20 Refreshing Memorial Day Drinks

Memorial Day drinks are the best part of Memorial Day. It is the start of the summer and a great excuse to drink all day long. These Memorial Day drinks are refreshing, fruity, and delicious.

1. Spiked Strawberry Lemonade

Spiked Strawberry Lemonade is one of the easiest Memorial Day drinks to make. It is one of the simplest and refreshing drinks. All you need is vodka, strawberries, and lemonade! If you want a fresher drink, make your own lemonade first and add fresh-cut strawberries, lemons, and mint sprigs, too! You can’t go wrong with this one!

Ingredients: 3 oz vodka, 3 strawberries, 6 oz lemonade, 1 lemon wedge for garnish.

2. Spiked Fruit Punch

The go-to party drink is for sure spiked punch. The best thing about it is that you can only add to this drink. There are also so many combinations, it’s pretty much up to your choosing.

Ingredients: 6 oz of frozen lemonade concentrate (or regular lemonade), 6 oz of fruit punch concentrate (or regular fruit punch), 1 cup of vodka and light rum each, 1 bottle of club soda. Add your favorite fruits and serve over ice.

3. Frozen Blackberry Cocktail

Frozen drinks are always a popular Memorial Day drink and the best part is that the majority of this list could be frozen or on the rocks. This frozen blackberry cocktail is an example. If you make this over ice, try it with lemonade or if frozen, go for coconut milk, add rum, and frozen blackberries. Easy as that!

Ingredients for a pitcher: 3 cups frozen blackberries, 1 cup ice, 1/2 cup of coconut milk, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 2 tablespoons simple syrup for sweetening, 6 oz rum. Blend together and serve immediately.

4. Pineapple Prosecco

Just because you can’t travel to an island getaway doesn’t mean you can’t bring the island to you. Prosecco is a sparkling white wine that can be used in many ways. This is a simple cocktail to start your day right. Drink it during a party or for brunch! If you aren’t a fan of pineapple, most other fruit juices will still taste great.

Ingredients: 1 oz rum, 2 oz pineapple juice, fill with prosecco, garnish with pineapple.

5. Berry Sangria

Pitchers are the Memorial Day drinks staple, so this berry sangria should be a success. If you want to make your fruits extra boozy, let them sit in rum for at least 2 hours.

Ingredients: 8 oz strawberries halved, 6 oz raspberries and blueberries, 2 oranges sliced into rounds. 1 bottle of rose wine, 1 1/2 cup of club soda, 1/2 cup of rum, vodka, and either peach schnapps or orange liqueur.

6. Tequila Sunrise Mimosa

If you brunch a lot, mimosas are already your friend. I believe they are any event drink, especially when you have one with a twist. Careful with the grenadine for this drink, it is more decorative than flavorful, for too much can make your drink too sweet!

Ingredients: 1 oz tequila, orange juice, and champagne. Splash some grenadine, or if you feel fancy, try slowly layering it with the back of a spoon, and garnish with an orange.

7. Firecracker Slushie

This firecracker slushie is one of the Memorial Day drinks that comes in many variations. What started out as a simple popsicle in a champagne flute became its own sought after drink. This recipe is my own spin to this slushie to make it a bit stronger.

Ingredients for each color: 2 cups of white wine (use lemonade if you don’t want it as strong), 1 cup vodka, mix together and divide into an ice tray. For red, add 1/4 cup of grenadine and blue curacao for blue. When frozen, blend separately with juice from one lime and 1/2 cup of vodka. Layer blue, white, then red and you’re done!

8. Whiskey Sour

The whiskey sour is my favorite bar drink and makes a great addition to this list of Memorial Day drinks. This can be done with other spirits if that is what you prefer!

Ingredients: 2 oz whiskey, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 3/4 ounce simple syrup. Shake, pour, garnish with a cherry and orange, and enjoy!

9. Frozen Margarita

Margarita is another one of those drinks that have become so versatile, you can add almost any flavor and it will still taste great. As a Memorial Day drink, frozen is definitely the better option.

Ingredients: salt or sugar the rim and then take 2 oz tequila, 1 oz lime juice, 1 oz orange liqueur, blend with ice, and garnish with a lime wheel.

10. Paloma

Paloma is not as common as it used to be, but it is still a refreshing drink and a great alternative to margaritas. If you love the bitterness of a grapefruit, this is for you!

Ingredients: salt or sugar the rim if you’s like, 2 oz tequila, 1 oz of grapefruit and lime juice, top with grapefruit soda.

11. Watermelon Jell-o Shots

Jello-shots aren’t really a “drink,” but they’re so good that we had to add them to this list of Memorial Day drinks. This makes watermelon even more fun to eat.

Ingredients: make the jello by boiling 4 cups of water and dissolving the gelatin. Add 2 cups of vodka and pour into a halved and cleaned watermelon. Let set for at least 4 hours.

12. Cosmopolitan

If you want to be a little fancy, cosmos are a great drink to go with!

Ingredients: in a shaker, add half a squeezed lime, 1 1/2 oz of vodka, 1 oz of orange liqueur, and a dash of cranberry juice. Shake, pour and garnish with a lime.

13. Moscow Mule

For those that love ginger beer, here is a spiked version!
Ingredients: half a lime, 1/4 cup vodka, ice, and top with ginger beer.

14. Lemon Drop Martini

Lemon drop martinis are strong and sweeter than you would think, making them a simple refreshing drink.

What NOT To Do At Your First College Party

Ingredients: add sugar to the rim and in a shaker pour 2 oz vodka, 1 oz simple syrup, 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, shake and pour.

15. French Martini

If you want to add a little elegance, a French martini is a refreshing drink with class.

Ingredients: in a shaker, add 2 oz of raspberry liqueur and vodka and 2 oz of pineapple juice. Shake with ice, pour and garnish with fresh raspberries.

16. French 75

Not to be confused with the one above, the French 75 is a classy gin drink.

Ingredients: shake 2 oz of gin, 1 oz of fresh lime juice, and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Pour into the flute and top with champagne and lemon twist.

17. Blackberry Mojito

Mojitos are an exceptionally fresh drink. Hot summer days are welcomed with this drink nearby. This is a process, but it is worth it.

Ingredients: muddle together mint leaves, blackberries, an ounce of simple syrup, 3 oz of rum, and lime juice. Careful not to over muddle or the drink will taste like a bad smoothie. Add ice and fill with lemon or club soda. Garnish with more mint and lime.

18. Piña Colada

If you like Piña Coladas… you probably already know how to make them.

Ingredients: blend 1 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks, 3/4 cup canned coconut milk, 1/2 cup of rum, and 1/2 cup ice cubes. If desired, add 1 oz of rum in the glass before pouring the colada and top with a cherry and pineapple.

19. Mai Tai

Mai Tai’s are the tropical getaway drink. Make sure you’re relaxing and listening to ocean sounds when enjoying this drink.

Ingredients: in a shaker, add ice, 1 oz of light rum, dark rum, and orange liqueur, 1 oz of pineapple juice, orange juice, and fresh lime juice. Shake, pour over fresh ice, and garnish with an orange and cherry.

20. Sidecar

Lastly, the sidecar is another fancy drink that everyone should drink. It’s so simple and delicious.

Ingredients: 2 oz of brandy, 3/4 oz of orange liqueur, and 3/4 oz of lemon juice. Shake with ice, pour into a glass, and garnish with an orange peel. Pinky’s up for this drink!