4 Easy Summer Drink Ideas

On a sun-soaked afternoon or a hot muggy evening, a cool drink is a welcome treat. With simple summer drink ideas and easy recipes, you’ll have a range of delicious options – some of them literally on tap! These refreshing drinks will get you through the working-from-home days and pick you up on the put-your-feet-up weekends.

We’ve gathered a fresh menu of delightful summer drink ideas. From sparkling waters that fizz with flavour, to cocktails, mocktails and smoothies that’ll impress and hydrate your garden party guests.

Sweet and Strong Summer Cocktails

Don’t let pub garden envy or festival fomo get to you – bring the party to your own backyard. With our cold drink ideas for summer, you can skip the siesta and stay cool throughout the hot afternoons.

Making an amazing cocktail at home doesn’t have to be daunting. All you need are a few summer cocktail ideas, a trusty drink mixing set and few choice ingredients. Have a look at the Lakeland Cocktail Kit Guide and make sure you’ve got everything you need.

Recipe: Cherry Bakewell Cocktail

Perfect For: This delightful Cherry Bakewell Cocktail is a tribute to the classic British tart. It’s the perfect meeting point in the Ven diagram of sweet treat and alcoholic drink. The cherry, almond and vanilla flavours are sure to impress guests and spark many more summer cocktail ideas – lemon drizzle anyone?

Ingredients:

50 ml amaretto liqueur
25 ml cherry brandy
50 ml cranberry juice
10 ml vanilla syrup
Ice cubes
Maraschino cherries

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, combine the amaretto liqueur, cherry brandy, cranberry juice, and vanilla syrup. Add a handful of ice cubes.
Shake the mixture vigorously for about 15-20 seconds until well chilled.
Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass or a rocks glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a few sliced maraschino cherries.

Dazzling Drinks from Sparkling Water Makers

SodaStream are changing what it means to pop the fizz! When you transform flat tap water into a bubbly drink, you’re making the perfect base for a whole range of refreshing summer drinks.

You can have Pepsi, 7Up lemonade or sparkling tonic water at the press of a button. But why stop at the classics? Be adventurous and throw some extra ingredients in for a signature SodaStream creation. Our summer drink ideas will see you adding fruit slices, fresh juice or spirits and cocktail-making liquors to your SodaStream drinks.

You won’t just be creating fun and refreshing summer drinks; you’ll also be helping to reduce waste. Bringing one of these SodaStream sparkling water machines home could replace up to 1,200 single-use plastic bottles and cans a year. That’s worth a toast!

Recipe: Bitter Orange Spritz

Perfect For: Sparkling water makers are a great way to encourage healthier drinking habits, as it’s easy and fun to add fresh fruit and juice to your SodaStream drinks. These summer drink ideas are low-calorie and full of vitamins. You can find plenty more of them in SodaStream’s official online recipe book.

Ingredients

500 ml of sparkling water
60 ml of Soda Press Co. Old Fashioned Lemonade syrup
6 fresh passionfruit
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
Ice cubes

Method

Cut the 6 passionfruit in half and pass them through a sieve to extract the juice. Place the pulp aside for at the end.
In 4 rocks glasses add a of our reusable ice cubes and a teaspoon of the passionfruit juice, 15ml of Soda Press Co. Old Fashioned Lemonade syrup and top with 125ml of sparkling water in each glass.
Garnish each drink with a sprig of thyme and if you like it pulpy, scoop a teaspoon of the reserved passionfruit pulp over the top.

Make Way for Mocktails

More and more of us are coming to appreciate the beauty of a well-made mocktail. They offer all the flavour and excitement of cocktails, without the guilt and the headache. These cold drink ideas for summer events are sure to keep everyone hydrated and happy on hot days, at any time of day.

Mocktails are all about inclusivity, creativity and making the most of seasonal produce. Use ice cubes popped from the tray, freshly peeled fruit swirls and herb sprigs to make your concoctions look the part. Depending on the mocktail recipe you’re following, our outdoor glassware may provide the perfect acrylic look, including this sturdy party-friendly highball tumbler.

One of the wonderful things about mocktails is how easy they are to make at home. With a few key tools from Lakeland’s barware range, you can turn your kitchen into a mocktail bar in no time.

So, join us in shaking up your routine and raising a glass to these delicious non-alcoholic drinks.

Recipe: Summer Strawberry Mocktail

Perfect For: Mocktails are perfect for non-drinkers, designated driver and kids. They’re also great for anyone who wants to enjoy a delicious, refreshing drink without the effects of alcohol.

Ingredients

200 g fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
250 ml sparkling water
Ice cubes
Fresh mint leaves and a strawberry slice for garnish

Method:

In a blender, combine the fresh strawberries, honey or agave syrup, and lime juice. Blend until smooth.
For a smoother texture, strain the blended strawberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds and pulp.
In a tall glass, add a few ice cubes. Pour in the strained strawberry mixture until the glass is about halfway full. Top up with sparkling water and stir gently to combine.
Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of strawberry on the rim of the glass for a touch of elegance.

Smoothies that Nourish and Refresh

Smoothies are the perfect way to blend up your favourite fruits and veggies into a refreshing, nutrient-packed summer drink. Ideal for breakfast, a mid-afternoon energy boost or even sweet treat after dinner, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore our smoothie recipes.

You can customise each recipe to your taste preferences or just to use up whatever’s in the fruit bowl. Add some protein powder or Greek yogurt for an extra boost, or throw in some leafy greens for a healthy twist.

Recipe: Cucumber Smoothie

Perfect For: This Cucumber Smoothie is perfect for those who want a light, hydrating drink that’s full of fresh, crisp flavours. Ideal for a mid-morning refresher or a post-workout cool down, all you need to make this smoothie is a reliable juicer.

Ingredients:

1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 green apple, cored and sliced
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup cold water
Ice cubes
Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Method:

In a juicer, combine the chopped cucumber, green apple, Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice and cold water. Blend until smooth.
Add a handful of ice cubes and blend again until the mixture is cold and frothy.
Pour the smoothie into a tall glass.
Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve immediately.

With these delicious summer drink ideas, you’ll be ready to impress your guests and make the most of the sunny days ahead. So, why not start experimenting with these ideas and discover your new favourite summer drink? Cheers to a delightful summer with Lakeland!