Summertime soirées call for refreshing beverages—and what beverage isn’t made better by homegrown ingredients? Whether it’s a floral take on a Manhattan, a citrusy watermelon cocktail, or margaritas embracing produce at their peak, you’re sure to find garden-fresh inspiration in the list below.
photo: Johnny Autry
Strawberry Fizz Cocktail
A celebratory sipper from Joe Stinchcomb of Saint Leo Lounge in Oxford, Mississippi. Get the recipe.
photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo
Fig Leaf Gimlet
Even a “failed” fig tree can shine in this garden-fresh drink. Get the recipe.
photo: MKC Photography
Mix Up Your Margarita Game with the Ring My Bell
This unique cocktail from Tuscaloosa brings a savory, pepper-forward flavor without the heat. Get the recipe.
illustration: John Burgoyne
Figs for Your Summer Cocktails
Why the fruit’s subtle sweetness and flavorful leaves make them ripe for sipping. Get the recipes.
photo: Courtesy of Bar Fontaine
A Different Kind of Catfish
This effervescent vodka, lemon, and basil cocktail comes straight out of the Mississippi Delta. Get the recipe.
photo: Johnny Autry
How to Make a Whiskey Smash
This cross between a mint julep and a whiskey sour just might be your new favorite cocktail. Get the recipe.
photo: COURTESY OF KINDRED
A Daytime Daiquiri
A lighter take on the classic from an acclaimed North Carolina restaurant. Get the recipe.
photo: Kelly Puleio
Mezcal Mule
Passionfruit for sweet, chile for heat, and mezcal for the X factor. Get the recipe.
photo: Johnny Autry
Watermelon-Cucumber Cooler
Cheetie Kumar adds a tangy rim of toasted spices to this refreshing summer cocktail. Get the recipe.
photo: Mia Yakel
A Spring Bourbon Tonic
Shake up your cocktail routine with a Queen Bee from Atlanta’s One Eared Stag. Get the recipe.
photo: Jessica Ebelhar
Full Sail
A perfect balance of sweet and spicy that’s ideal for summer gatherings. Get the recipe.
photo: Michael Pearce
A Floral Manhattan for Front-Porch Sipping
A lighter version of the classic, fresh out of Asheville. Get the recipe.
photo: Herd Provisions
A “Crushable” Summer Drink Starring Yuzu and Honeydew
Don’t forget the gin. Get the recipe.
photo: Kelsey Foster
Dirty Dill Martini
Tangy pickle juice takes this classic cocktail to a mouth-puckering new level. Get the recipe.
photo: courtesy of Hotel Drover
The Smokin’ Marg
A Fort Worth hotel mixes up a bold margarita perfect for summer. Get the recipe.
photo: Francisco Miranda
How to Turn Your Vegetable Garden’s Bounty into Cocktails
Three mixologist-crafted recipes that transform summer produce into an especially fresh cocktail hour. Get the recipes.
photo: Kirk Robert
Why a Beet Margarita Will Be Your New Favorite Cocktail
A classic cocktail gets a healthy pink flush courtesy of Charleston’s Basic Kitchen. Get the recipe.
photo: Melissa Guerra
What to Do with Prickly Purple Cactus Pears
First: Make a margarita. Get the recipe.
photo: Kelly Puleio
French Julep
Cognac and fig preserves put a tasty twist on the classic Derby-season cocktail. Get the recipe.
photo: Garnish Photography
Bufala Negra
An Italian Twist on the Mint Julep. Get the recipe.
photo: Bryn Dunbar
Stocking a Farm-to-Table Bar
Locavorism inspires the cocktail menu at Woodberry Kitchen. Get the recipe.
photo: Margaret Houston
A Summery Bourbon Cocktail
Herbs, peaches, and bourbon come together in this riff on an old-fashioned. Get the recipe.
photo: Stacey Van Berkel
Classic Cocktail: Redless Snapper
A gin-based version of the Bloody Mary. Get the recipe.
photo: Jonathan Sharpe
Gin and Tonic Season: Gin and Green Tomato Tonic
A splash of homemade pickling liquid lends a refreshing kick to this South Carolina cocktail. Get the recipe.
photo: Ron Manville
An End-of-Summer Sipper
Toast the season’s end with this watermelon cocktail from Nashville, Tennessee. Get the recipe.