Margaritas, Mojitos And More Refreshing Cocktail Recipes

Spring is the time for picnics in the park, cheering on our favorite baseball teams and, of course, doing a lot of outdoor eating and drinking. Nothing truly says "spring" quite like shaking up a cocktail — or mocktail — or cracking open a cold one with your friends. Welcome back your favorite critters, flowers and warmth with these incredible spring beverages, and don't forget to fire up the grill while you're at it.

This recipe for a classic margarita can be made as is, or you can treat it as a blank canvas for other fun ingredients. Want the cocktail to be spicy? Muddle in some jalapeños. Prefer something sweet? Toss in puréed fruit. No matter which direction you choose to go, the cocktail is perfect to serve with any of these Mexican recipes.

For the Classic Margarita recipe, click here.

The bees are back in town! Nothing says spring quite like this bee's knees cocktail. The fragrant beverage is made with a blend of honey, lemon, gin and lavender. Its effervescent flavors will welcome warmer weather with the sweetest hello.

For the Bee's Knees Cocktail recipe, click here.

The easiest way to upgrade a Moscow mule is by adding a little bit of mango purée to it, like this recipe does. To make the purée, add the pulp of one to two mangoes to a blender with a little bit of lime juice and blend until smooth. You can also use the fresh fruit purée to make margaritas, mojitos, bellinis and more.

For the Mango Mule recipe, click here.

Sangria is an affordable way to make a pitcher of cocktails for a small crowd. Follow the wine to fruit ratios in this recipe but feel free to get creative with your ingredient choices. Use red or white wine and your pick of fruits — we like to use apples, pears and oranges.

For the Sangria recipe, click here.

Bellinis are an elegant cocktail to offer at any brunch or holiday event. If you're serving them during spring or summer, this recipe gives the beverage a fun tropical twist. Use mangos and raspberries in place of peach nectar and garnish the prosecco-based cocktail with a mint sprig.

For the Fresh Mango Raspberry Bellini recipe, click here.

Gin's citrusy flavors and spice from the juniper berries make it a perfect spirit for spring cocktails. This recipe mimics a Moscow mule by incorporating muddled mint and ginger beer, but it swaps the vodka for gin to give the beverage a botanical, springtime flare.

For the Gin Gin Mule recipe, click here.

Although palomas aren't as popular as margaritas, the bubbly refreshing beverage is a great way to quench your thirst this spring. The bright pink cocktail can be made with just three ingredients: tequila, grapefruit soda and lime juice. Add a salt or sugar rim if you're feeling sassy.

For the Paloma recipe, click here.

Despite its spooky name, this arsenic and old lace cocktail is a delight during the spring. Its delicate purple-blue color is achieved by combining orange bitters, crème de violette, dry vermouth gin and absinthe. The strong, yet sweet beverage is packed with layers of flavor.

For the Arsenic and Old Lace recipe, click here.

If you're a fan of kombucha, then you're going to love this cocktail. The fermented drink adds a subtle but welcomed tang to whiskey.

For the Kombucha Whiskey Ginger Smash recipe, click here.

You'll definitely need a frozen cocktail on the docket this spring season, and nothing fits the bill more than a strawberry daiquiri. The fruity drink is sweet, refreshing and so easy to make.

For the Strawberry Daiquiri recipe, click here.

The secret to a good spring cocktail is florals, florals and more florals. Here, elderflower liqueur and fresh grapefruit juice cut the vodka with citrusy and floral notes. Garnish the "spring fling" cocktail with crystallized hibiscus, an orchid flower or a dehydrated lemon wheel.

For the Spring Fling recipe, click here.

Get hydrated while you drink with this cucumber-coconut margarita, which is perfect for Cinco de Mayo. The drink is made with the usual suspects like tequila and lime juice but the addition of coconut water and cucumber will make you feel more refreshed with every sip.

For the Cucumber-Coconut Margarita recipe, click here.

Limoncello is a traditional Italian lemon liqueur that adds a bright and citrusy flavor to cocktails. You can find it at most stores, but if you feel ambitious, you can also make limoncello at home. In this recipe, combine your choice of citrus with one part limoncello and two parts Champagne. Top the beverage with club soda and you've got the perfect spring spritzer.

For the Limoncello Spritz recipe, click here.

Although margaritas are traditionally made with limes, this recipe is the perfect way to use up extra lemons and get a little creative. Use 3-ounces of freshly squeezed meyer lemon juice and mix it with the usual margarita suspects like tequila and triple sec.

For the Meyer Lemon Margaritas recipe, click here.

A base of muddled blackberries and simple syrup sets the tone for this cocktail that's made with fresh produce. Top it off with tequila, elderflower liqueur, crushed ice and fresh mint and you'll be saying "gimme mora" in no time.

For the Gimme Mora cocktail recipe, click here.

Mojitos are the essence of spring, the light cocktail uses vibrant and restorative flavors like mint and lime (mixed with a little bit of rum). You'll also need simple syrup to complete the cocktail, but you can make it at home by mixing 1/2 cup of granulated sugar with 1/2 cup of water in a pot over medium heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Once it cools down, add it to your cocktail shaker.

For the Mojito recipe, click here.

You should have at least one fabulous Carrie Bradshaw moment a year, and this citronge cosmopolitan is the perfect way to do so. The pink beverage is so easy to make and pairs perfectly with a decadent, chocolaty dessert for a night cap or romantic dinner for two.

For the Citrónge Cosmopolitan recipe, click here.

This is your sign to start making beverages with elderflower liqueur. The sweet elixir adds a floral, honeysuckle-like flavor to cocktails. In this elderflower spritz, it's mixed with Champagne, club soda and lemon. The light drink is perfect if you're craving a cocktail but don't want a lot of alcohol.

For the Elderflower Spritz recipe, click here.

If you're looking for something fun and low maintenance to sip on, make it this sherry cobbler cocktail. Sherry is a fortified wine, so it's higher in alcohol content than traditional wine because of the brandy. But in this drink it's cut with club soda, simple syrup and orange slices making it the perfect low alcohol cocktail to sip on after work.

For the Sherry Cobbler recipe, click here.

Aperol is an Italian bitter aperitif that brings a beautiful bright orange hue to any cocktail it's added to. It's most commonly used in a spritz, which is an ideal cocktail to keep under your belt thanks to its simple 3-2-1 ratio of prosecco, aperol and club soda. An aperol spritz is one of many easy cocktails that pair great with dinner.

For the Aperol Spritz recipe, click here.

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