The best way to kick off the summer season is with these fun and refreshing Memorial cocktail drinks. Check out the perfect cocktail recipes to pair with your backyard BBQ and pool parties and to beat the heat all summer long. 

Blueberry Lemonade Margaritas Recipe

By Lena Abraham

Total Prep Time: 25 Minutes

Yield: 4 Servings

Here's what you need:

FOR THE SYRUP

• ¼ c. granulated sugar
• ¼ c. water
• ½ c. blueberries
• Zest of ½ lime

FOR THE MARGARITA

• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp. kosher salt
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• 8 oz. tequila
• 4 oz. triple sec
• 1 c. lemonade
• Ice

How to mix:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and water and stir until sugar has dissolved. Add blueberries and lime zest and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer mixture until blueberries have burst, about 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes, then strain mixture into a clean jar. Let cool completely.
3. On a small plate, stir together sugar and salt. Rim each glass with a lemon wedge, then dip in sugar salt mixture. 
4. Divide tequila, triple sec and lemonade between 4 glasses. Fill each glass with ice, then top with blueberry syrup. 
5. Garnish with a lemon wedge to serve.

Honeyed Cherry Daiquiri Recipe

By Marian Cooper Cairns

Total Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Yield: 1 Serving

Here's what you need:

• 8 sweet cherries, pitted
• 2 oz. light rum
• ¾ oz. fresh lime juice, plus slice for garnish
• 1 tbsp. Honey
• Dash of bitters (such as Peychaud's)
• ¼ oz. maraschino liqueur (optional)

How to mix:

1. Muddle cherries in the bottom of cocktail shaker until fruit is broken down and juices are released. 
2. Add rum, lime juice, honey, bitters, and maraschino liqueur, if desired. 
3. Fill with ice and shake until chilled, 20 to 30 seconds. 
4. Strain into a chilled stemmed glass. 
5. Garnish with lime slice.

Sanibel Sangria Recipe

Total Prep Time: 45 Minutes

Yield: 4 Cocktails

Here's what you need:

• 2 regular-size hibiscus tea bags (such as Tazo Passion)
• 1 cup cold water
• 8 oz. fresh raspberries (about 2 cups), plus more for garnish
• 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 cup chilled gin (such as Hendrick’s)
• ½ (750-ml) bottle chilled dry sparkling Rosé

How to mix:

1. Steep tea bags in 1 cup cold water 30 minutes; remove and discard tea bags. 
2. In a blender, combine tea, raspberries, and sugar; process until smooth, about 30 seconds. 
3. Into a large pitcher, pour through a fine wire-mesh strainer. 
4. Discard solids. Stir in gin. 
5. If not serving immediately, seal well with plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to 8 hours or overnight.
6. When ready to serve, stir well. Add sparkling rosé and stir gently to combine. Pour into 4 Collins glasses or mason jars filled with ice, and garnish with fresh raspberries.

The Ginger Mint Margarita Recipe

By Lauren Hubbard

Here's what you need:

• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 2 oz. Blanco tequila
• .75 oz. lime juice
• 2 slices ginger root
• 5 mint leaves

How to mix:

1. Muddle the ginger and mint in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. 
2. Into cocktail shaker, add Cointreau, tequila, lime juice, and ice. 
3. Shake and fine strain over ice in a rocks glass. 
4. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Watermelon-Tequila Cocktail Recipe

By Bobby Flay

Total Prep Time: 2 Hours and 25 Minutes

Yield: 8 Cocktails

Here's what you need:

• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 8 cups diced seedless watermelon (1 lb.)
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 1 ¾ cups blueberries
• ¾ cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, plus 8 sprigs for garnish
• 1 ¼ cups silver tequila
• Ice

How to mix:

1. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a simmer with the sugar and stir over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute; let the sugar syrup cool.
2. In a blender, puree the watermelon until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the watermelon juice, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp.
3. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the lime juice, blueberries, and mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, lightly muddle the blueberries and mint. Add the watermelon juice and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
4. Pour the cocktail into tall ice-filled glasses. Garnish with the mint sprigs and serve.

Celebrate Memorial Day with these summertime sippers. These cocktail drinks are perfect for your Patriotic celebrations from Memorial Day to 4th of July. Whether you'll have BBQ, picnic, or pool party, these are the best cocktail drinks to sip on. Make your cocktail glasses more festive with these fun sets of red, white, and blue Memorial Day and 4th of July Celebration Magnetic Wine Charms. These are the best wine charms for your summer celebrations. Cheers!