Some are pink and pretty, while others are more subdued. Either way, there’s such a wide variety to choose from, you might struggle to pick just one. No matter your tastes, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to find something here to enjoy – as long as you’re of legal drinking age, of course. So, without further ado, let’s check out these citrus cocktail recipes.
1. Charred Grapefruit and Basil Gin and Tonic
This is one of the most exciting gin and tonic recipes I’ve tried. First of all, the charred grapefruit makes it look fantastic. Furthermore, it also tastes amazing. It’s sweet and sour, with a hint of bitterness. You’ll even get notes of black licorice and basil. Despite its simple appearance, it has a very complex taste. So, give it a shot the next time you want to try something new.
2. Blood Orange Margaritas
These gorgeous red margaritas are strong, crisp, and refreshing with their sweetly tart taste and a salty rim. They’re light enough for summer, but their ruby color makes them a fun Halloween treat.
3. Triple Citrus Margarita
This bright yellow drink has style and panache! It combines orange juice, lime juice, and lemon juice, so it’s got the trifecta of citrusy goodness. There’s also tequila and triple sec, of course! It’s a strong drink with a taste that you can only describe as “zingy.” It’s tart, but it’s also cool and refreshing. Try it at your next summer brunch.
4. Lemon and Sage Moscow Mules
It’s difficult to beat a classic Moscow Mule, but this recipe might do it. It’s a bright, sparkling beverage with just enough sage to taste without it overwhelming everything. It’s citrusy and piney, and you’ll barely taste the alcohol. If you want to cool down in style this summer, give this recipe a try.
5. Limoncello Gin Collin
This simple, five-ingredient cocktail is essentially a classic Tom Collins with a twist. And what a bright, lemony twist it is! It tastes a bit like lemonade with a dash of strong liquor thrown in. It’s fizzy and tart, but the mint leaves also give it a pleasant fresh flavor.
6. Orange Blossom Citrus Mojitos
I love a good mojito! There’s no other drink that’s so refreshing, crisp, and versatile, too. This recipe features the same tingly, minty base. However, you’ll also add oranges and orange blossom water to the mix. My friend insists it tastes like orange Crush with mint. I think it tastes like a mojito with some orange juice mixed in. Either way, it’s pretty tasty.
7. Rosemary Greyhound Cocktail
This unique drink is light, piney, and the perfect balance of bitter and tart. It’s almost like drinking pure grapefruit juice, only spiked and with a dash of rosemary.
8. Sparkling Citrus, Lillet & Prosecco Punch
Sparkling Prosecco is the ideal spring brunch drink. It’s light, pink, bubbly, and delightfully sweet. Plus, it has a tingly, citrusy taste and isn’t strong enough to get you drunk. You can also adjust the flavor depending on the types of citrus juice you use. Use lemon juice for a tart cocktail, or combine blood orange and tangerine for something sweeter. You can even add a bit of grapefruit if you enjoy its bittersweet taste.
9. Blood Orange Negroni Cocktail – Rosemary No. 3
I love making cocktails with blood orange juice. The fruit just gives them such a bold, phenomenal color. And this drink, in particular, became a fast favorite of mine. It’s somewhat citrusy and sweet. However, the dry bitterness of the classic Negroni also shines through. And don’t be surprised if you taste the vermouth and gin. It’s a relatively strong drink, so sip it slowly. It may hit you faster than you think.
10. Blackberry-Lemon Mint Julep
This cold, crisp, berry-infused drink is hard not to love. There’s just something about the combination of blackberry and bourbon that’s impossible to resist. If you were to bottle a Southern summer, this drink would be the result. So, the next time you feel a warm summer breeze, make a big batch and head to the porch to listen to the cicadas.
11. Blood Orange Boulevardier Cocktail
Here’s another gorgeous blood orange-based drink. I know, I can’t help myself! But blood oranges are the perfect cocktail ingredient. Spoiler alert: This will not be the last blood orange recipe on this list. Consider yourself warned. So what sets this one apart from all the others? It’s strong and has a delectable, herby flavor underneath the citrus notes. It tastes best when served ice cold.
12. Clementine Ginger Cocktail
This golden drink is absolutely invigorating. It’s tart and tangy, and the rum goes down so smoothly. If clementines aren’t your thing, swap them out for oranges. Lemons work well, too, if you enjoy sour drinks.
13. Gin Fizz Cocktail
This fizzy drink looks like a glass of beer, but it isn’t. Instead, it’s a lemony, frothy gin fizz that’s dry and somewhat bitter with a slight sourness. There isn’t a ton of sweetness in it, but there’s a note or two. However, if fruity and sugary drinks are your style, this one probably won’t suit your tastes.
14. Classic French 75 Cocktail
This light, bubbly drink is a lovely choice for more formal occasions. It’s fizzy and citrusy but not overwhelmingly sweet. But don’t worry; it isn’t super tart either. It’s a medium-strength drink with a mild, lemon-n-gin flavor. Oh, and it looks fantastic in a flute with a twist!
15. Cantarito
This Mexican cocktail has a fun name and an even more fun presentation – when served traditionally; it comes in a clay pot. It has a bittersweet taste that’s heavy on the tequila, light on the citrus, and somewhere between sweet and tart, thanks to the grapefruit. The chili seasoning is optional, but add it in there anyway. I promise you won’t be disappointed. It adds a little spice and flavor that you don’t get with most cocktails. And it also gives it more of a “South of the Border” feel.
16. Elderflower Vodka Lemonade
No matter how you like your cocktails, I know you’ll love this four-ingredient recipe. It tastes like flowery lemonade, and since it’s so easy to make, you can quickly adjust it depending on how sweet or tart you want it. It takes five minutes to make and might become your new favorite summer cocktail.
17. Blood Orange Amaretto Sour
If you prefer your drinks on the sour side, this one will be a hit. It’s almost mouth-puckeringly tart with just a hint of sweetness. On the other hand, it’s not too strong, either. There’s just enough liquor in it to warm your belly. That said, it shouldn’t have you singing show tunes after just one glass.
18. Sidecar Cocktail
Unlike some drinks on this list, you don’t have to adjust the Sidecar recipe to make it a citrus cocktail. It already is one! And there’s a reason this simple mixture of lemon juice, Cognac, and orange liqueur has been around for so long: it’s clean, classic, and crazy-good. You’ll add lemon twists and sugar for serving, and that’s it. It shouldn’t take you longer than five minutes to whip up a couple of these babies.
19. Lemon Drop Cocktail
This lemon drop cocktail tastes just like the famous Lemon Drop candy that gives it its name. So, it’s very tart. The honey simple syrup doesn’t do as much to sweeten it as you’d think, which means it might not be ideal if you prefer something sugary. Still, if you’re looking for something to jumpstart you on a lazy day, this is it.
20. Light Paloma Cocktail with Orange
Let’s switch gears and check out one of my favorite holiday cocktails. It’s just as bright and zesty as many of the recipes on this list, but something about it makes it a winter favorite for me. Maybe it’s the orange flavor which is always abundant around the holidays. Or perhaps it’s the warm tequila underneath. I’m not sure. I do know that I serve a tray of these every year at Christmas, and there are never any left to pour down the drain.
21. Blue Long Island Iced Tea
This glow-in-the-dark drink is as potent as an original Long Island Iced Tea – with tequila, gin, rum, and vodka – but there’s also blue curacao in the mix. And WOW. It gives it the same brilliant blue color as a Blue Hawaiian or Blue Moon. Don’t let its candy-like color fool you, though. This drink is strong, and though it may look like a Jolly Rancher, it doesn’t taste like anything sweet.
22. Whiskey Smash
The whiskey smash is citrusy, minty, and full of smoky whiskey flavor. It’s a little bitter and will remind you of a Mint Julep. You can always add more simple syrup if you find it too bitter.
23. Bees Knees
This smooth, honeyed drink is an excellent choice in the cooler months. It has a slightly medicinal flavor of lemon and honey, so, even served cool, it can help soothe a sore throat. Some people find it too strong, so you might want to add lavender to the simple syrup to make it sweeter. That will also give the whole drink a more flowery taste and aroma, which pairs beautifully with the honey.
24. Sparkling Citrus Bourbon Lemonade
This sparkly, citrusy drink is delicious but hard to describe. It has so much complexity and includes lemon, orange, mint, honey, bourbon, and more. It’s sweet, smoky, sour, woodsy, and fresh. It’s also more potent than some of the other lemonade drinks on the list, which means you’ll undoubtedly taste the alcohol. Still, it’s boozy lemonade. What’s not to love?
25. Mexican Pomegranate Mimosa
Sweet, tart, tangy, and bubbly – this mimosa has everything you could want from a lovely brunch cocktail. It takes five minutes to whip up and is as elegant as it is tasty. I love the beautiful pink color and light, refreshing taste, and I often make a batch for parties. Of course, you don’t have to be celebrating to enjoy this one. Because it’s so easy to make, it can be an everyday indulgence.
26. World’s Best Cosmopolitan Cocktail
Here’s another pretty-in-pink party drink you’ll want to make asap! Try this Cosmo cocktail if you’re craving something tarter and more slushy. Every sip is infused with cranberry and lime flavor, so you’ll feel just like Carrie and the gals. And for all the gentlemen out there, don’t worry: this drink isn’t light. It may look fun and fruity, but it has a powerful kick.
29. White Lady (Delilah or Chelsea Sidecar)
Ah, the White Lady. It’s simple, elegant, and downright charming. It uses only five ingredients, has a refreshing, gin-heavy flavor, and looks like a million bucks. And like the Cosmo, it’s not all flash with no substance. It has a bite to it, so be ready for that. It’s not as sweet as it looks.
30. Perfect Southside Cocktail
I love the way this recipe’s author describes this cocktail. “Gin-based, mint-kissed with a touch of citrus.” It sums it up perfectly. It’s a slightly bitter drink with plenty of minty freshness, but the lime also adds a splash of tart acidity. It’s crisp, cool, and perfect for BBQs.
31. St. Germain Cocktail
This St. Germain cocktail is enchanting. Bubbly and peach-colored, it’s light, bright, and wonderfully festive. Also, it’s citrusy and floral-like and smells as good as it tastes. And best of all, it takes just three minutes to pull together. So, if you’re looking to celebrate in style – and in a hurry – it’s the ideal choice.
32. Tequila Sour
This golden drink is a margarita with a twist. It’s smooth, frothy, and a little creamy – but it isn’t thick like some creamy drinks. With its sour bite, it might even make your eyes water!
33. Cucumber Mojito with Fresh Mint
I don’t want to say ‘I saved the best for last,’ but let’s be honest: I saved the best for last. I love this cocktail. I mean, it’s a minty mojito meets cucumber water. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It’s so good, crisp, and refreshing, and it’s balanced just right between sweet and bitter. It’s an insanely clean drink, and I don’t think there’s anything else like it. Trust me. You’ll adore this cocktail no matter what you’re in the mood for. Click on a star to rate it!
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