As the sun shines and the temperatures soar, you just know it’s time to cool things down with poolside drinks and a party!
Get the vodka, rum, tequila, and mixers ready, and call your friends to come over. We’ve sourced a fabulous selection of poolside cocktails, party drinks, and easily mixed drink ideas to test your bartending and mixology skills to keep everyone refreshed and entertained this summer.
From delicious frozen pink panties and mouthwatering mojitos to the perfect pina colada recipe and fabulous mixed drink punches, here’s the NUDE rundown of the best party cocktails and how’s best to serve them to get everyone in the mood at your next poolside drinks soiree!
What Type of Mixed Drinks for a Pool Party?
Swimming pool cocktail parties are synonymous with fun and revelry, so you can afford to get creative and serve a variety of fresh and vibrant party drink.
Be it a few friends over for a pool lunch and chilled green tea mixed drink or a more formal poolside occasion where wine and margaritas are called for, there are lots of summer mixed drinks you could serve. Here are a few types of popular mixed drinks for inspiration:
- Classic Frozen Cocktails: Often considered the ultimate pool party beverage, a frozen margarita served in a tall, stemmed margarita glass or a frosty pina colada in a cocktail glass l never goes out of style.
- Jugs of Mixed Drinks: Effortlessly combining convenience with style, a NUDE crystal jug brimming with chilled Sangria, Aperol Spritz, Blue Hawaiian or Pimm’s and lemonade is great for serving a thirsty pool party crowd. You can increase the measures and serve the most popular mixed drinks in this manner.
- Punch: If you are looking for easy mixed drinks for parties, grab a large glass bowl and serve guests a refreshing fruit, vodka, or rum punch. Top the contents with fruit and ice and serve it to your guests on arrival.
- Champagne Towers: Add a touch of glamor to the occasion by creating a show-stopping, elegant champagne tower on your poolside table. Use classic NUDE Champagne Saucers and fill from the top in a true Hollywood style!
- Mocktails: For people who don’t prefer alcoholic drinks and drivers mocktails are a fantastic addition to the pool party menu. Offer the same good looks and sophistication of classic cocktails by serving non-alcoholic sweet mixed drinks and varied juices for a lighter, brighter option on the poolside table.
What Types of Glass to Choose for What Type of Cocktail?
Celebrating the joys of summer by hosting a pool party is a great way to socialize and connect with others.
Whether you're serving bubbles around the pool or cosmos to colleagues at a poolside event, your mixed drink list and the glasses you use to serve them matter.
Different drinks require different glassware, so here is a list of the basic classic mixed drinks glasses to have on hand:
- Martini Glasses: Martini glasses' iconic V-shape and long stem ooze style and sophistication. They are ideal for serving espresso martinis.
- Crystal Highball Glasses: A set of tall, slender glass highball glasses is a necessity and perfect for serving a Tom Collins, mojito, or most spirits with ice and a mixer.
- Lowball Glasses: Also known as Old Fashioned, Whiskey, or Rocks Glasses, low balls are the best glass to serve Negroni, Manhattan, or most neat spirits over ice.
- Crystal Wine Glasses: Red, white, and sparkling wine glasses are a staple at any event—especially a sophisticated pool party!
- Water/Tumbler Glasses: Not everyone likes wine and alcohol, so remember to stock up on tumblers and water glasses. Soft beverages are often the most popular swimming pool drinks!
Refreshing Poolside Mixed Drinks
Toast good times and warm temperatures by the pool with these thirst-quenching mixed drink cocktails:
Tequila Mixed Drinks
Tequila cocktails are a classic for the poolside and offer the perfect blend of flavor, fun, and refreshment. Here are a couple of the most popular tequila-based mixed drinks ideal for sun-soaked parties:
Margarita
Margaritas are the perfect drinks for parties. The punch of tequila and the zesty taste of lime wake the palate and excite the senses—try adding mango or strawberries for a fresh twist on a classic.
Perfect Glass: NUDE Vintage Margarita Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz Lime,
- 1 oz Triple Sec
- Salt (For Rimming the Glass)
Method: Add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain and serve.
Tequila Sunrise
Flavorful, easy to prepare, and visually stunning, a tequila sunrise is a quintessential summertime drink ideal for sipping at the poolside.
Perfect Glass: NUDE Caldera Highball Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Tequila
- 4 oz Orange Juice
- ½ oz Grenadine
- Ice
Method: Fill a glass with ice and add the tequila and orange juice. Gently pour the dark red grenadine into the glass. This will gradually start to settle, creating a sunrise effect.
Rum Mixed Drinks
Serve a taste of the Islands with chilled rum, coconut, lime, or pineapple mixed drinks. Cool, stylish, and filled with tropical flair, serve these easy cocktails for party guests.
Pina Colada
Cool, refreshing, and packed full of rum, a pina colada is always a favorite at swimming pool cocktail parties!
Perfect Glass: NUDE Mirage High Ball Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz White Rum
- 1 oz Coconut Cream,
- 1 oz Pineapple Juice,
- Ice.
Method: Blend the rum, coconut cream, and juice with ice. Serve.
Mojito
The perfect balance of sweet and sour, the fresh mint, rum, and taste of a well-made mojito cocktail will delight most pool party guests.
Perfect Glass: NUDE Wayne High Ball Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 6 mint leaves
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz juice
- Club Soda
- Ice
Method: Muddle the simple syrup with the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass. Add Ice, then the rum and lime juice. Top up with club soda.
Vodka Mixed Drinks
A vodka mixed drink appeals to the majority, especially when you combine the spirit with fruity, fresh juices and flavors. Serve these drinks at your next pool party or grab a jug and make a pitcher to delight a crowd.
Sex on The Beach
Playful, fruity, and vibrant, this Sex on the Beach mixed drink recipe is an instant crowd-pleaser!
Perfect Glass: NUDE Barcelona Highball Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz Peach Schnapps
- 2 oz Cranberry Juice
- 2 oz Orange Juice
- Ice
Method: Fill the glass with ice. Add the vodka, peach schnapps, and juices. Stir and serve.
Cosmopolitan
If you want to serve sophisticated, sweet mixed drinks, cosmopolitans are sure to be a hit when the sun is shining. For a modern twist, muddle a few raspberries into this recipe for a fresh and fruity twist!
Perfect Glass: NUDE Fantasy Cocktail Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz triple sec
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz fresh lime,
- Ice
Method: Add the vodka, triple sec, cranberry, ice, and lime to a shaker. Shake well and serve.
Gin Cocktails
The botanical and fresh flavors of gin make gin mixed drink cocktails a great choice for most occasions, especially when the temperature soars. Here’s a playful pink panty recipe and how to make a classic gin fizz.
Gin Pink Panty
Make your guests smile by making this vibrant, fun pink panty mixed drink recipe; it’s perfect for a lady's lunch or casual day by the pool!
Perfect Glass: NUDE Hepburn Long Drink Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 6 oz pink lemonade concentrate
- ½ cup vanilla ice cream
- Fresh strawberries.
Method: Blend the gin, ice cream, concentrate, and a few strawberries. Tip into a chilled glass and serve.
Gin Fizz
Try serving this light and refreshing Gin Fizz as a sparkly and elegant poolside treat!
Perfect Glass: NUDE Big Top Highball Glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz lemon juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- Club soda
- Ice
Method: Fill a shaker with ice. Add the gin, lemon, and simple syrup and shake until chilled. Serve over ice and top with soda.
We hope our rundown of mixed drinks for pool parties proves a hit this summer. For more cocktail and glassware inspiration, visit the NUDE website.
