Berry Vodka Smash, Cosmopolitan, daiquiri, Fresh Mint Margarita, Martini, Mint Gimlet, Old Fashioned, rum cocktails, sidecar, Southside, The Saint

Best Mint Cocktails That’ll Refresh You This Summer

Georgia Miranda
March 13, 2023

Mint has been one of those herbs that pair exceptionally well with most cocktails. It has been a staple ingredient to add to cocktails for generations, thanks to its adaptability and profusion of aromatics. It’s something that adds refreshment and we all need that during the scorching summer. If you’re one to enjoy the taste of this herb, we’ve got a list of some of the best mint cocktails that you may want to try.

The 7 Best Mint Cocktails You Need To Try

Gin Gin Mule
Old Cuban
Mint Gimlet
Berry Vodka Smash
The Saint
Fresh Mint Margarita
Southside

1. Gin Gin Mule

The Gin Gin Mule, a contemporary classic cocktail, was invented by Audrey Saunders of the Pegu Club in New York City. This is a cocktail that may taste and look familiar as it comes from the Mojito family.

It follows a lot of the same ingredients but with an additional touch of ginger beer. The addition of ginger beer is what gives this drink a tangy soda flavor and a distinctive fizz. If you want to try this spin on the Mojito, follow the recipe given below!

Ingredients

1 ¾ ounces of dry gin
1 ounce of ginger beer
1 ounce of simple syrup
¾ ounce of lime juice
1 mint sprig for the drink
Some mint leaves for garnish

How To Make Gin Gin Mule

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint sprig, simple syrup, and lime juice until all of them have mixed well.
To this, add all the other ingredients along with ice, and shake until it’s all blended well.
Strain this into a cocktail glass over fresh ice cubes, and garnish with mint leaves.

Also Read: Best Rums For Mojitos

2. Old Cuban

Best Mint Cocktails — Picture Credits: Pinterest/ in the Mix Magazine

Old Cuban is another drink on the list that draws inspiration from the Mojito. But this intense cocktail has a few key modifications that give it a distinctive flavor profile. First off, the rum used is old-aged rum that has some intense and strong flavors.

Following the Mojito trajectory, we’ve got simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and mint. And finally, the Angostura bitters are what pull the drink together to give Old Cuban a festive dose of effervescence.

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces of aged rum
2 ounces of chilled champagne
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 ounce of simple syrup
¾ ounce of fresh lime juice
6 whole mint leaves for the drink
Mint spring for garnish

How To Make Old Cuban

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves, simple syrup, and lime juice.
To this, add the rum and bitters along with fresh crushed ice and mix until it turns all icy cold.
Double strain this mixture into your cocktail glass, add in some fresh ice cubes and top it off with the champagne.
Finally, garnish with mint spring, and enjoy your drink!

3. Mint Gimlet

The Mint Gimlet is a mint-flavored cocktail that uses mint syrup to reimagine a vintage classic. This one’s a popular drink from the 1930s that takes no more than 5 minutes to prepare.

It’s the ideal combination of sweet and sour with gin’s floral taste. This traditional cocktail is created with lime juice, gin, and simple syrup. By switching the syrup to mint syrup, the beverage gains a herbaceous freshness that is difficult to resist!

Ingredients

2 ounces of dry gin
½ ounce of fresh lime juice
½ ounce of simple mint syrup
A splash of club soda
Lime wheel and mint leaves for garnish

How To Make Mint Gimlet

In a cocktail shaker, add the gin, fresh lime juice, simple mint syrup, and ice, and shake for 30 seconds.
Strain this into your cocktail glass, top it off with a splash of club soda, and add ice cubes.
Garnish with mint leaves and lime wheel and enjoy your refreshing cocktail!

Also Read: 10 Of The Best Vodka Brands In India

4. Berry Vodka Smash

Get ready for our new go-to recipe for a drink that will make you fall in love with it. The very berry, Berry Vodka Smash! This one has blackberries, mint, and lime that are blended together to give you the fruity, tart, and cooling drink of your dreams.

This one’s one of our favorites at Unsobered and is the star of the show at many of our cocktail parties. If you too want to try this one out, the recipe below will be of great help!

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces of vodka
½ ounce of simple syrup
2 lime wedges
5 large mint leaves
8 raspberries or blackberries
Mint leaves for garnish

How To Make Berry Vodka Smash

Add your lime, mint leaves, and berries to a cocktail shaker and gently muddle them until their flavors are extracted.
To this, add the vodka, simple syrup, and crushed ice.
Now, shake the drink until it’s all cold.
Pour everything into a glass and garnish with mint leaves.

Also Read: Best Cocktail Recipes For A Girls’ Night In

5. The Saint

This cocktail may look like a saint from the outside, but there’s actually a lot going on inside one glass. Don’t let the straightforward appearance fool you, it’s actually a sweet, spicy, strong, smooth, alcoholic drink that tastes blissful.

The mint, basil, and tongue-tingling club soda are the most noticeable flavors while the ginger syrup is the main source of the spick kick. And the best part is that The Saint manages to fit into both the warm and spicy fall category as well as the refreshing summer category.

Ingredients

3 ounces of dry white wine
1 ½ ounces of ginger syrup
½ ounce of vermouth
½ ounce of fresh lime juice
A dash of club soda for topping
¼ ounce of orange bitters
Basil leaves, lemon peel, and mint leaves for garnish

How To Make The Saint

Add the wine, ginger syrup, vermouth, orange bitters, and fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake for a good minute.
Double strain this into a stemless wine glass and top it with icy cold club soda.
Lastly, garnish with basil, lemon, and mint, and drink up!

Also Read: 6 Classic Cocktails Named After Women

6. Fresh Mint

Fresh Mint Margarita is going to be your favorite drink if you like cocktails with a stronger boozy flavor and less sweetness. This one is more in line with the flavors of a Classic Mojito.

It’s got the same amount of zest and mint as Mojitos, but they also have a little more of the tequila’s subtle bitterness and lime’s tart and citrus flavors. Quite honestly, it’s a basic-looking cocktail that surprises you with its intense flavors and notes.

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces of tequila
1 ounce of Cointreau
¾ ounce of lime juice
2 fresh mint sprigs for cocktail
1 lime wedge and coarse salt for glass rim
A few mint leaves and a lime wedge for garnish

How To Make Fresh Mint Margarita

Rim your cocktail glass with lime and coarse salt, and set it aside for some time.
In a cocktail shaker, add lime juice and mint sprigs, and gently muddle them until their flavors are mixed.
To this mixture, add your tequila, Cointreau, along with ample crushed ice, and give it a nice shake.
In your prepared cocktail glass, strain this drink and garnish it with mint leaves and lime wedges.

Also Read: 6 French 75 Cocktail Variation Recipes For A Pool Party

7. Southside

Imagine sitting on the poolside watching the sunset and sipping on a refreshing, strong smooth, and minty cocktail. That is exactly what sipping on a Southside cocktail is going to feel like.

The origin of this cocktail is debatable, some stories say that it originated in New York, while others say it originated in the South Side neighborhood in Chicago. But, at the end of it, we’re glad that it exists!

Ingredients

2 ounces of spiced gin
¼ ounce of Angostura cocktail bitters
¾ ounce of fresh lime juice
¾ ounce of simple syrup
6 fresh mint leaves for cocktail
4 mint leaves for garnish

How To Make Southside

In a small bowl, add fresh mint leaves, simple syrup, and bitters.
Now, muddle the ingredients together.
Pour this into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add lime juice and gin, and shake until it turns cold.
Strain this into a cocktail glass, garnish with mint leaves, and enjoy your Southside drink!

Also Read: Top 8 Gin Brands In India

Summing Up

Now that you’ve got a list of cocktails and their recipes that you can make for summer, it’s time you get the mint out to give it a good slap across your palm! This will ensure that its flavors and aroma are accentuated and you get to taste it prominently in your drink. So don’t wait up, get all your tools ready and stir up some delicious mint cocktails.

FAQs

How Do You Use Mint Leaves In A Cocktail?

Mint is a versatile herb that is used in multiple ways in a cocktail. One of the most popular ways to use it is, muddling it with some kind of syrup and bitters until all of their aromas and flavors blend well. The second way is to simply garnish the cocktail with mint leaves or mint spring.

What Mint To Use For Cocktails?

Peppermint or spearmint are the two types of mints that are popularly used in cocktails. Both of them have strong flavors and also stay fresh for a long period

What Are The 6 Basic Cocktails?

Old Fashioned, Daiquiri, Cosmopolitan, Martini, Sidecar, and Negroni are the 6 basic cocktails.

Is It Okay To Drink Alcohol In Summer?

Yes, it’s okay to drink alcohol in the summer. Just remember that you’re keeping yourself hydrated with water and other fluids as well.

Why Do Bartenders Slap Mint Leaves?

Slapping the mint leaves on the hand releases its flavor and aroma. This adds to the flavor profile of the cocktail by giving it an intense flavor of mint.

Is There Mint Flavored Vodka?

Yes, you do have a mint-flavored vodka namely Dixie Mint Vodka. This is an American-made craft spirit and is unfortunately not available in India.

What Is The Best Alcoholic Drink In Summer?

A drink that is refreshing and has some tropical flavors is what makes it apt for summer. Listed below are some of the best alcoholic drinks to try during summer.