sipping on the patio, and just as good in the dead of winter when you’re dreaming of the beach.

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Classic Piña Colada

When it comes to frozen cocktails, the piña colada is iconic: a classic cocktail invented in the 1950’s! This mixture of pineapple juice, coconut, and white rum is the ideal summer drink. Here’s how to make a piña colada…the classic way!

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Classic Daiquiri

Vying for the other top classic white rum cocktail is the classic daiquiri! This one that goes back hundreds of years that features 3 ingredients: rum, lime, and simple syrup. It sounds simple, but the balance of each element is pure perfection!

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Mary Pickford Cocktail

Here’s a 1920’s cocktail that’s all about charm: the Mary Pickford cocktail! Take one sip and it’s intriguing: pleasantly sweet and sour from the pineapple juice with a slightly funky finish from the Maraschino. This one looks like it’s straightforward: but there’s more to this pretty pink white rum cocktail than you’d expect!

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Strawberry Daiquiri

Ever tried to make a strawberry daiquiri recipe at home? There’s no need to buy store-bought daiquiri mix, because let us tell you. A homemade strawberry daiquiri with real frozen strawberries tastes infinitely better than a mix from the store! All you need are a few ingredients, a blender, and 5 minutes to whip up this classic drink.

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Yellow Bird Cocktail

Here’s a tasty sweet and sour cocktail that’s uniquely delicious: the Yellow Bird! This bright yellow drink is a sour cocktail with a little extra bling: a nuanced finish with notes of vanilla and licorice. The sophistication comes from Galliano, a bright yellow Italian liqueur that’s worth grabbing for this recipe.

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Hemingway Daiquiri

This spin on the Classic Daiquiri was invented in honor of the famous writer himself, Ernest Hemingway. It features sweet grapefruit to balance the acidity of the lime, and maraschino liqueur brings notes of sour cherry and almond. There’s a lot going on flavor-wise, but it’s very easy to make.

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Frozen Daiquiri

There’s no need for purchased mixes to make a daiquiri. Nope, all you need are a handful of ingredients to achieve massive flavor! This frozen spin on the Classic Daiquiri tastes intensely zesty from the lime and fruity from the rum. Take one sip, and it’s so much greater than the sum of its parts!

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Fresh Strawberry Mojito

We’re huge fans of the classic white rum drink, so here's a variation: add fresh berries to the mix! The sweet tart flavor of ripe strawberries only improves this classic. Muddle some fresh berries right into the cocktail, and it makes a deliciously vibrant drink that’s perfect for summer…or anytime.

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Banana Daiquiri

Try this Banana Daiquiri! This spin on the classic daiquiri is one of our favorite frozen drinks for impressing guests because: it’s just that irresistible! It’s got a pure banana flavor complimented by the zingy lime, vanilla and oak notes of aged rum, and a hint of orange liqueur on the finish. 

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Mojito Pitcher

The minty mojito is one of top favorite classic cocktails of all time. But when it comes to parties, it takes too long to shake them up one by one. Enter this mojito pitcher! It’s minty, tangy, bubbly, and gives you that carefree feeling like the last day of school before summer vacation.

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Watermelon Mojito

Need a fantastic summer cocktail? Look no further than this Watermelon Mojito! The minty Mojito is ideal for the season, with its bubbly, refreshing flavor. Add juicy watermelon to the mix and the delicately sweet flavor is simply outstanding. 

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Pineapple Daiquiri

There’s no need to buy a store-bought mix for a daiquiri: just a few ingredients come together to make magic! The flavor of this one blew us away: it’s fruity and intriguing, with a hint of lime and orange liqueur to accentuate the tropical pineapple. It’s fast to blend up for a crowd and perfect for entertaining.

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Pineapple Mojito

Here’s a delicious white rum cocktail we can’t believe we hadn’t tried…until now. The Pineapple Mojito! Add tropical pineapple to the mix, and it’s a symphony of flavor! The sweet tart of the fruit balances the tangy lime and sweet cooling mint perfectly.

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Blueberry Mojito

Mojitos of every color of the rainbow? We’ve got ’em. Here’s an entry for the purple category: try this Blueberry Mojito! This spin on the classic is minty fresh, with a hit of tangy sweet berries on the finish. Its irresistible flavor is a heightened version of the original, and that bright fuchsia-purple color will make every head turn.

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Coconut Mojito

Want a mojito that’s impossibly even better than the classic? Try this Coconut Mojito! Coconut infuses a tropical sweetness and creamy body into this cocktail that’s altogether irresistible. Cream of coconut and coconut rum come together to make magic, forming a delightful frothy topping that adds a little foam to each sip. 

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Frozen Mango Daiquiri

Looking for a sunny spin on a tropical drink? Try the Mango Daiquiri! This spin on the classic daiquiri is frosty and refreshing, with an intoxicating sweet tart flavor. It’s a bit like mango smoothie meets mango margarita, but the rum version.

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Mango Mojito

Try this Mango Mojito recipe: sweet tart, tropical, and irresistibly refreshing! The classic Mojito is in our top greatest cocktails of all time, so we’ve dedicated ourselves to all the riffs on it, too. This one stars mango nectar for a nuanced, fruity flavor.

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Frozen Mojito

When the summer heat is is at sky high levels, here’s a drink that will cool you to your core: the Frozen Mojito! This frozen spin on the classic…well, it made our heads turn! It’s icy and outrageously refreshing: like someone amped up the dial on the mint volume.

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Peach Mojito

Here’s a white rum cocktail recipe that’s summer in a tall, ice-cube-clinking glass…the Peach Mojito! Imagine: the juicy flavor of that ripe summer fruit, paired with hints of fresh mint, zingy lime, and white rum. It’s light, refreshing and altogether irresistible. 

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More rum cocktails

There are lots more rum cocktails to try! The drinks above all contain only white rum, but there are a few more drinks that contain a mix of white rum with dark rum. Pick from the drinks below, or view our collection of the greatest hits:

• Rum Punch contains a mix of white and dark rum with pineapple, orange juice, lime juice, and grenadine: it’s a delight!
• Zombie has many ingredients, including white, dark and spiced rum: but it’s totally worth it!
• Go for 15 Summer Rum Cocktails
• Opt for these 21 Rum Cocktails Everyone Should Know

01

21 Rum Cocktails Everyone Should Know

02

Rum Punch

03

Zombie Cocktail

04

15 Summer Rum Cocktails

20 White Rum Cocktails

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

Here’s a classic mojito recipe, perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.

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Ingredients

• 6 mint leaves, plus additional for garnish
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lime juice
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) simple syrup
• 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) white rum
• 2 to 4 ounces (½ cup) soda water

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Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves. (Here’s how to muddle mint.)
2. Add the lime juice, simple syrup, and rum. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and shake until cold.
3. Place ice into a glass, and strain in the liquid. Top off the glass with soda water. Garnish with additional mint leaves.
4. Pitcher variation: Go to Mojito Pitcher recipe.

• Category: Cocktail
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: White rum cocktails

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Got blueberries and want to make a mixed drink? Or got blueberry vodka you’re not sure what to do with! Here are our must-make blueberry cocktails for the season! There’s something for everyone in this list, and each one highlights the beautiful sweet tart flavor of these tasty berries. Try everything from the minty blueberry vodka smash to the refreshing mojito or the tangy, boozy margarita. Ready to get started?

And now, our top blueberry cocktails!

Blueberry Vodka Smash

Try this refreshing summer cocktail, the Blueberry Vodka Smash! This pairing of sweet berries, fresh mint, simple syrup and vodka is just the thing for enjoying on the patio or deck. Served over crushed ice, it’s a reference to a classic cocktail but done up with summer berries! You can make it with fresh berries or add in flavored vodka for an even strong blast of fruit.

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Blueberry Margarita

Here's a blueberry cocktail that's everyone’s favorite drink: the Blueberry Margarita! After making 21+ margarita recipes of every color of the rainbow, this one is solidly a favorite. It’s got a beautifully sweet tart flavor, and you won’t believe the color! Muddle up the berries and they make a fluorescent pink-purple hue. This version is great for impressing friends, or mixing up a single drink to sip on the patio.

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Blueberry Mojito

Here’s an entry for best blueberry cocktail for the summer: try this Blueberry Mojito! This spin on the classic is minty fresh, with a hit of tangy sweet berries on the finish. Its irresistible flavor is a heightened version of the original, and that bright fuchsia-purple color will make every head turn. It’s a new favorite around here!

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Blueberry Martini

Here’s a blueberry cocktail you won’t be able to put down: try the Blueberry Martini! This combination of fresh berries, vodka and lime juice is irresistibly sweet tart and the ideal drink for any occasion. You’ll be surprised by the way a few simple ingredients come together to make magic.

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Blueberry Vodka Lemonade

Here’s a tasty, sweet tart cocktail that’s perfect for summer sipping: Blueberry Vodka Lemonade! In warmer weather, we start craving flavors like blueberry and lemon. So why not combine them to make the ideal sweet tart drink? Make up a big pitcher of blueberry lemonade, then spike each drink with vodka. It’s so delightfully tangy and fruity, it’s hard to stop sipping! Here’s how to make this tasty drink.

Get Recipe

More summer cocktail recipes

These blueberry cocktails are perfect for summer! Here are a few more collections of drinks for the season that you’ll love:

• Try the 35 Best Summer Cocktails
• Opt for 20 Summer Vodka Drinks & Cocktails
• Mix up 8 Great Strawberry Cocktails
• Go for 21 Popular Homemade Margarita Recipes or 17 Tasty Mojito Recipes

01

40 Best Summer Cocktails

02

8 Great Strawberry Cocktails

03

21 Popular Homemade Margarita Recipes

04

17 Tasty Mojito Recipes

5 Popular Blueberry Cocktails

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• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

Here are the top must-make blueberry cocktails for the summer! These drink recipes will impress everyone with there refreshing flavor. The blueberry vodka smash is a refreshing cocktail pairing berries, vodka and mint!

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Ingredients

• 8 large mint leaves, plus more to garnish
• ¼ cup blueberries, plus more to garnish
• 2 ounces vodka*
• ¾ ounces lime juice, plus wedges to garnish
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• Crushed ice, for serving
• Soda water, for serving (optional)

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Instructions

1. Place the mint leaves and blueberries berries in cocktail shaker. Muddle (gently mash) them to extract their flavor.
2. Add the vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and 4 ice cubes. Shake until cold, then pour everything into a glass. Serve with crushed ice and garnish with additional blueberries, fresh mint and lime wedges.

Notes

*If you’re looking for a way to use blueberry vodka, you can use it in place of the vodka for an even more intense berry flavor.

• Category: Cocktails
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Blueberry cocktail, blueberry cocktail recipes, blueberry cocktails

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s a fruity drink you won’t be able to put down: try the Blueberry Martini! This combination of fresh berries, vodka and lime juice is irresistibly sweet tart and the ideal drink for any occasion. You’ll be surprised by the way a few simple ingredients come together to make magic. Alex tinkered around with a few different combinations and finally landed on this one. On our first sip, we were both sold!

What’s in a blueberry martini?

A blueberry martini is a spin on the flavored vodka martini using fresh blueberries or blueberry vodka. As you may know, the vodka martini is related to the classic Dry Martini in name only. Vodka martinis became popular in the 1990’s, essentially defined as a drink with vodka served in a martini glass. For the blueberry spin you can use the fresh or frozen fruit. The ingredients in a blueberry martini are:

• Blueberries
• Vodka
• Cointreau or Triple Sec
• Lime juice
• Simple syrup

Fresh vs frozen fruit

This blueberry martini is best with fresh berries: but you can also use the frozen fruit! Because the berries are blended together with vodka, there’s not a huge advantage to using fresh here. We do find that fresh berries are slightly sweeter than frozen, but it is usually a pretty subtle difference.

Can I make it with blueberry vodka?

There are many types of blueberry vodka on the market, which is vodka with an artificial blueberry flavor. It’s perfect for a blueberry martini! You can simply substitute it for the standard vodka in the recipe below. Combining it with fresh blueberries makes an even more intense blueberry flavor.

How to make a blueberry martini

After you assemble all the ingredients, making a blueberry martini is a breeze! Here are the basic steps, or jump to the recipe below:

• Blend: Blend the berries and vodka in a blender.
• Shake: Add all ingredients (see below) to a cocktail shaker. Add 1 handful of ice and shake until cold!
• Strain & garnish: Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with extra berries or lime wedges if you’d like.

More blueberry cocktails

Got berries? Here are a few more blueberry cocktails you’ll enjoy:

• Try a pitcher of Blueberry Vodka Lemonade (it’s great for a crowd!)
• Make a bright and beautiful Blueberry Margarita
• Go for a Blueberry Mojito

01

Blueberry Vodka Lemonade

02

Blueberry Margarita

03

Blueberry Mojito

Blueberry Martini

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

The blueberry martini is full of sweet tart, pure fruity flavor! Berries, vodka and lime make a memorable cocktail.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh blueberries (or substitute frozen)
• 3 ounces vodka*
• ½ ounce Cointreau or triple sec
• ½ ounce lime juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup

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Instructions

1. Place the blueberries and vodka in a blender and blend until very smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a container.
2. Place the blueberry vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add 1 handful of ice and shake until cold. Strain into a martini glass. If desired, garnish with more blueberries and a lime wedge.

Notes

*If you’re looking for a way to use blueberry vodka, you can use it in place of the vodka for an even more intense berry flavor.

• Category: Drink
• Method: Blended
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Blueberry martini

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.