We Just Revealed the Drink of the Summer—Here Are 7 Runners-Up Worth Trying, Too

In addition to the glorious return of farmers’ market season and the colorful debut of tulips in our garden, there’s one spring tradition that we look forward to every year: predicting the Drink of Summer. To help us land on tasty viral hits like 2023’s Hugo Spritz and 2024’s The Lone Ranger, we speak to mixologists from across the country to discover what flavors, drink categories, and techniques they’re consuming.

As we narrow down the options, we keep several factors in mind. Thanks to TikTok, Instagram, and the rapid information-sharing environment, trends come and go quickly—but we aim to select a drink of summer that stands the test of time. And while we’re certainly crushing on cocktails like the Crisp Martini (aka Savvy B Martini, made popular by Hillstone restaurants), that’s already on everyone’s radar: Our goal is to introduce you to something new! The Drink of Summer must be easy to order out or recreate at home. In other words, we’re not going to ask you to special order a bottle you’ll only use for this drink, and we’ll leave the fat-washing to the pros. Lastly—and most importantly—the drink of summer must be delicious!

With all of these considerations in mind (and taking into account insights from 52 drink pros from coast to coast) we just crowned the Spa Spritz as the Drink of Summer 2025. Think of it as an Aperol Spritz’s sophisticated, citrusy, and slightly-floral cousin, with some stress-relieving spa water vibes, courtesy of slices of fresh citrus and cucumber and a few leaves of fresh basil.

7 ‘Drink of Summer’ Runners-Up to Add to Your Happy Hour

We’re already looking forward to sipping on a Spa Spritz after work today, and can’t wait for you to try it, too. That said, it was a tough call between this spritz recipe and the other Drink of Summer contenders. Here at BHG, we’re not about gatekeeping, so we wanted to let you in on our secret: the runners-up that almost made the cut… and are still extremely worthy of a place on your patio happy hour menu.

Read on to learn how to make each of the runners-up that were almost crowned Drink of Summer 2025.

1. Spicy Blood Orange Margarita

Besides a continued collective craving for all things spritzy, one other spirit seemed to rise to the top when we asked drink pros, “What’s hot?” 

“Summer 2025 promises to be a great year for the freshest and simplest takes on classic cocktails,” says Jennifer Brian, spirits expert and author of Classic Cocktail Revival. “Agave and tequila products are leading the pack. The current global tequila market was just under $12 billion for 2024 and is predicted to grow to a staggering $18.5 billion by 2032. That’s a lot of tequila and mezcal.”

If you ask Sean McAllister, food and beverage operations manager for ELWAY’S, one of the best ways to enjoy tequila this summer is in a zippy margarita made with “fresh, bright, natural ingredients.” Here’s how to make his signature spicy marg (which reminds us of our new Cowboy Margarita recipe!)

In a cocktail shaker filled partially with ice, add 1 ½ ounces blanco tequila, ¾ ounce Grand Marnier (or another orange-flavored liqueur), ¼ ounce Campari, ¾ ounce fresh blood orange juice, ¾ ounce fresh lime juice, ¼ ounce simple syrup, and 2 jalapeño slices. Shake vigorously, then strain into a Tajín-rimmed rocks glass filled partially with ice. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and jalapeño.

2. Passion Fruit Mojito

People are “obsessed” with passion fruit, according to beverage expert Ariel Arce. Along with offering sweet-tart flavors, it exudes tropical island energy—which we’re certainly craving to transform any old evening into a staycation. 

Feature that flavor in this mojito riff by Fernando Mendoza, bartender at Beacon Social Drinkery Rooftop Bar: “Refreshing and citrusy, easy to craft and not too strong,” this drink of summer runner-up might make you feel like your toes are in the sand as you sip it.

 In a rocks glass, add 1 ounce fresh lime juice, 1 ½ ounces passion fruit purée, and 8 to 10 fresh mint leaves. Gently muddle until the mint is aromatic, then add 2 ounces white rum and ice. Finish with club soda to taste.

3. Scotch and Coconut Water

Additional island energy awaits in an ultra-easy cocktail recipe recommended by Nick Detrich, owner of Magdalena Bar.

“People are starting to come around to using coconut water in drinks again, as has been common throughout the Caribbean for ages,” he says. 

He’s especially fond of “the de facto national drink of Puerto Rico: scotch and coconut water,” and thinks it’s the perfect no-sweat sip. With just three ingredients, it couldn’t be easier to stir together this summer.

In a highball glass filled partially with ice, add 1 ½ ounces scotch and 3 ounces coconut water. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge.

4. Pisco Sour

Peruvians adore this frothy, citrusy, brandy-based drink so much that there’s a national holiday to celebrate it. Here in America, “the drink hasn’t hit critical mass yet, but I think it has the potential of the espresso martini,” says Ryan Castelaz, mixologist, author, and owner of Agency, the first-fully hybrid cocktail bar in the U.S.

The name comes from pisco, an amber-colored liquid that’s made from distilled fermented grape juice, and the cocktail recipe’s sour flavor (shout-out to the key lime juice!). It’s unique enough to impress at a party and showcases easily accessible flavors and ingredients, Castelaz tells BHG. Plus, it’s “super delicious, crazy easy to build, and perfectly refreshing for summer nights.”

In a cocktail shaker without ice, add 1½ ounces pisco , 1 ounce key lime juice, ¾ ounce simple syrup, and 1 egg white (or 1 tablespoon aquafaba for a plant-based alternative). Shake vigorously, then add ice and shake again. Strain into a rocks glass filled partially with ice. Garnish with 1 to 3 drops Angostura bitters.

5. Cucumber Collins

A “collins” is a category of cocktail made with a base spirit (typically gin), citrus juice, something sweet, and something bubbly. Michael Pickering, assistant general manager at DeMarco’s Italian, suggests an on-trend rendition that features ultra-popular, slightly smoky mezcal, and a flavor that makes in appearance in the Spa Spritz: cucumber. 

“Bright, refreshing—and very crushable if you’re not careful,” Pickering jokingly warns, the Cucumber Collins is best enjoyed on a patio alongside a pool or a beautiful sunset.

In a cocktail shaker filled partially with ice, add 1 ounce blanco tequila, 1 ounce mezcal, and 1 ounce fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled Collins glass filled partially with ice. Top with 2 ounces Fever-Tree cucumber tonic. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

6. Elderflower Gimlet

If gin is your jam, your Drink of Summer this year should be this “simple, elegant and refreshing,” cocktail from Autumn Miller, task force manager at the Fidelity Hotel. It also features a whisper of refreshing cucumber flavor, and tags in the key ingredient in our beloved Hugo Spritz: St. Germain elderflower liqueur.

In a cocktail shaker filled partially with ice, add 2 ¼ ounces gin, ½ ounce St. Germain, ½ ounce simple syrup, and ¾ ounce fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a thin cucumber ribbon, threaded onto a skewer.

7. Jungle Spritz

Channeling a spritz (which is “always in fashion” and “an effervescent and classy addition to any cocktail occasion,” according to Jessica Backhus, lead bartender at Wild Dunes Resort) and delivering major tropical energy, this mash-up recipe was a very close contender for our drink of summer. 

To bring it to life—and into your glass—Backhus merged the ideas of a spritz with a Jungle Bird, a rum-based cocktail that also features Campari and pineapple juice. The result is “a teasingly tropical, beautifully bubbly island escape in a glass,” Backhus says.

In a highball glass filled partially with ice, add 2 ounces dry sparkling wine, 2 ounces pineapple juice, 1 ½ ounce aged rum, and ½ ounce Select Aperitivo (or similar Italian bitter liqueur, such as Campari). Garnish with a lemon twist.