Some occasions just call for a delicious and sweet cocktail. Whether you have it virgin (non-alcoholic) or with a splash of your favorite liquor, fruity drinks make any event feel like a party.
Fruity drinks aren’t always sweet and difficult to make, you might be surprised to find that there are light and refreshing fruity drinks that are super simple to make. Go on and try a new drinks recipe with some fruity goodness added to it.
Common Ingredients for Fruity Drinks
Most fruity mixed drinks call for spirits, fruit juice, ice and garnish. Depending on what drink you are making and where in the world you are making it, common ingredients range from orange juice to more exotic passion fruit juice.
It is safe to say almost all fruity cocktails require the following ingredients
- Fresh ice
- Fruit juice or mixers
- Alcohol – if it’s a fruity alcoholic drink
Best Alcohol to Mix in Fruity Cocktails
The best alcohol to use in fruity drinks is that with little to no distinct flavor such as coffee liqueur or flavored vodkas. These are great to use:
- Plain Vodka
- Tequila
- Gin
- Rum
Since you would be using fruit or fruit juice, it’s best to let the fruit flavors shine and let the alcohol simply complement the fruit.
Best Fruits to Use in Fruity Drinks
Fruits that are soft or tangy usually work best in drinks where you either blend the drink or add a sweeter spirit to it. Great options include:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Citrus fruits such as Oranges or Limes
Fruit juices are a great way to incorporate fruits in your drinks if you aren’t able to get your hands on fresh or exotic fruits.
Most supermarkets stock exotic fruit juices or purees such as:
- Pomegranate juice
- Pineapple juice
- Passion fruit puree
Other Additives to Fruity Cocktails And Mocktails
Some fruit juices like grapefruit juice or passion fruit juice might be sour or bitter, so you may find that fruity cocktail or fruity mocktail recipes call for these ingredients to sweeten the drink :
- Simple syrup
- Flavored syrups
- Sugar on the glass rims
- Fresh herbs and spices such as mint or cinnamon
You might even want to add this even if the recipe doesn’t require it, for instance when you only have unsweetened fruit juices and the recipe needs sweetened juice.
How to Make Fruity Mixed Drinks
Making fruity alcoholic drinks is quite easy, whether you prefer fresh juice, fresh fruit, or flavored alcohol, you just need a minimum of two ingredients and you’re technically enjoying a fruity drink!
Try to pair sweeter spirits with tangier fruit juices, or pair exotic juices with simpler spirits. Passion fruit juice goes well with plain vodka and club soda, whilst dark rum matches up well with a hint of lime or lemon juice and sparkling water.
Whatever you do, add ice to your fruity cocktail to keep you cool during a hot summer day.
Ingredients
Since you can make anything, you only need a minimum of two of these ingredients, and of course ice. Choose to blend everything into a slushy in a blender or simply shake it all together in a shaker to cool it down.
Having a chilled glass helps keep you cool in the summer heat.
Remember that fizzy mixers like lemon-lime soda or even sparkling wines won’t work well shaken or blended. Rather use a mixing glass to mix your non-fizzy ingredients first, and top it off with your bubbles of choice.
Instructions
Step 1
Add your alcohol and fruit juice or fresh fruits to either your blender or cocktail shaker. Remember to add ice and shake or blend for a few seconds until it is cold enough or the consistency is slushy-like.
Step 2
If you would like to add some bubbles to your drink, add your alcohol blend to your chilled glass or cocktail glass first and top it off with your fizzy mixer.
Step 3
Add some garnish or finishing syrups. You don’t need mini umbrellas or coconut to make your drinks look great at your next dinner party, simply add an orange slice or wedge of pineapple to your glass.
Tasty Fruity Alcoholic Drinks
Most people love fruity cocktails, especially on a hot day. Making or ordering them isn’t that difficult once you learn a few. Next time you’re out with friends and crave some sweet drinks, why not swap the chocolate martini for a fruity cocktail with some peach schnapps?
Fruity Vodka Drinks
Vodka is great to use in most cocktails since it has no distinct flavor and thus mixes well into any cocktail. Flavored vodka can be used if you want a quick fruity flavor added to some club soda or sparkling water.
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Sex on the Beach
Mix That Drink offers us this classic cocktail made with cranberry juice, orange and pineapple juices, add ice, peach schnapps, and vodka and you have a cocktail glass full of yum.
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Cosmopolitan
For another classic drink, check out this recipe from Bon Appetit which shows us how to use triple sec, lemon vodka, cranberry juice, lime zest shaken over fresh ice in a cocktail shaker. Then it is poured into a martini glass complete with a maraschino cherry on top.
Fruity Rum Drinks
Rum is delightfully sweet and comes in many different types. Light rum, dark rum, and spiced rum are some of the delicious variants of this spirit.
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Pina Colada
A cocktail so great it was mentioned in a very popular song. Food Network offers us this pina colada recipe that is made with coconut rum or white rum, coconut cream, lime juice, pineapple juice and blended with some ice.
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Blue Hawaiian
All Recipes gives us this recipe for a Blue Hawaiian that can be made as a slushy drink or shaken in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, sour mix, pineapple juice, light rum, vodka, and blue curaçao together and you have a tropical treat ready to enjoy on any occasion.
Fruity Tequila Drinks
Known for its earthy taste, tequila pairs surprisingly well with sweet and tangy flavors. Tequila is a versatile spirit enjoyed as is, or of course in some great fruity cocktail recipes.
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Tequila Sunrise
Culinary Hill shows us how to make this beautifully layered drink made with tequila, orange juice, ice and topped with grenadine to create a stunning sunrise effect. Top it off with a cocktail cherry or some orange slices and you’re set for a summer party.
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Margarita
Probably the most famous cocktail using tequila. Gimme Some Oven offers us this recipe for a classic margarita. You can have it as a slushy by blending it with some ice or shaking it with ice in a cocktail shaker and straining it into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass of your choice.
Mix tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, and triple sec together for a delicious cocktail.
Fruity Gin Drinks
Gin has a very distinct taste but goes surprisingly well in fruity summer cocktails. The botanicals also pair well with common fruit juices such as orange juice or lemon juice.
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Gin and Orange Cocktail
For a simple fruity drink, try this tasty recipe from Absolut Drinks. It is a cocktail made with gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice and shaken with ice presented in a martini glass
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Gimlet
Dry gin is the star of the show in this cocktail from Simply Recipes. Add ice, dry gin, simple syrup, and some lime juice together to create a super easy cocktail everyone will enjoy. Use lemon juice if you haven’t got any lime juice around.
Fun Fruity Drinks to Order at a Bar
When you are at your favorite bar, why not ditch the red wine and escape to a faraway island by ordering a tropical cocktail?
Just keep the other customers in mind on a busy night as it might take your bartender slightly longer to prepare these fruity alcoholic drinks.
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Banana Daiquiri
Southern Living shows us how to make this fruity cocktail that will help you use up all of those browning bananas. Simply mix banana liqueur, lime juice, demerara syrup, and aged rum for a tropical treat.
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Malibu Sunset
For a delicious fruity drink, try this Malibu Sunset recipe from Bake It With Love. It is a beach-inspired cocktail that is made with coconut rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, fresh ice, and a lime wheel or orange slice.
Non-alcoholic Fruity Drinks
Whether you want to make some fruity drinks for the whole family, including the kids, or just don’t want to get tipsy sipping on some sweet alcoholic drinks on a hot summer day, you can make any cocktail into a mocktail or virgin cocktail by simply omitting the alcohol.
Replace sweet spirits by adding some vanilla syrup or plain simple syrup to your drink. Try swooping champagne or sparkling wine for sparkling grape juice next time you want a fruity drink without the alcohol.
Refreshing Fruity Drinks for Summer
Summer temperatures can rise well above comfort levels, so make sure you are hydrated at all times. Make a refreshing fruity drink after a long day in the sun or pool to cool down.
If you are worried about not getting enough water in, top any of these cocktails off with some club soda or sparkling water, plus it adds great fizziness to your drink.
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Virgin Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri
Blend some fresh or frozen strawberries, a splash of lime juice, simple syrup, and some ice together to make this delicious and refreshing mocktail from A Couple Cooks. Don’t forget to garnish with a maraschino cherry on top to make it look as great as it tastes.
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Virgin Sunset
All the ingredients of a malibu sunset, without the alcohol, in this fruity drink recipe from All Recipes. Simply add some cranberry juice to give the mocktail more flavor, and enjoy.
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Whiskey Sour Mocktail
Presented in a rocks glass, just as the original cocktail, this recipe from Aubrey’s Kitchen won’t disappoint. It does call for a non-alcoholic whiskey alternative, but you can replace it with some orange juice if you don’t want the whiskey taste.
Mix together some lemon juice, maple syrup, or simple syrup, your orange juice or whiskey alternative, and pour into a rocks glass with an orange slice garnish.
Healthy Fruity Drinks
Healthy fruity drinks aren’t difficult to come by at all, fruit is already healthy, it’s what you add to it that might make it unhealthy.
Skip the simple syrup or caramelized sugar rim and opt for a fruit smoothie instead.
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Mock Mojito
Try making a mock mojito like this one from Sustainable Cooks using some fresh lime juice, mint, fresh ice, and soda water. If you feel like it’s lacking a sweet taste, why not add some sweet fresh strawberries or try some sugar-free lemon-lime soda instead of club soda.
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Berry Smoothie
Spice Up the Curry shows us how to go low cal by adding some frozen strawberries or mixed frozen berries, watermelon juice or unsweetened cranberry juice, and ice cubes to a blender. If you like a creamy smoothie, try adding some yogurt or low-fat milk.
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Watermelon Mint Mocktail
You can make this watermelon min mocktail from Eating Well similar to the mock mojito by adding some watermelon juice to the mix before topping it with club soda.
If you want a colder drink, try making it in the same style as a strawberry daiquiri – mix frozen watermelon chunks, ice, mint, and a splash of lime juice in a blender for a slushy delight without the guilt.
Fruity Drinks FAQ
What Is the Best Fruity Alcoholic Drink?
It is truly up to you to decide, some people like blended icy fruity drinks over a fruity drink that only contains a fruity flavored spirit.
Why not try something new next time you’re out for a drink, and decide for yourself?
What Fruity Drink Has the Most Alcohol?
An Aunt Roberta is considered the strongest cocktail in the world. It features no mixers so it is alcohol only. It includes gin, blackberry liqueur, brandy, absinthe, and vodka in its lethal mix. The only fruity element would be the blackberry liqueur.
If you would like the strongest cocktail that features some fruit juice, try a Zombie instead. It includes lime juice, grapefruit juice, Angostura bitters, Pernod, three types of rum, a cinnamon-flavored syrup, falernum, and a splash of Grenadine.
It is so strong, bartenders limit customers to only 2 of these a night.
Is Champagne Good With Fruity Drinks?
Champagne is great in fruity drinks. A popular cocktail called a mimosa includes some champagne, it has equal parts orange juice and champagne.
Just a hint of champagne in any drink can add a lovely fizz – you can always use some sparkling wine instead if you can’t find champagne easily.
Fruity Drinks Conclusion
Fruity drinks are more than just cranberry vodkas. As you can see from this list of the most refreshing and delicious fruity drinks to make at home, there are plenty of healthy, boozy, and easy fruity drinks for you to try out.
Whether you’re at home, out with friends, or simply craving a sweet drink, try one of these fruity drink recipes or experiment with the ingredients you have at home. You never know – you might just discover your new favorite drink.
