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Memorial Day Cocktails: Celebrate the long weekend with these delicious drinks!

From simple recipes to more elevated drinks, these delectable cocktails promise to get the party started.


Daniel Neira
Daniel Neira - Los Angeles
Senior WriterLos Angeles
MAY 25, 2022 11:20 AM EDT

Memorial Day is around the corner, which means warmer weather is coming and summertime is not too far. So to kick off our favorite time of the year and start the long awaited three-day weekend in the right way, we made a list of the most delicious cocktails that will make you say cheers to the lonk weekend!

From simple recipes to more elevated drinks, these delectable cocktails promise to get the party started or help you get into the right vibe with your friends and family.

Heather Flower Highball© Old Pulteney

Heather Flower Highball

  • 1 ½ oz Old Pulteney 12 Year Old
  • 1 oz Heather Flower Syrup*
  • 2 oz Club Soda Bar spoon of fresh Lemon Juice Garnish with Lemon Twist
  • Directions: Build in a glass over ice and top with Club Soda. Garnish with a lemon twist.
1800 Smoky Coconut Sour© 1800 Tequila

1800 Smoky Coconut Sour

  • 2 oz 1800 Coconut Tequila
  • .75 oz lemon juice
  • .25 oz of chipotle infused agave
  • .5 oz coconut water
  • 8 drops of Memphis BBQ Bitters
  • Bar spoon of grenadine for color
  • Orange Slices

Directions: In a shaker tin, combine 1800 Coconut Tequila, lemon juice, chipotle infused agave, coconut water, bitters, and grenadine. Fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a double rocks glass and garnish with an orange and cherry flag.

Moonlight in Vermont© Speyburn

Moonlight in Vermont

  • 2 oz Speyburn 10 Year Old
  • ½ oz demerara syrup
  • 3 dashes apple bitters
  • 1 dash black walnut bitters

Directions: Combine ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice and stir for 20 – 30 sec. Strain over a large piece of ice in a rocks glass.

Perfect Paloma© Patron

Patron Perfect Paloma

  • 1.5 oz Patrón Reposado
  • 3 oz Fresh grapefruit juice
  • .5 oz Agave syrup (1:1) .
  • 5 oz Fresh-squeezed lime juice
  • 1 oz Sparkling water + Sugar and salt for rimming + Grapefruit wedge for garnish

Method: Combine all ingredients except sparkling water in a shaker tin and shake with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a sugar and salt rimmed collins glass. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

1800 Coconut Ginger Mint Lemonade© 1800 Tequila

1800 Coconut Ginger Mint Lemonade

  • 2 oz 1800 Coconut Tequila
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • .5 oz simple syrup
  • .25 oz homemade ginger juice*
  • 3-4 piece of mint Soda water

Directions: In a highball glass, combine 1800 Coconut Tequila, fresh lemon juice, simply syrup and homemade ginger juice. Top with soda water and with mint.

VOLCAN MARGARITA© Volcan Blanco Tequila

VOLCAN MARGARITA

  • 2 oz Volcan Blanco Tequila
  • 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • ¾ oz Agave Syrup
  • Salt & Lime for Rim

Directions: Combine your tequila and lime juice, and agave syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until it is mixed and chilled. Garnish with a slice of lime. Blend together lime and salt in a small blender, place the mixture on a plate. Press the rim of a glass into it to rim the edge. Strain margarita into the glass

BELVEDERE BLACKBERRY & LEMONGRASS SPRITZ© BELVEDERE

BELVEDERE BLACKBERRY & LEMONGRASS SPRITZ

  • 1¼ oz Belvedere Blackberry & Lemongrass
  • ¼ oz Dry Vermouth
  • 1 tsp Honey Water (1:1)
  • 2 oz Dry Sparkling Wine
  • 2 Fresh Blackberries for garnish
  • Sprig of Mint for garnish

Directions: Place all ingredients in Spritz glass over cubed ice and stir gently to combine. Garnish with blackberries and a sprig of mint. Optional: Lightly crush berries and mint to release more flavor.

BACARDI Rum Punch Group Serve© Bacardi

BACARDÍ Rum Punch Group Serve

  • 6 oz BACARDÍ Superior Rum
  • 3 oz BACARDÍ Black Rum
  • 1 ½ oz grenadine
  • 6 oz orange juice
  • 6 oz pineapple juice
  • 3 oz cranberry juice

Method: Mix all ingredients together in a punch bowl and serve over cubed ice in individual highball glasses. Garnish with lemon slices.

Nessie© Caorunn Gin

Nessie

  • 2 oz. Caorunn Gin
  • 3 oz. East Imperial Burma Tonic
  • 1 slice of peeled ginger
  • 8 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 large swath of fresh orange peel

Directions: Build the cocktail by pouring the Caorunn gin and East Imperial Burma Tonic into a stemless wine glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with 1 slice of fresh ginger, 8 whole black peppercorns, lightly pressed with a wooden muddler to open then up slightly and one large swath of fresh orange peel. Use the orange peel to express orange oils directly over the mouth of the glass and then drop the expressed peel into the glass.

BARRILITO SOUR© RON DEL BARRILITO

BARRILITO SOUR

  • 2 OZ. RON DEL BARRILITO 3 STARS
  • ¾ OZ. FRESH LIME JUICE
  • ¾ OZ. CHERRY SYRUP
  • 1 DASH ANGOSTURA BITTERS
  • CHERRY GARNISH

Method: For the cherry syrup, use the liquid from bottled or canned cherries. Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously during 10 seconds. Strain mix into a chilled old fashioned glass. Garnish with cherry.

PATRON Anejo Highball© PATRÓN

PATRÓN Añejo Highball

  • 1.5 oz Patrón Añejo
  • 5 oz Club soda
  • Orange twist

Method: Fill a highball or collins glass with ice, the clearest and coldest available. Add Patrón Añejo and club soda, stir gently from the bottom up. Garnish with an expressed peel of orange.

1800 Coconut Chiapas Palm© 1800 Tequila

1800 Coconut Chiapas Palm

  • 2 oz 1800 Coconut Tequila
  • 1.5 oz cane sugar
  • .5 oz dry vermouth
  • .5 oz grapefruit
  • 1 tbsp blackberries
  • Slice of honeydew Melon log and cherry for garnish

Directions: Add honeydew and blackberried to a shaker, followed by 1800 Coconut Tequila, cane sugar, dry vermouth and grapefruit. Shake and strain into rocks glass over ice. Garnish with melon log and cherry.

PATRON Reposado and Soda© Patron

PATRÓN Reposado and Soda

  • 2 oz Patrón Reposado
  • 3 oz Soda + Lime wedge for garnish

Method: Combine ingredients in an ice-filled highball glass and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Jilo Old Fashioned© Nixta Licor de Elote

Jilo Old Fashioned

  • 2 oz Abasolo Ancestral Corn Whisky
  • 0.5 oz Nixta Licor de Elote
  • 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Method: Add Abasolo, Nixta and bitters to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until cold and diluted. Zest citrus over rocks glass and add fresh ice. Strain drink into glass, roll zest into attractive curls and lay garnish atop the ice.

BACARDI Life's A Beach Group Serve© Bacardi

BACARDÍ Life’s A Beach Group Serve

  • 9 oz BACARDÍ Añejo Cuatro Rum
  • 4 ½ oz Real® passionfruit puree-infused syrup
  • 4 ½ oz lime juice 9 oz coconut water

Method: Mix all ingredients together in a punch bowl and serve in highball glasses cubed over ice. Garnish with a pineapple leaf and/or pineapple wedge.

Carajillo© Nixta Licor de Elote

Carajillo

  • 1.5 oz Nixta Licor de Elote
  • 4 oz Cold Brew 1 oz Cream (Optional)
  • .25 oz Rich Simple Syrup

Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker. Shake vigorously and strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with freshly grated cinnamon.

Glenmorangie X Sangria© Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie X Sangria

  • 200ml X by Glenmorangie
  • 100ml Lime Juice
  • 100ml Pineapple Juice
  • 150ml Sparkling Lemonade

Preparation: Pour ingredients into a pitcher. Fill with cubed ice. Garnish with orange and pear slices. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes, then enjoy.

Bella Donna© Speyside Scotch Whisky

Bella Donna

  • 1 oz. Speyburn Bradan Orach Speyside Single Malt
  • 1 oz. Barr Hill Gin .50 oz Bigallet China-China Liqueur
  • .75 oz. Macadamia nut orgeat*
  • .75 oz. fresh lime juice

Directions: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Shake vigorously for ten seconds. Fine strain the contents into an 8 oz rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with mango-ginger foam* and freshly grated nutmeg.

BETTY BUZZ PALOMA© BETTY BUZZ

BETTY BUZZ PALOMA

  • 1 Part Tequila or Mezcal
  • 3 Parts (1/2 Bottle) Betty Buzz Sparkling Grapefruit
  • Grapefruit Wedge
  • Tajin Seasoning

Method: Wet the rim of a highball glass with grapefruit wedge. Gently roll the rim of the glass in Tajin to lightly coat. Add ice to glass followed by tequila or mezcal and then top with Betty Buzz Sparkling Grapefruit and stir.

Smirnoff Miami Mule© Smirnoff

Smirnoff Miami Mule

  • 1.5 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
  • 4 oz Ginger Beer
  • 3 Lime Wedges

How to prepare: Combine Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka, ginger beer, and juice of two lime wedges in a copper mule mug. Stir to combine and garnish with a lime wedge.

Hello Johnnie & Lemon© Johnnie Walker

Hello Johnnie & Lemon

  • 50ml of Johnnie Walker Black Label
  • Tonic Water
  • Garnish: Lemon Zest or Orange Wedge

How to prepare: Fill the glass with ice cubes. Add 50ml of Johnnie Walker Black Label. Complete with tonic. Finish with lemon zest or an orange wedge.

Grand Margarita© Grand Margarita

Grand Margarita

  • 1 part Grand Marnier® Cordon Rouge
  • 1 part Tequila
  • .5 part Fresh Lime Juice
  • Ice cubes
  • Lime Garnish

Method: Fill a wide, shallow dish with 2-3 mm of fine salt. Cut a lime in half at the width and rub around half of the rim of a margarita glass. Cut a thin, crosswise slice from one of the lime halves for garnish. Holding glass upside down, dip wet half delicately into the salt. Shake Grand Marnier, tequila and lime juice with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into glass and apply lime garnish to the rim.