We can’t live without these 10 essential Southern cocktails
When you think of Southern cocktails, mint juleps and old fashioneds instantly come to mind. While we love sipping on these cold, boozy drinks, we also love experimenting with new flavors in these classic cocktails. Here are some of our favorite Southern cocktails that are perfect for your next picnic or outdoor soiree.
Bourbon Prosecco Spritzer
In the South, we keep our bar cart permanently stocked with bourbon at all times. If you’re looking for a new way to use that bottle of bourbon we recommend trying this herbal, citrusy punch, which contains effervescent prosecco. We love garnishing this brightly colored beverage with edible flowers to make it even more festive for an outdoor gathering or party.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/bourbon-prosecco-spritzer
Cupid’s Cranberry Fizz
You can’t give a toast or start a celebration without a glass of bubbly. However, we prefer our bubbly to have a pop of color with it. In this cocktail recipe feel free to use whichever sparkling wine you prefer, whether it’s Champagne, prosecco, or cava. This drink was originally created to feature bitter marasca cherries from Northern Italy, and while delicious, they’re almost impossible to find in the United States, so we’ve substituted fresh cranberries instead.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/run-rudolph-run-cocktail
Frosé Y’all
We’ll admit it, we’re still obsessed with frosé! The boozy, adult version of a slushy is the perfect cocktail to keep you cool in the Southern heat. What makes it even more appealing is just how darn easy it is to put together. Using three simple ingredients you can blend up this drink in five minutes. This recipe from Willa Jean in New Orleans is a basic version; feel free to experiment with flavors by adding frozen strawberries, raspberries or peaches into the mix.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/frose-y-all
High Noon Old-Fashioned
Old-fashioneds hold a special place in our Southern hearts. The High Noon version takes everything we love about the cocktail, adds depth to the flavor palate, and starts a party in your mouth with each sip. We like to call this earthy, rich cocktail “Clint Eastwood in a glass.” Both the blackstrap molasses and the Havana and Hide 18.21 bitters lend leather, cigar and clove flavors making this classic drink taste like something a sophisticated cowboy might drink.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/high-noon-old-fashioned
Agave Margarita
Our take on a classic margarita requires no sour mix. Instead, the bright tartness from the lime, paired with the sweetness of the agave nectar, make a perfectly-balanced cocktail. The best thing about this margarita – aside from its simplicity – is that you can riff off the basic formula. If you want to make a raspberry margarita, puree up some fresh raspberries and add it to the mix, or swap in mezcal for a smokier taste. The possibilities are endless with this recipe!
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/agave-margarita
Jack and Coke Slushies
The creation of this recipe was a happy accident. Southern food and drink writer John Kessler was trying to make a Coke sorbet, “but could never get a texture that held in the freezer,” he said. One failed attempt created a Coke and lime slushie that his kids loved and so did Kessler. “I liked it well enough, but needed a little something to temper the sweetness,” he explained. “Then I saw that bottle of Jack Daniel’s …” We can’t think of a better drink to help us cool down this summer.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/170-coke-and-jack-slushies-from-john-kessler
Sweet Tea Mint Julep
Who knew pairing sweet tea and mint juleps could result is a delightful cocktail? The two signature Southern drinks complement each other and create a perfect cocktail for a Kentucky Derby party or even a 1920s speakeasy-themed soiree. While the traditional mint juleps can be too intense for some palates, adding sweet tea to the equation ensures a smoother experience, all while preserving the signature aromatics of bourbon and mint.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/sweet-tea-mint-julep
Vesper-style Mimosas
James Bond made the gin-based Vesper cocktail popular after it was his drink of choice in the 1953 novel Casino Royale. We’re giving the classic a bit of an update by turning it into a mimosa. Along with the gin and Champagne, you can use either Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano to add even more flavor to the cocktail. Lillet will provide more floral and citrusy notes, while Cocchi offers a slightly bitter finish. Plus we all know brunch isn’t complete without mimosas.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/vesper-style-mimosas
Lavender Collins
Sipping on a glass of lavender Collins is like sipping on a glass of spring. The gin-based cocktail has both citrusy and floral notes that are perfect for a garden party soiree. To enhance the notes of lavender in the cocktail we suggest using a floral, botanical gin, such as. St. George’s Botanivoire. We love garnishing this cocktail with fresh lavender to add a pop of color.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/lavender-collins
Maple Bourbon Smash
You don’t have to have a fully-stocked bar to create a great cocktail. Using only a bottle of bourbon and three ingredients you already have in your fridge, we’ve created this easy and festive cocktail. And at the end of the day, the last thing you want to make is a complicated cocktail. Luckily for you, this one only takes five minutes to prepare.
Get the recipe: https://www.southernkitchen.com/recipes/drink/maple-bourbon-smash