Mixing cocktails at home is almost always less expensive than a night out. Still, costs can climb quickly when you’re serving drinks to a crowd. Thankfully, pouring a handful of summer cocktails at your next get-together doesn’t need to drain your wallet. Serve them from a pitcher and use pantry staples you likely already own.
Serve Crowd-Friendly Summer Cocktails at Your Backyard Gathering
The proof’s in the pitcher. We’ve compiled numerous large-batch drink recipes that are easy on the budget. Many of these simple cocktails call for just three or four components. You’ll save even more by making your own simple syrup, snipping herbs from the garden and keeping a ready stash of homemade ice.
So put down the shaker and enjoy the event with pitcher cocktails that pair perfectly with your next warm-weather party.
22 Budget-Friendly Summer Cocktails to Mix for a Crowd
Pick your preferred spirit and whip up a classic summer refresher without spending much. Our picks prioritize recipes with fewer than five ingredients, many of which you probably already have in your kitchen.
Summer Cocktails With Vodka
Vodka is the foundation for many timeless drinks because itsneutral tasteblends seamlessly with almost everything.
Sea Breeze (or Bay Breeze)
Cooling off at a backyard bash is simple with a breeze in a glass. Combine vodka with cranberry juice and finish with a lime wedge for garnish.
For the bay breeze, introduce pineapple juice for a tropical twist, while the sea breeze keeps it tart with grapefruit juice and a touch of bright acidity.
Bloody Mary
Skip the store-bought mix and opt forhomemade bloody mary mixto trim expenses. Extra credit if you forage garnishes like parsley or basil from your own herb patch. Bloody Marys also make a fun foundation for aDIY cocktail stationat a casual outdoor brunch.
Moscow Mule
The gingery fizz of ginger beer makesMoscow mulesa stellar option for pitcher pours. With only three ingredients, this drink still offerscountless variationsto suit your summertime palate.
Summer Cocktails With Tequila
Tequila is ideal for jump-starting a party—just avoid the shot glass and go for larger pours. These tequila-based pitcher drinks balance heat and sweetness beautifully.
Margaritas
If you assume margaritas must be frozen, think again. These three-ingredient pitcher margaritas rely on fresh lime juice and can be served in mason jars with a salted rim for added flair.
You can also blend in fresh watermelon and orange liqueur or triple sec for a bolder summer flavor as shown in this watermelon pitcher margarita.
Paloma
Want something other than a margarita? Try the Paloma, made with grapefruit juice, lime and a splash of club soda. If you like heat, add jalapeño slices or a chili-lime simple syrup for a spicy kick.
Tequila Sunrise
Despite its brunchy reputation, the tequila sunrise is eminently pitcher-friendly. Combine orange juice, grenadine and orange slices for a bright, shareable batch of tequila sunrise.
If you don’t have old grenadine lingering in the pantry, try this classic rendition of the tequila sunrise instead.
Summer Cocktails With Gin
Gin’s botanical character shines even in the simplest preparations. These gin cocktails brim with fresh berries, aromatic herbs and a fizzy lift that will elevate any backyard gathering.
Gin Rickey
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy one of the most revitalizing drinks on the list. Thegin rickey, or lime rickey, starts with lime juice, gin and a healthy splash of club soda or tonic.
Swap in a berry simple syrup made from fresh strawberries or blueberries and you’ll unlock avariety of rickey riffs, like the strawberry-lime version.
Salty Dog
If sugary drinks aren’t your thing, the tart grapefruit and sprigs of thyme in a salty dog are worth a try. Watching sodium? Skip the salted rim and opt for a greyhound instead.
Pimm’s Cup
Have extra produce or frozen fruit to use up? The lovely gin-basedPimm’s cupis highly adaptable. Top it with ginger ale and a squeeze of lemon. Thestory behind this classic punchas a summertime staple is fun to explore, too.
Summer Cocktails With Rum
Nothing conjures sandy beaches and swaying palms like the sweet spice of rum. Whether you favor dark, light or somewhere in between, these tropical cocktails will please your guests.
Mojitos
A sprinkle of fresh mint goes a long way in thiseasy mojito recipe. Mojitos are a great canvas for experimentation, so tryvariationswith coconut cream or a soda-topped spin like theSouthside fizz.
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
Ride out any heat wave with this classic rum cocktail. The striking layered look in thisdark ‘n’ stormycomes from how it’s assembled. Emeril Lagasse even shared a popular pitcher adaptation for group servings.
Rum Punch
Give your gathering a lift with thisrum punch, perfect for garnishing with a festive umbrella. Prefer something subtler? Reduce the juice and try one of thesealternative rum punch recipes.
Summer Cocktails With Bourbon
Whiskey is often associated with smoky, bold flavors, but it can also shine in large-batch summer cocktails.
Mint Julep
Lots of mint, plenty of ice and a touch of simple syrup make this invigorating summer classic, which is the iconic drink of the Kentucky Derby.
If you’re unsure the mint julep will fit your party, try one of thesemint julep takesfor inspiration.
Whiskey Sour
A cherry on top makes this sour even more inviting to share. Thesefresh whiskey soursfrom Ina Garten omit the egg white but keep the spirit of the tart classic. You can also enjoy astrawberry lemonade whiskey sourmade with frozen fruit for a summery twist.
The Smash
The smash has so many permutations it’s tough to pin down its exact origin. The core idea uses muddled fresh fruit topped with bourbon for a bright, fruity cocktail.
Try the blackberry bourbon smash or the peach summertime smash; peach schnapps isn’t necessary.
Summer Cocktails With Wine
You don’t need to stick to straight pours to enjoy wine at a party. These wine-centric punches and large-batch cocktails will help cool off your next book club or backyard gathering.
White Wine Spritzer
Mix a bottle of white wine with sparkling water and fresh fruit for awhite wine spritzer. You can also use sparkling wine to make a poolside pitcher of one of thesecreative spritzer variations.
Kalimotxo (Calimocho)
It may sound exotic, but the Basque kalimotxo — sometimes spelled calimocho — is simply two ingredients: red wine and Coca-Cola.
If you’re curious who dreamed this up, Spaniards have enjoyed kalimotxo since the 1920s.
Sangria
No roundup of summer large-batch cocktails would be whole without sangria, the perennial backyard favorite. Traditional sangria uses red wine, but many variations use white or sparkling wine.
Summer Cocktails With Champagne
Raise a glass to bubbly-based cocktails. Pop a bottle and let a pitcher of these effervescent drinks be the star of your summer fête.
Bellinis
Originally an Italian cocktail, the bellini combines Prosecco, peaches and a dash of raspberry liqueur for a brunch-ready alternative to the mimosa. Fruity bellinis can take many forms depending on what you have in the fridge.
Aperol Spritz
Another Italian favorite, the Aperol spritzrelies on Prosecco and the bittersweet aperitif Aperol. You might recall a few years back when Aperol was scarce on shelves, andprices rose, but it’s more available now.
French 75
Italians aren’t the only ones mixing bubbly and spirits. Say bon appétit to theFrench 75, which combines champagne, gin, lemon and sugar. If you want something more adventurous, try theblood orange version, which gets high marks.
Summer Cocktails With Beer
We’d be remiss not to include a beer-based pitcher to serve at your next backyard barbecue.
Summer Shandy
A shandy blends lemonade with beer. If that sounds odd, give this rendition a shot: asummer shandywith strawberry lemonade and a touch of tequila.You can brew your ownor simply mix your favorite beer with lemonade for a refreshing sip. Umbrellas optional.
Set Up a DIY Bar With These 3 Classic Drinks
One of the benefits of pitcher servings is that hosts can actually enjoy the party. But you don’t need giant batches to keep costs down. These DIY bar ideas let guests do the mixing for a budget-friendly option.
Gin and Tonic
The simplicity of a gin and tonic makes it an excellent starting point. For a summer crowd, slice citrus and offer garnishes to create a DIY gin and tonic bar.
Mimosa
Mimosas aren’t just for brunch. They’re great for baby showers or afternoon gatherings—set up a mimosa bar and let guests build their own.
Old-Fashioned
Old-fashioneds may not scream summer at first, but an old-fashioned DIY bar stocked with seasonal bitters and fruit is a solid choice for bourbon lovers.
3 Thrifty Mocktails to Add to the Lineup
Not drinking alcohol? No worries. Without liquor costs, mocktails become an inexpensive and refreshing option for summer gatherings.
Lemonade
Plain lemonade doesn’t have to be dull. Skip the concentrate and use fresh citrus plus ingredients like rosemary, peach, basil or kiwi to craft amemorable pitcher of lemonade.
Sherbert Punch
Dreaming of frothy drinks topped with whipped cream? Try sherbet punch. Scoops of rainbow sherbet dropped into the bowl create a picture-perfect punch.
Arnold Palmer
Iced tea mixed with lemonade is as summery as it gets. Just be sure you get the balance right when making this classic pitcher drink.
Kaz Weida is a former senior staff writer at Savinly.
