Simple spring cocktails & mocktails

All winter, we’ve been chugging hot drinks — tea, coffee, hot cocoa. When spring and sun arrive, we’re ready for something cool, refreshing and flirty. Here are a few cocktails and mocktails to help you celebrate spring.

Electric Lemonade

Nothing beats sipping lemonade on a warm, lazy afternoon — nothing, that is, except sipping an Electric Lemonade. The “electricity” comes from two shots of Citron Vodka and a splash of Amaretto. Use Crystal Light for the lemonade, and you have a drink that’s low in calories and goes down easy.

Don’t miss these refreshing lemonade recipes. >>

Mojitos

What do you get when you mix mint, lime juice, crushed ice, rum and sugar? A spring jubilee in a glass. It’s a light,  refreshing way to top off a beautiful spring day. This video gives instructions on how to properly concoct the perfect mojito.

Find out how to make a delicious Cucumber Mojito. >>

Spring Fling

This little pick-me-up is for when you are in the mood for a taste of spring but want an alcohol-free mocktail. Pour 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce mango syrup, 2 ounces apple juice and 2 ounces blood orange juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a glass half-filled with ice. Open a window, let the sun shine in and pucker up!

Whip up more fun mocktail recipes. >>

MBV

The Mexican Beer Vodka is surprisingly simple and springy, yet not very many people know about it. Here’s how it’s done: Take a couple big swigs off the top of a Corona (or lime-flavored beer). Replace the beer you just drank with a shot of Citron. Place your thumb over the top of the bottle to mix the vodka and beer. This cocktail is fun and fabulous!

Learn all about beer basics with these helpful tips. >>

Miami Vice

Vegas visitors may be familiar with this stroke of springtime genius. Pour a couple inches of pina colada into a plastic cup. Add an inch or so of strawberry daiquiri. Top off with more pina colada. Place two straws in your striped masterpiece, and pour your favorite rum in the straws and over the top of your drink. This is best enjoyed on a lazy river, but if you don’t have one of those in the backyard, just turn on a sprinkler. You also can make this drink as a mocktail by using virgin pina colada and strawberry daiquiri and skipping the rum shot.

Cocktail tutorial

How to make a mojito cocktail

Mixologist Dustin Silks, of American Kitchen & Wine Bar in Phoenix, demonstrates how to prepare a variation on the classic Cuban cocktail known as the Mojito.

More spring party ideas

How to host a spring birthday party
Spring table ideas
How to decorate for Easter