Food and Recipes Drinks Cocktails 50+ Southern Porch Cocktails Begging To Be Your New House Drink Porch sitting calls for cold-drink sipping. By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 11, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The porch, being a perfectly Southern space, calls for perfect Southern manners—and it'd be rude not to offer every visitor a refreshing beverage, right? That's what our mamas taught us, anyway. So better get that bar cart stocked because you're going to want to have these cool, crisp, and perfectly thirst-quenching cocktails on hand for afternoons spent out on the porch, where it seems to always be happy hour. From big-batch recipes like minty pitcher mojitos and watermelon sangria to all-time favorites like spiked sweet tea and the classic French 75, these are our favorite cocktails to offer up any time someone gathers on our Southern porches. (Serve 'em up time and again, and they just might become your signature house drink.) Here are the best Southern porch cocktails to make for every happy hour at home. 01 of 51 Watermelon Frosé Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster If there was a drink of summer, this one would be it. Wow guests by whipping up this recipe—a sweeter, icier take on another seasonal favorite, an ice-cold glass of rosé. Get The Recipe 02 of 51 French 76 Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Swap gin for vodka and you get the French 76, a delicious twist on the classic drink. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best overall flavor. While our recipe calls for simple syrup, you can easily switch it out for a flavored one if you're feeling creative. Get The Recipe 03 of 51 Mint Julep Forrest Mason Mint juleps were made for sipping on a porch in the South. Made with crushed ice, fresh mint, and bourbon, the drink is a refreshing choice for derby day or happy hour. Get The Recipe 04 of 51 Texas Ranch Water Getty Images/Lauren King / EyeEm Think of ranch water as a dressed down margarita that's hard to mess up. Get The Recipe 05 of 51 Pitcher Mojitos Caitlin Bensel These go down so easy you'll need to go ahead and make a pitcher. Garnish each glass with fresh mint and lime for a heavenly aroma that hits you before you even take a sip. Get The Recipe 06 of 51 Kentucky Oaks Lily Drink Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This cocktail is the signature drink of the Kentucky Oaks, the race that takes place the day before the Kentucky Derby, but that doesn't mean you can't serve it at home. The recipe calls for cranberry juice, triple sec, lime juice, and vodka. Get The Recipe 07 of 51 Salty Dog Cocktail Caitlin Bensel A twist on the classic vodka- and grapefruit-infused Greyhound drink, this refresher makes use of gin, grapefruit juice, and salt for a cocktail that's anything but saccharine-sweet. Get The Recipe 08 of 51 Watermelon Sangria Katie Jacobs We combined two of our favorite summer treats: fresh watermelon and iced-down sangria. This sangria gets a blush-colored upgrade with a mix of both still and sparkling rosé wines, making it more than ideal to sip by the pool, on the porch, or at the beach. Get The Recipe 09 of 51 Summer Cobbler Cocktail Helen Norman; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns This recipe proves that whiskey drinks can be refreshing and fit for summer. Made with fresh blackberries, blackberry preserves, white whiskey, and lime, it is like summer in a shaker. Get The Recipe 10 of 51 Sweet Tea Mule Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This one is a boozy spin on sweet tea, the South's favorite beverage. All you need is ginger beer, bourbon, and lime juice to have the ultimate porch cocktail. Get The Recipe 11 of 51 Strawberry Ranch Water Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Texans take their ranch water recipe seriously, but we think anyone will appreciate this twist on the classic cocktail. It calls for strawberry-infused tequila and a fresh strawberry for garnish. Get The Recipe 12 of 51 Vodka Cherry Limeade Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist:Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer With just five ingredients (most of which are cocktail bar staples), this limeade is ready to sip as soon as a thirst hits. The best part? You can stir up a pitcher and serve all your porch guests easily. Get The Recipe 13 of 51 Spicy Watermelon Refresher Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall A spicy, more bubbly version of a watermelon margarita, this recipe makes use of serrano peppers and tequila reposado (which is slightly smoky and incredibly smooth). Ah, feeling the good vibrations already. Get The Recipe 14 of 51 Berry Patch Cocktail Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Gin and elderflower liqueur provide a vibrant, floral quality for the fresh raspberries and tart limeade. Get The Recipe 15 of 51 Lemon-Basil Spritzer Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We kept the list of ingredients short and sweet on this spritzer: lemon, fresh basil leaves, our simple syrup, and your bubbly mix-in of choice. Because you don't need all the bells and whistles when you have hard-working flavors like lemon and super aromatic basil. Get The Recipe 16 of 51 Big Batch Bloody Marys Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox A perfectly balanced, not-too-heavy Bloody Mary is hard to master—but luckily we already did the leg work for you. This big-batch recipe serves ten people, easy. Switch the vodka out for tequila to turn it into a Bloody Maria. Get The Recipe 17 of 51 French 75 Southern Living Classy as a string of pearls, this gin cocktail makes you want to sit back and fan yourself with a bit of flair. Top it off with a lemon twist and rosemary sprigs for a fancy finish. Get The Recipe 18 of 51 Pineapple-Coconut Fizz Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This combination of pineapple, coconut, and rum is enough to transport you straight to the Keys. Swaying palm trees included. Like a piña colada, but way lighter and more low maintenance. Get The Recipe 19 of 51 Aperol and Blood Orange-Mint Spritz Peter Frank Edwards Aperol spritzes are quite en vogue right now, and we get it. They're light, fresh, and make you feel like you're on an Italian beach somewhere. We added blood orange juice and fresh mint to make it even more vibrant. Get The Recipe 20 of 51 Cucumber-Honeydew Cooler Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Cucumber and honeydew is the cocktail duo we never knew we needed—until this cool gin drink walked into our happy hour. Get The Recipe 21 of 51 Moscow Mules How cute are the copper mugs alone? That's reason enough to make this simple but crowd-pleasing cocktail of crisp vodka, slightly spicy ginger beer (read: NOT ginger ale), and zingy lime juice. Get The Recipe 22 of 51 Watermelon Margaritas Southern Living It's a fact that everyone loves this margarita. End of story. Fresh watermelon makes a classic recipe even better. Get The Recipe 23 of 51 Frozen Margarita Antonis Achilleos Trust us, this is way better than the sugary restaurant renditions you'll order elsewhere. This recipe hits the perfect blend of salt, sweetness, slush, and spirits—and it serves eight people. (Or less, if you're motivated.) Get The Recipe 24 of 51 Basil Bourbon Orange Smash Becky Luigart Stayner Fresh seasonal fruit and liquor are smashed together over ice for this citrusy delight. Get The Recipe 25 of 51 Key Lime Daiquiris Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Make every day feel like vacation with one of these tropical drinks. Get The Recipe 26 of 51 Southern Sunrise Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos The name says it all. This beautiful cocktail relies on just a few ingredients, making it easier than ever to kick back and relax. Get The Recipe 27 of 51 Hurricane Cocktail Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas This drink certainly packs a punch, so take your time as you sip and enjoy. Get The Recipe 28 of 51 Strawberry Piña Coladas Photographer and props: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Close your eyes as you sip on this delicious drink and you'll feel like you're on the beach. Get The Recipe 29 of 51 Whiskey Sour Slush Southern Living A splash of lemonade and sparkling citrus soda dress these whiskey sours up. Get The Recipe 30 of 51 Lemon Mint Sparklers Hector Sanchez Garnish with some mint (grown on the porch of course!) and you're ready to go. Get The Recipe 31 of 51 Shoo-Fly Punch Beth Dreiling Hontzas Ginger beer is the secret to this zesty and refreshing cocktail. Get The Recipe 32 of 51 Carolina Peach Sangria Jennifer Davick Southern peaches do love to put on a show, don't they? Get epic summer flavor in every sip of this rosé sangria. Get The Recipe 33 of 51 Spiked Arnold Palmer Southern Living This recipe marries three Southern favorites—bourbon, tea, and lemonade. Get The Recipe 34 of 51 Blushing Mimosas Ralph Anderson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine Pineapple juice and grenadine add a twist to classic mimosas. Get The Recipe 35 of 51 Black-Eyed Susan Slushies Victor Protasio; Food Stying: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Test Kitchen star Ivy Odom whipped up this recipe for the Derby this year, but we think it deserves a spot on your summer drink line-up too. With citrus, pineapple juice, ginger ale, and bourbon all mixed up in a slushie, what's not to love?! Get The Recipe 36 of 51 Mojitarita Katie Jacobs Mojitos and margaritas are both summertime favorites—and thanks to this recipe, there's no need to decide between the two. This cocktail is as refreshing as a margarita but with the minty kick of a mojito. Get The Recipe 37 of 51 4th of July Punch Jennifer Causey With a name like this, this punch needs no explanation. But trust us: This batch-made cocktail is perfect for group gatherings on the 4th of July and beyond. Get The Recipe 38 of 51 Aperol Bourbon Fizz Becky Luigart Stayner Bourbon drinkers, we didn't forget about you. This recipe calls for bourbon and Aperol, making it a go-to drink for a hot afternoon in the South. Get The Recipe 39 of 51 Classic Transfusion Cocktail Getty Images/JB325 This cocktail is a favorite on the golf course so you know it's designed for enjoying outside. This summer, we say, why not make it a staple on your front porch too?! Get The Recipe 40 of 51 Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin Pair these two Southern staples together for a stellar sipper. Get The Recipe 41 of 51 Strawberry Mojito Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl For a sweet twist on a classic mojito, try this strawberry-infused recipe. It is made with strawberry simple syrup, which adds flavor and color to the cocktail. Get The Recipe 42 of 51 Hemingway Daiquiri Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Feeling fancy? Show off your best cocktail-making skills by whipping up this precise recipe. It calls for fresh juices and very specific amount of ice. Get The Recipe 43 of 51 Long Island Iced Tea Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Despite what the name suggests, this recipe was actually created in Tennessee! It, of course, comes with a Southern spin: whiskey instead of clear liquor. Get The Recipe 44 of 51 Texas Margarita Will Dickey If you're looking for a recipe that's sweet, citrus-forward, and easy to sip on, look no further. This margarita, made with fresh orange juice and agave nectar, is sure to become a new favorite. Get The Recipe 45 of 51 Mississippi Bourbon Punch Hailing from Mississippi, this big-batch punch stars muscadine wine, grenadine, bourbon and a medley of fruit juices. Get The Recipe 46 of 51 Cucumber-Jalapeño Gin Coolers Photographer Jennifer Causey, Prop Stylist Lindsey Lower, Food Stylist Torie Cox This bright cocktail is a refreshing sipper thanks to lime juice, chilled club soda, and jalapeño infused gin. For a standout presentation, serve with cucumber ribbons and jalapeño slices. Get The Recipe 47 of 51 Cherry Bourbon Cheerwine Becky Luigart Stayner A nostalgic childhood favorite soda gets a fun and boozy twist with bourbon and cherry bitters. This-old school combination will taste just right on the front porch. Get The Recipe 48 of 51 Strawberry Spritzers Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Add 1.5 ounces of tequila or sparkling wine to this refreshing non-alcoholic drink for a beverage that anyone can enjoy. Get The Recipe 49 of 51 Fuzzy Navel Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This two-ingredient cocktail from the 1980s is making a comeback. It's perfectly peachy and sweet without being too alcohol forward. Get The Recipe 50 of 51 Paloma Dotdash Meredith Switch up your go-to ranch water with this fan-favorite grapefruit tequila cocktail. For a smoky kick, try substituting mezcal for the tequila. Get The Recipe 51 of 51 Strawberry and Peach Sangria Alison Miksch Chill this simple sangria a few hours in advance of company and you'll have a subtly-sweet, just-right bubbly refreshment. Serve each glass with some of the fruit from the pitcher and garnish with mint. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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