8 cocktail recipes for your every summer need

Mint julep cocktail with lots of ice sitting on a table

Slurp up all the delicious mixed drinks while you sit in the sunshine

(Image credit: bhofack2 / Getty Images)

A margarita stretched for maximum quenching; a blended daiquiri heavy on the coffee; a supremely classic Mint Julep: summer's drinking requirements are a bit scattered. This game plan has you covered.

Margarita Soda

tall glass with a salted rim and a lime wedge — A big, tall margarita is an all-the-better margarita

A well-constructed margarita is always a good idea. A margarita with a base of tequila, agave syrup and fresh lime juice, lengthened with a stretch of club soda? Now, that's just downright civilized — and ensures you can drink all the more of them.

Carciofi Shandy

a fluted glass holding a cocktail and a metal straw — Beer meets Cynar

When you weary of the bright zip of summer flavors, this beer cocktail will be happy to transport you elsewhere. Its lick of cinnamon and artichoke-based Cynar ground the drink.

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Salted Plum Collins

collins glass with a metal straw and a garnish of a cherry and lemon wedge — The Tom Collins goes on a Southeast Asian gallivant

A Thai-ish reconsideration of the Tom Collins, this long drink subs vodka for gin and, in a gratifying upheaval, a salted plum bring its concentrated funk-sweet to the refreshing drink.

Jazz Daiquiri

martini glass loaded with a beige blended daiquiri and topped with three coffee beans — A blended daiquiri that does wake-up calls

A blended daiquiri that merges rum, dark crème de cacao, lime juice and loads of crushed ice. It cools you off while perking you up.

Classic Mint Julep

julep cup with crushed ice and a mint sprig garnish — The most very classic whiskey Mint Julep

Whiskey, simple syrup and a modicum of walloped mint leaves: A bare-bones drink that feels like the essence of a sultry summer afternoon.

Batida Rosa

balloon glass with egg-white froth and an orange-peel ribbon — Oh, cachaça can do so much more than make caipirinhas

Shimmering a dusky-red hue and oh-so-very refreshing, this cocktail with pineapple juice and grenadine proves that the Brazilian spirit cachaça plays well in myriad sandboxes.

Vodka Gimlet

martini glass on a metal tray with a lime wheel garnish — The gimlet will put a sparkle in your eyes

Traditionalists will cry foul, noting this classic should feature gin rather than vodka. Screw 'em. Drink what you like, and you will very much like this simple cocktail with lime juice, sugar and, yes, vodka.

Rosemary Mezcal Fizz

two tall glasses filled with orange-ish liquid topped with egg-white foam and a rosemary sprig — The heftier, more refreshing side of mezcal

A mild squishing of a handful of rosemary leaves begins the process for making this lively drink. The piney edge of the rosemary complements the smoky whir of the drink's mezcal core. A touch of lemon juice adds pluck, and an egg white provides frothy ballast. Bonus: This recipe makes two drinks.

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Scott Hocker is an award-winning freelance writer and editor at The Week Digital. He has written food, travel, culture and lifestyle stories for local, national and international publications for more than 20 years. Scott also has more than 15 years of experience creating, implementing and managing content initiatives while working across departments to grow companies. His most recent editorial post was as editor-in-chief of Liquor.com. Previously, he was the editor-in-chief of Tasting Table and a senior editor at San Francisco magazine.