2025 Memorial Day Cocktail Recipes

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is Monday, May 26, and your bar or restaurant will probably be using the weekend to debut summer menus.

We've got you covered with a collection of cocktail recipes featuring everything from fruit-forward sippers to brightly colored serves to refreshing spritzes. 

No matter what you're looking to add to your Memorial Day cocktail menus, you can find it on our list of recipes below! 

 

 

memorial day cocktail recipes
Photo & recipe: Bear Fight

Bears & Berries 

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Bear Fight Kentucky Reserve Bourbon  

.5 oz. Real Blueberry Syrup (or 8 blueberries muddled with .5oz simple syrup)

3 oz. Lemonade / squeeze of lemon

Mint for garnish

Directions:

  1. Muddle blueberries in a mixing tin with simple syrup.
  2. Add remaining ingredients.
  3. Shake with ice.
  4. Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
  5. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

 

memorial day cocktail recipes
Photo & recipe: Ketel One

Botanical Hugo Spritz

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint

0.3 oz Elderflower liqueur

0.5 oz Cucumber juice

0.5 oz Lime juice

0.3 oz Simple syrup

1.5 oz of soda water

1.5 oz of prosecco

Mint Sprig for Garnish

Directions:

  1. Add Ketel One Botanical, Elderflower Liqueur, Cucumber Juice, Lime Juice, and Simple Syrup to a mixing glass with good quality ice cubes.
  2. Stir to combine, then strain into wine.
  3. Top with soda water and prosecco.

 

memorial day recipe
Photo & recipe: Frederic Yarm, Bartender, C-Side Bar

Army Navy Bowl

Ingredients:

2 oz London Dry Gin
1/2 oz Funky Jamaican Overproof Rum (like Wray & Nephew)
1 1/2 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Orgeat (Almond Syrup)
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Directions:

  1. Whip shake and pour into a Tiki mug.
  2. Fill with crushed ice.
  3. Garnish with a flower.

 

memorial day recipe
Photo & recipe: Manojo Mezcal

Manojo Margarita 

Ingredients:

1.75 oz Manojo Mezcal

.5 oz peach liqueur

.5 oz pineapple juice

Garnish: Slice of pineapple and a drop of Cholula hot sauce

Directions:

  1. Shake quickly and strain into a rocks glass.

 

memorial day cocktail recipes
Photo & recipe: Kraken Rum

Kraken Water

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Kraken Gold Spiced Rum

1 oz Blue Curacao

6 oz Pineapple Juice

1.5 oz Coconut Water

1 oz Fresh Lime Juice 

Directions: 

  1. Combine all ingredients in a rocks glass or bathtub with crushed ice.
  2. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and lime wedge (severed rubber ducky optional).

 

memorial day cocktail recipes
Photo & recipe: Hendrick's

Oasium Green Tea Jubilee

Ingredients: 

1 ½ parts Hendrick’s Oasium

2 parts chilled green tea

¾ part lemon juice

¾ part simple syrup

2 dashes cardamom bitters

1 ½ parts / top sparkling water

Cucumber slice and lemon wheel for garnish

Directions:

  1. Build in a teapot over ice.
  2. Garnish with a slice of cucumber and a lemon wheel.

 

gin recipe
Recipe & photo: Empress 1908

Cucumber Blue

Ingredients: 

2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin 

Soda Water

Cucumber

Mint

Garnishes: Cucumber Ribbon & Basil  

Directions: 

  1. Muddle cucumber, basil, and mint in the bottom of a chilled rocks glass.
  2. Add ice and Empress 1908.
  3. Top with soda water.
  4. Garnish and enjoy. 

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