Our Favorite NA & One Liquor Summer Cocktails
Summer nights should be simple. Whether we’re planning a date night for two or planning to host a few of our friends for a backyard get together, we aren’t enthusiastically preparing multiple courses or looking for shock factor. We want easy elegance in our decor, the cuisine, and in the cocktails that we’re mixing up for the occasion.
On these nights, we opt for a one liquor summer cocktail, something that we can whip up with ingredients that we already have on hand. Trust us, simple doesn’t have to be boring. Our favorite summer cocktails make a major impact without all of the fuss! And to make summer celebrations even easier, we now carry two great cocktail Mixers in the shop, SPLASH and Morris Kitchen. Handcrafted mixer + spirit, what is easier then that?!
Along with the mixers, our newest book in the shop, Zero Proof is filled with over 90 NA recipes enabling you to enjoy the complexity of a crafted cocktail without the alcohol! Trust us, these recipes are incredibly tasty and hit the spot!
Be sure to check out all our fun Vintage glasses in shop + online to mix up your summer drinks in. Now lets dive into our favs!
The Best NA & One Liquor Summer Cocktails
Blood Orange Paloma
Palomas are the perfect summer cocktail, combining the sour-sweet taste of citrus with the bite of a smooth tequila. This variation of the paloma focuses on blood orange, a fruit that is not only dripping with lush sweetness, but also beautiful in color, the perfect garnish. The basic recipe for this cocktail is one part tequila and 2 parts blood orange sparkling water. We like to pump up the volume by adding a chili lime salt rim for an interesting flavor combination.
NA The Swashbuckle
“Light and fruity start, with a slight dryness at the end, the Swashbuckle is a winsome drink wrapped in a caress of orange blossom.” Zero Proof
When the days become unbearably hot, we turn to a quick cocktail to keep us cool. When we want to do one better, we turn that cocktail into a slush. Think about it, your favorite fruity flavors and your liquor of choice blended together and frozen into an icy treat. One of our go-to summer selections is rhubarb, that sour vegetable that pairs so well with sugar, as it never gets overly sweet. It also results in a beautiful color. We all know the aesthetics of a cocktail are just as important as the taste! The best part - you can sip this slush or scoop it with a spoon!
NA Grove & Tonic
“Rose layers on top of Rosemary'; peach amplifies grapefruit: Jeremy La Blanche’s Grove & Tonic is bursting with summer freshness. Infusing Seedlip with peach herbal tea introduces several expressive aromas, while pink tinted ice cubes make this a head turning cocktail.” Zero Proof
Punch is a great cocktail for entertaining in the summer. You can create a large batch before guests arrive, and offer it up as a self-serve option. This recipe for a watermelon gin punch caught our attention immediately, as watermelon is such a nostalgic summer flavor and becomes almost botanical when mixed with gin. With a bit of mint involved, you can bet this cocktail will become a quick favorite among your friends and family. And if you want to make it for yourself on a random Wednesday night...we’ll never tell.
NA Pamplemousse
“Camille Vida’s Pamplemousse is a classy Mediterranean -style gin & tonic, made all the more elaborate by being non-proof. Camille’s grapefruit- rose- rosemary honey brings gin’s aromatics to mind while London Essence tonic delicate tones close out the experience with a crisp finish." Zero Proof
While we’re on the thought of herbal cocktails and our fixation with mint, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention a mint julep in this list. The depth of a sophisticated bourbon mixes perfectly with the freshness of mint to create this classic cocktail. Here’s our twist - this one is frozen. You’ll need some ice and a blender to make this at home, but you won’t need much else. We’ve linked the whole four ingredient recipe above.
NA Tea Tonic
“ The homemade sous vide pineapple tea in David Paz’s Tea Tonic lends this drink a lilting, aromatic freshness. Delicate and fruity, this cocktail makes the perfect companion to spring parties and long summer nights.” Zero Proof
Which of these cocktails are you going to try first? Tag us in a photo of your creation on social media, or share your favorite recipes in our DMs!