These 25 citrus cocktail recipes are just what you need to keep cool and refreshed on a hot summer’s day—patio not included!

When the weather is sweltering and you feel like you’re wilting away to nothing, a bright, refreshing citrus cocktail is just the ticket. To inspire your summer happy hours (and brunches and lunches and dinner parties!), I’ve collected over 25 citrus cocktail recipes that will keep you happily sipping all summer long.

Citrus flavors are perfect for summer: they’re bright and a tad zingy with just the right amount of tartness to stop anything from being overly sweet (which can be a bit much on a hot day). 

This citrus cocktail recipe collection has a little bit of everything. You’ll find cocktails that use lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. (Important note: If you’re serving guests, be aware that there are some very common medications that interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.)

In this citrus cocktail list, you will find classic hot weather drinks like margaritas, mojitos, Aperol spritzes, and Moscow mules. But you’ll also find twists on old favorites and some creative new cocktails to enjoy!

Don’t forget to make the most of summer’s bounty when it comes to garnishing your drinks. Raid your garden for fresh mint, basil, or rosemary for a really fresh take on these delicious citrus cocktails!

Now all you need is a patio, a big sun umbrella, and maybe a few mini umbrellas to pop in these citrus cocktail recipes!

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Lemon Cocktail Recipes

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1. Lemon Pimm’s Lemon Crush cocktail

by Baked the Blog

Pimm’s Lemon Crush cocktail pairs the botanical flavor of Pimm’s with bourbon and sweet-tart citrus syrup. Substitute maple syrup for citrus if you prefer!

2. The Penicillin Cocktail

by Food Nouveau

The Penicillin is a Scotch Whiskey cocktail made with lemon, honey, and ginger. Find out how to make it and what earned the drink its intriguing name!

3. Amaretto Sour

by Masala & Chai

Celebrate summer cocktail season with a refreshing Amaretto Sour – a sweet, almondy citrus cocktail recipe. It takes 5 minutes to make with no odd ingredients. You’ll be sipping it poolside in no time!

4. Paper Plane Cocktail

by Food Nouveau

The Paper Plane Cocktail is one of the easiest cocktails to make at home: no fussy syrups, no hard-to-find bitters, no fancy garnishes. Find out where it comes from and how to make it!

5. Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail

by Inside the Rustic Kitchen

This sparkling limoncello cocktail is perfect for warm sunny days. It’s sharp, juicy, so refreshing and made with only 3 simple ingredients and garnished with mint leaves and freshly cut lemon slices.

6. Italian Lemon Sgroppino with Prosecco and Vodka

by Family Style Food

Try a delicious Italian lemon sgroppino — a cold, slushy prosecco citrus cocktail recipe made with fresh lemon and vodka.

7. Meyer Lemon Old Fashioned

by Rhubarbarians

This simple, Meyer lemon old fashioned recipe is a bright and refreshing spin on the classic old fashioned cocktail with rye, bourbon, or whiskey.

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Lime Cocktail Recipes

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8. Lime Classic Moscow Mule

by Bacon is Magic

The Moscow Mule is always one of summer’s hottest cocktails, year after year! Learn the classic 3-ingredient recipe that is so easy to make at home.

9. Classic Margarita Recipe

by The Forked Spoon

This Classic Margarita Recipe is light and refreshing and made right at home with just a few simple ingredients. No need for premade mixes or artificial ingredients, all it takes to make the very best margarita is fresh lime juice, agave, tequila, and orange liqueur.

10. Fresh Lime Tequila Sour

by Family Style Food

A Tequila Sour is a cold and super-refreshing tequila cocktail with a creamy froth on top has just the right amount of sweet and sour. Shake it up with fresh lime juice, tequila, simple syrup and egg white!

11. Classic Mojito

by The Forked Spoon

The Mojito, a classic Cuban citrus cocktail recipe, is a refreshing mix of rum, simple syrup (or sugar), fresh lime juice, mint leaves, and bubbly club soda. Learn how to make a Mojito and enjoy this simple and delicious 5-minute cocktail all year long.

12. Fresh Strawberry Mojito

by Food Nouveau

This refreshing Fresh Strawberry Mojito cocktail is bright, tangy, and delightfully sweet. You can easily double or triple the recipe to serve a crowd!

13. Gin Basil Cocktail

by Little Sugar Snaps

This basil gin cocktail is a great makeover of the classic Spring Feeling–a popular Green Chartreuse cocktail. This version is zesty, herbaceous, colorful, and downright delicious.

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Grapefruit Cocktail Recipes

Important note: If you’re serving guests, be aware that there are some very common medications that interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Make sure your guests are aware of this before you serve them these grapefruit cocktails!

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14. Grapefruit Maple Paloma Cocktail

by Food Nouveau

This easy maple paloma cocktail combines freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, maple syrup, and aromatic tequila to create a fabulously refreshing drink!

15. Grapefruit Champagne Cocktail

by Baking Ginger

This easy-to-make Grapefruit Champagne Cocktail is the perfect citrus cocktail recipe for every celebration. The combination of zesty grapefruit, fresh thyme, and a little bubbly is a winner!

16. Grapefruit Mojito

by Pizzazzerie

This grapefruit mojito is easy to make, delicious, and perfect for entertaining. Serve it up as a signature cocktail at your next party! Grapefruit, fresh mint, and lime combine to make the most refreshing grapefruit mojito cocktail.

17. Rosemary Brown Derby

by The Forked Spoon

The Rosemary Brown Derby is a smooth and refreshing bourbon and grapefruit cocktail made with bourbon, honey, fresh grapefruit juice, and fresh rosemary.

18. Pink Grapefruit Margaritas with Sriracha Salt

by Fearless Dining

Pink Grapefruit Margaritas are perfect for summer parties! You are going to love the unique sweet and spicy combination of flavors of grapefruit and spicy sriracha salt in this refreshing pink grapefruit margarita recipe.

19. Rose Grapefruit Gin Cocktail

by Baking Ginger

This simple Pink Grapefruit Gin Cocktail is full of bright flavors from fresh grapefruit and rosewater. This easy with rose water is destined to be your new favorite summer drink!

20. Grapefruit Crush

by The Littlest Crumb

This grapefruit crush vodka cocktail is a tasty and refreshing summer drink made with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lemon, and lime juices. This aromatic citrus cocktail recipe is balanced out with sweet thyme, simple syrup, and a dash of triple sec. This tart grapefruit drink is an easy crowd pleaser that everyone will love!

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Orange Cocktail Recipes

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21. Classic Aperol Spritz

by Craving California

The Aperol Spritz has become a ubiquitous option on cocktail menus around the world and for good reason. This bright and refreshing citrus cocktail recipe is the ultimate thirst-quencher during the sweltering summer months. Cin cin!

22. Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

by Cadry’s Kitchen

This orange creamsicle cocktail is an adults-only version of a classic frozen treat. It’s easy to make with freshly squeezed orange juice, gin (or vodka), and a splash of vanilla almond milk.

23. Turmeric Orange Spritzer

by Luci’s Morsels

This delicious Turmeric Orange Spritzer was an inspired popular lunch spot in Los Angeles. In essence, this orange spritzer is a delicious, easy spritzer with the addition of a homemade turmeric syrup, which—no worries!—is super easy and can be made in advance.

24. Orange Vanilla Margaritas

by Homemade in the Kitchen

Reminiscent of a creamsicle, these small batch Orange Vanilla Margaritas are made with fresh orange juice, lime juice, and vanilla bean. The recipe makes two drinks, ideal for cozy nights on the terrace. You can easily make several batches to serve a group!

25. Orange Mojito Cocktail

by Girl Heart Food

If you’re looking for an easy rum drink, this orange mojito cocktail is a must-try! This fruity mojito is a sweeter twist on a classic. As a bonus, this citrus cocktail recipe comes together in minutes and is extremely refreshing!

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Even More Citrus Cocktails

Find even more zesty inspiration in my Citrus Cocktails and Drinks Pinterest board!