Mastering the Poolside Cocktail

There is nothing better than sitting by the pool on a hot summer’s day, with a cocktail, of course.

Something about this scenario makes booze taste better, but mastering the perfect poolside cocktail can be difficult. For our home bartenders, we have rounded up a few things to keep in mind when creating poolside cocktails.

Balancing Sweetness

Pool cocktails have the stigma of being overly sweet and overly sugary. The sweetness of a cocktail will be dependent on who is drinking it. If you ever run into the case where the cocktail you’ve made is on the sweeter side, add a few drops of bitters to balance the flavor. There are tons of variations and flavors of bitters on the market, so it may even add a nice twist.

For those who like their drinks extra sweet and need a little more, add syrup to the cocktail. Whether it’s a simple syrup or a flavored one, it’s an easy fix. You could even add a liqueur to a not-sweet enough cocktail.

Refreshing Cocktails

In the summer, and by the pool especially, having a refreshing cocktail is a must. Save the cinnamon and rosemary for the winter, and let’s bring out the mint and cucumber. It’s also crucial to keep the drinks well chilled in the heat. You can even get fancy with ice cubes and infuse them with summer flavors. Add herbs and fruit into ice cubes trays; it’ll not only keep the drink refreshing, but it’ll add a little flavor to the cocktail.

Tiki Cocktails

Summer screams tiki cocktails. A tropical drink is a sweet addition to any pool day. When creating tiki cocktails, start with rum. Not all tiki drinks contain rum, but with tropical-inspired cocktails, rum makes a good base. Tiki cocktails that work in the summer usually have fresh juice or layered flavors. Pineapple, orange, or passion fruit juice all add a tropical flavor to any tiki cocktail. The next thing to keep in mind is adding spices or herbs. This addition can come from the item itself, or syrups and flavored liqueurs can add it as well.

Mix it Up

An easy way to add a crisp kick to a summer cocktail is using fresh-pressed juices or purées. Homemade will always provide optimal flavor, but some brands offer garden-fresh ingredients. Swapping out store-bought peach juice with a peach purée can elevate the taste of a cocktail.

Here are some of our favorite pool cocktails.

Peachy Keen Margarita

The Gin Game

Golden Dawn

Mai Tai