10 Easy Spring Cocktail Recipes to Celebrate the Season

As the winter chill gives way to warm sunshine and cool breezes, there’s no better time to brush up on a few easy spring cocktails to kick off the season right. After all, springtime is all about fresh beginnings. What better time to update your mixed drink repertoire?

From Easter celebrations to backyard cookouts, a well-curated cocktail menu will keep spirits high and guests satiated. And it never hurts to have a few go-to cocktail ideas for your own pleasure!

You don’t need a mixology degree to make impressive, bar-worthy concoctions. All our spring cocktail recipes are as easy-breezy as spring, but you wouldn’t know it by the taste.

Ready to plan the season’s bubbly and boozy bevs? Follow this handy recipe guide to 10 simple and satisfying springtime sippers.

1. Lemon Lavender Gin Rickey

Flowers, citrus, and gin are all springy staples, and this twist on a classic cocktail combines them all in beautiful harmony.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz gin
• 2 oz unflavored seltzer water
• 2 oz lemon juice (freshly squeezed, please)
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 lemon wedge
• 1 sprig lavender

Directions:

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, honey, and lemon juice. 
2. Shake vigorously.
3. Strain into an ice-filled glass.
4. Top with seltzer water.
5. Garnish with a sprig of lavender and lemon wedge.

2. Spiked Southern Sweet Tea

Some of the best spring cocktail recipes are simply spiked versions of beloved spring drinks. As far as easy spring cocktails go, it doesn’t get much easier than that! 

This recipe makes around a gallon of goodness—perfect for filling a pitcher and letting guests serve themselves. We recommend using Mason jars for glasses for a homey feel.

Ingredients:

• 12 black tea bags
• 4 cups boiling water
• 6 cups cold water
• 1 cup sugar (more or less to taste)
• 3 cups crushed ice
• 24 oz bourbon
• Plenty of lemon or orange slices and mint sprigs

Directions:

1. Add tea bags and sugar to boiling water. Steep for at least 5 minutes.
2. Remove tea bags.
3. Pour the tea into a heat-proof pitcher.
4. Add bourbon, cold water, and ice.
5. Stir well.
6. Garnish individual glasses with a citrus slice and mint sprig.

3. Watermelon Margarita

Many spring cocktail recipes also work wonderfully for summertime entertaining. This is undoubtedly one of them. This refreshing marg looks gorgeous with its pinkish-red hue, and it sure goes down easy.

Ingredients (8 Servings):

• 16 oz blanco tequila 
• 8 cups cubed watermelon
• 2 tbsp simple syrup (more, less, or none to taste)
• ⅔ cup lime juice (freshly squeezed, please)
• ¼ cup kosher salt
• 1 tsp coarse sugar
• 1 tsp tajin seasoning or chili powder (optional)
• 4 lime wedges
• 8 small watermelon slices

Directions: 

1. Blend watermelon into a liquid. Strain if desired.
2. Blend the liquid watermelon with tequila and lime juice (and ice if you prefer frozen spring cocktail recipes).
3. Combine salt, sugar, and seasoning on a plate.
4. Wet the rims of each glass with lime. Dip rims into the seasoning blend.
5. Fill glasses with ice and margarita. 
6. Garnish with lime wedges and watermelon slices.

4. Cucumber Gin and Tonic

No list of easy spring cocktails is complete without a proper G & T! While there’s certainly nothing wrong with the tried-and-true classic, adding cucumber slices really gives this recipe a springtime flavor that’s subtle, light, and refreshing.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 4 oz tonic water
• Thinly sliced cucumber (we recommend English cucumbers)
• Lime or lemon wedges (optional)
• Black olives (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add gin.
3. Top with tonic water. 
4. Stir gently.
5. Place 2-3 cucumber slices on top.
6. Garnish with citrus or olives, if desired.

5. Bay Breeze

This is another one of those spring cocktail recipes that pops in summer, too. It’s like a vacation in a glass!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 3 oz cranberry juice
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• Lime wheels and pineapple wedges

Directions: 

1. In an ice-filled highball glass, combine vodka and juices.
2. Stir.
3. Garnish with lime wheels and pineapple wedges.

6. Appletini

Maybe you know how to mix the perfect martini, but is it neon green? This one sure is! This may not be the swankiest cocktail on the list, but sometimes you just want to treat yourself to something sweet. 

The candy of cocktails, this fun spring cocktail recipe isn’t for everyone. But if you have a sweet tooth, it might just surprise you.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz apple schnapps
• ½ oz simple syrup (more or less to taste)
• 1 oz lemon juice (freshly squeezed, please)
• Maraschino cherries and sliced green apples

Directions: 

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
2. Add vodka, apple schnapps, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake vigorously.
4. Pour into a martini glass.
5. Garnish with maraschino cherries and green apple slices.

7. Dark and Stormy

Here, we have one of the easiest spring cocktails. But what it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up for in flavor. Sometimes, the best spring cocktail recipes are beautiful in their simplicity, and this is one of them.

This recipe is for a classic dark and stormy. Pineapple juice is a popular addition, so feel free to add some if you’re in the mood for a tropical twist!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz dark rum
• 3 oz ginger beer
• ½ oz lime juice (freshly squeezed, please)
• Wedge of lime

Directions:

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Add ginger beer and lime juice.
3. Top with dark rum. Don’t stir (the presentation of contrasting colors is lovely).
4. Garnish with lime wedge.

8. Peach Bellini

Another one of those spring cocktail recipes that also shines in the summer, a peach bellini packs big flavor and glows vibrant orange-yellow. With no liquor, this is a wonderful option if you’re looking for something light to pair with a springtime brunch.

Ingredients (6 Servings):

• 1 bottle sparkling white wine
• ½ cup peach schnapps
• 1 lb peaches (fresh or frozen)
• ¼ cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)

Directions:

1. Blend peach schnapps, peaches, and strawberries thoroughly.
2. Fill each glass halfway with peach mixture.
3. Top with sparkling white wine.
4. Garnish with peaches and strawberries.

9. Mint Julep

If you’re seeking easy spring cocktails with whiskey, this Kentucky Derby classic is sure to please. While we do recommend serving all these spring cocktail recipes in the proper glassware if possible, a rocks glass will work just fine if you don’t have a julep cup.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• ¼ oz simple syrup
• 8-10 mint leaves
• Mint sprig
• Bitters (optional)

Directions:

1. In a julep cup (or rocks glass), muddle the simple syrup and mint leaves.
2. Add bourbon. 
3. Pack the cup tightly with crushed ice.
4. Stir thoroughly.
5. Garnish with mint sprig and 2-3 drops of bitters (if desired).

10. Cherry Blossom

A perfect balance between sweet and tart, the cherry blossom is a cross between a margarita and a daiquiri. Like many spring cocktail recipes, you can serve it over ice or blended with ice to make a frozen treat.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 oz blanco tequila 
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• 1 oz lime juice
• ¼ oz grenadine
• Coarse salt
• Maraschino cherries
• Sliced grapefruit

Directions:

1. Pour tequila, juices, and grenadine into an ice-filled shaker.
2. Shake vigorously.
3. Pour into a salt-rimmed martini glass.
4. Garnish with maraschino cherries and sliced grapefruit.

Presentation Matters

These easy spring cocktails are sure to tantalize your taste buds and delight your guests! Now that you have some inspiration for your cocktail menu, it’s time to take care of the other half of the equation—presentation! After all, spring cocktail recipes just taste better when they’re served properly. We eat (and drink) with our eyes!

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place to get your cocktail spread ready for springtime festivities. We offer a wide variety of handcrafted unique barware, as well as bowls, utensils, and trays and platters for your accouterments. Don’t wait to get your home bar essentials for the season.

Need a little inspiration? Check out our Animal, Blossom, and Butterfly collections for pieces with springy vibes. To bring a touch of nature to your tablescape, consider wooden products from our Ginkgo and Sierra collections.

Shop Elevated Serveware Essentials 

We hope this guide to spring cocktail recipes is helpful as you plan your party. Now, we invite you to browse our stainless steel serveware. These timeless household staples will get lots of use long after spring has come and gone. In fact, they’ll last for life!

With spring comes transformation. It’s the perfect time to refresh your household essentials with high-quality tableware that enhances your lifestyle. Every product we make is a functional work of art to treasure and keep in the family for generations.

For more entertaining tips, follow our tableware blog. From easy spring cocktails to non-alcoholic cocktail recipes for New Year’s parties, we can help you plan a world-class drink menu, and that’s just the start! We also provide food recipes, gift ideas, decorating inspiration, and so much more.

Enjoy these spring cocktail recipes, ideally surrounded by loved ones. Make the most of every moment. Discover fine serveware by Mary Jurek Design.