Just like many classic cocktails, it’s now possible to recreate popular drinks in a large pitcher format, ideal for serving a crowd at outdoor gatherings such as barbecues or pool parties. This includes various twists on Sangria, Mojitos, Iced Teas, and Margaritas that can be made in bulk. Furthermore, some cocktails are specifically designed to be served from a pitcher, like the refreshing Pimm’s and Lemonade concoction.
If you can get your hands on a bottle of Pimm’s, it’s definitely worth trying. In fact, preparing pitcher drinks is likely to save you time and effort compared to individually crafting each cocktail for all your guests. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 20 easy-to-make pitcher cocktails perfect for the warmer months.
Red Wine Sangria
Taking advantage of the warmer months is a must for many cocktail enthusiasts, and one traditional pitcher drink that’s perfect for summer gatherings is the Red Wine Sangria. Although it requires some planning ahead, making a batch in advance ensures the flavors have time to meld together. Begin by leaving the peel on and chopping up a couple of oranges and apples into slices, then add them to the pitcher.
Pour in half a cup of brandy followed by a quarter cup of orange liqueur (Cointreau is an excellent choice). Finish off the preparation by pouring over a 750ml bottle of decent red wine, stirring gently, covering, and refrigerating for at least four hours or even overnight for an exceptionally soft and sweet serving.
Summer Berry Sangria
Often the key to creating a refreshing Summer Berry Sangria lies in selecting the right combination of berries. To make this delicious drink, you’ll need four different types of berry: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Add these to a large pitcher along with agave nectar to give it a touch of sweetness. Next, pour over a chilled 750ml bottle of Moscato wine, followed by a drizzle of strawberry liqueur.
Finally, top off the sangria with lemon-lime soda for a refreshing and fruity twist.
Sparkling White Peach Sangria
Noteworthy is that Moscato wine’s sweetness makes it an ideal base for a variation of Sangria using white wine, such as this Sparkling White Peach Sangria. To begin, slice up two or three peaches and place three-quarters of the slices into the pitcher with three-quarters of a cup of apricot or peach brandy.
Next, add a chilled 750ml bottle of Moscato wine along with a liter of peach seltzer water, then pour over ice with the remaining peach slices used as garnishes to complete the refreshing drink.
Sparkling Watermelon Sangria
Delighting your taste buds with its refreshing twist, the Sparkling Watermelon Sangria is an innovative variation of the classic drink. To create this fruity concoction, combine three cups of cubed and chilled watermelon with a generous helping of dry white port, amounting to about three-quarters of a cup. The sweetness of the watermelon pairs perfectly with the crispness of the port. Next, add around ten slices of fresh lime, allowing their citrusy aroma to infuse into the mixture.
Then, pour in a chilled 750ml bottle of Moscato wine and top it off with three cups of icy cold lime seltzer water. After stirring the ingredients together, carefully pour the Sparkling Watermelon Sangria over ice in glasses and finish it off by garnishing each glass with a slice of lime and a chunk of juicy watermelon.
Cucumber White Sangria
Elevate your summer gatherings with a refreshing twist on traditional sangria. Instead of using red wine, this Cucumber White Sangria uses white wine as its base. Combine a 750ml bottle of chilled Sauvignon Blanc with half of a sliced cucumber, a sliced lime, and a handful of fresh mint sprigs to create the perfect blend. To take it to the next level, add a cup of halved green grapes for natural sweetness.
Let the mixture muddle in the refrigerator overnight before straining it and topping off with seltzer water when you’re ready to serve. Finish it off by adding the remaining cucumber slices, lime slices, and mint sprigs for an added pop of color and flavor.
Sparkling Cojito
Making a pitcher of Cojito is a refreshing process that starts with combining water, sugar, and fresh mint leaves in a bowl. The mixture is then transferred to a large pitcher where coconut rum and freshly squeezed lime juice are added. Stir the ingredients gently until they’re well combined, then fill the pitcher with ice cubes. For an extra creamy version of Cojito, try adding a can of full-fat coconut milk before pouring in the seltzer water.
Alternatively, you can create a lighter twist by simply increasing the amount of seltzer water used.
Sparkling Spiked Peach Lemonade
Keeping in mind the perfect combination of sweet and tangy flavors, this refreshing cocktail is made by pairing peaches and lemonade. Firstly, prepare a simple syrup by combining equal parts of water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and heating it until the sugar has fully dissolved, then allowing it to cool down completely.
Once the syrup is ready, remove the skin from the peaches, cut them in half, carefully remove the pits, chop them into small cubes, and finally blitz them into a smooth purée. Next, pour the peach purée into a large pitcher, add the simple syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice (about one cup), six cups of sparkling water, and approximately one and a half cups of vodka with ice, garnishing it with some sliced peaches for extra flair.
Apposta
Sophisticated yet refreshing, Apposta is a unique cocktail that combines the tanginess of lemon and grapefruit sodas. To prepare this drink, simply combine gin, Aperol, sweet white vermouth, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and grapefruit soda in a pitcher. As you stir the mixture, it should transform into a vibrant red hue. Once ready, pour Apposta over ice and garnish with orange peel and sprigs of thyme for an elegant touch.
Vodka Strawberry Lemonade
Essential for achieving a more concentrated flavor in this pitcher recipe is having a food processor or juicer at your disposal. By creating a purée from a pound of hulled strawberries and then straining it into a pitcher that’s filled halfway with ice, you’ll be well on your way to crafting the perfect blend.
Next, add two-thirds of a cup of sugar, a cup of vodka, and three cups of water to the pitcher, making sure to use a long stirrer to combine all the ingredients thoroughly, dissolve the sugar completely, and ultimately serve the concoction chilled.
Pineapple Punch With Ginger Beer
Whenever you’re hosting a party or gathering with friends, having a pitcher cocktail that’s sure to impress is essential. This particular recipe combines the sweetness of pineapple juice with the zing of orange juice, the tang of lime juice, and the warmth of light rum, all wrapped up in a spicy kick from ginger beer.
To make this refreshing drink, begin by combining a cup of pineapple juice with half a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and the juice of between two and four limes in your pitcher. Next, add half a cup of light rum to give it an extra boost. After stirring the mixture well, pour in between 32 and 34 ounces of ginger beer and distribute among individual glasses.
To finish off each drink, choose from a variety of garnishes such as orange slices, lime slices, pineapple wedges, or mint sprigs, ensuring that every guest has their preferred flavor combination.
Hawaiian Mimosas
Fresh from the traditional Mimosas you’re used to seeing set out on a tray in flutes, creating a variation of them in a pitcher is a delightful twist. This recipe boasts an impressive level of simplicity, with only three ingredients required. Consequently, it’s easy to scale up or down depending on the number of servings you need to make. For each serving, add one part of coconut rum to the pitcher and double that amount of pineapple juice.
If you’re preparing a larger batch, simply multiply these quantities accordingly. For example, to create a pitcher full of this refreshing drink, use a cup of coconut rum with two cups of pineapple juice. To complete it, pair the mixture with a 750ml bottle of sparkling wine like Champagne or Prosecco.
Pacific Empress
Making this unique cocktail is quite straightforward as it’s specifically designed to be paired with Empress 1908 gin, which lends its name to the drink. To begin, gently press a couple of handfuls of fresh or frozen blackberries against honey in a pitcher using a muddler or the back of a spoon to release their juices and flavours. Next, add ice to the pitcher followed by pineapple juice, then top it off with tonic water.
When serving time arrives, invite your guests over and float the gin on top – observe how the color changes as you do so.
Pimm’s And Lemonade
Primarily served at large gatherings during an English summer, Pimm’s and Lemonade is a refreshing drink that can be easily recreated at home. To make your own batch, start by filling a pitcher with ice, then combine the Pimm’s with lemonade in a 1:3 ratio. Next, take a handful of fresh mint leaves and crush them to release their fragrant oils.
Add the crushed mint to the Pimm’s mixture, along with sliced orange, cucumber, and quartered strawberries – it’s ideal to use two slices of cucumber for every slice of orange and strawberry. Finally, give the mixture a good stir and serve in tall glasses.
Ocean Breeze
For the perfect summer cocktail, consider whipping up a refreshing Ocean Breeze in a large pitcher. Fill the container halfway with crushed ice to keep drinks chilled throughout serving. Next, combine four ounces each of blue curaçao and white rum in the pitcher, followed by 16 ounces of lemonade. Add some visual appeal with sliced lemons and fresh blueberries – use about half a cup of these berries for added flavor and color.
Once all ingredients are incorporated, give the mixture a gentle stir to combine everything evenly. Finally, pour individual servings into glasses and top each drink off with a few more lemon slices and blueberries as garnishes.
Mojito Pitcher
For a more efficient and convenient way to prepare Mojitos, consider making an entire pitcher at once. This approach eliminates the need for simple syrup and can be just as effortless as muddling together 30 mint leaves with five quartered limes and nearly three-quarters of a cup of sugar. Once the sugar has begun to dissolve, add a cup of white rum and stir until it’s completely dissolved.
Chill the pitcher in the refrigerator before adding club soda when you’re ready to serve, allowing the flavors to meld together perfectly.
Pink Gin Iced Tea
Generally speaking, brewing the perfect Pink Gin Iced Tea requires attention to detail and a bit of creativity. To start, brew a chamomile tea bag in 500ml of boiling water for up to three minutes. This step not only infuses the tea with its signature flavor but also sets the stage for the subsequent additions. After removing the tea bag, allow the tea to cool before combining it with other key ingredients – 100ml each of pink gin, spiced rum, elderflower cordial, and pink grapefruit juice.
Once you’ve added these components, stir in some ice cubes to chill the mixture, then finish it off with a few sprigs of thyme for garnish.
Long Island Iced Tea
Often, the key to creating a refreshing and bold cocktail is to start with a well-balanced mixture of spirits. In this case, combine tequila, white rum, vodka, gin, and triple sec in equal proportions, using half a cup for each spirit. Next, mix in three-quarters of a cup of simple syrup and lemon juice, stirring the mixture thoroughly until it’s well-chilled. Strain the concoction into a pitcher to remove any ice shards or sediment.
Finally, stir in one and a half cups of cola and serve the cocktail over ice in hurricane glasses, garnishing each glass with a slice of lemon.
Pitcher Margaritas
To make this pitcher of Margaritas, you’ll need a full 750ml bottle of tequila, which will be combined with freshly squeezed lime juice and Cointreau (or triple sec) in equal proportions of one and a half cups each. Additionally, you’ll want to balance out the flavors by adding between half a cup to a cup of agave nectar for sweetness.
After preparing kosher salt rims and preparing your glassware with a lime wedge, place the pitcher in the refrigerator to chill for a couple of hours before serving over crushed ice.
Directions
Selecting a recipe from our curated list above, simply click on the name of your chosen dish and visit the corresponding website. From there, you can collect the necessary ingredients and begin cooking. Once you’ve prepared the meal, be sure to take a moment to appreciate the flavors and don’t forget to leave a review for others to benefit from.
