Punch Recipes for Memorial Day Drinking

Tropical Rum Punch — Photo:
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

As the unofficial start to summer, Memorial Day is one of our favorite excuses to host friends and family. While many of us plan menus that feature our favorite cookout dishes like Grilled Corn, Okra, and Tomato Salad and Smoked Brisket days (or even weeks) in advance, drinks can fall to the wayside.

Luckily, our favorite crowd-friendly cocktails are easy to make and call for ingredients you likely already have on hand. Learn how to make a batch of frozen Gin & Tonics or Cucumber Margaritas, as well as a few tried-and-true punches and sangrias.

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Pineapple Rum Punch

This spicy, sweet rum punch benefits from a pronounced kick of fruity flavor thanks to a combination of pineapple-flavored rum, juice, and seltzer.

An ice ring garnish (which is easier to make than you think!) makes this punch a show-stopping party centerpiece.

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Frozen Cucumber Margaritas with Chili-Sumac Salt

These eye-catching frozen cucumber Margaritas from Gail Simmons are earthy and herbaceous.

While we generally opt for skipping fussy garnishes, the chili-sumac rim adds a welcome contrast to the deep green of this cocktail, while also introducing smoky, spicy flavors into each sip.

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Watermelon Agua Fresca

Whether you're whipping up a pitcher of classic, nonalcoholic agua frescas or stepping things up by adding a little mezcal or tequila, this Mexican staple is one of our favorite recipes for warm-weather entertaining.

If you can't find watermelon juice at your local grocery store, don't worry — you can easily make your own by blending chunks of watermelon and straining it through a mesh sieve.

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Red Sangria

Glasses of sangria on a tray — Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Sue Mitchell

Arguably the most iconic pitcher cocktail and a perfect way to signal the start of summer, sangria checks all of our boxes for drinks we like to make when hosting a crowd: It's easy to make, calls for ingredients we likely already have in our refrigerator and pantry, and can be scaled up or down depending on the size of the gathering.

If you're looking for the best sangrias to make with red, white or rosé wine, here's where to start.

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Boozy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

We know not to judge drinks solely based on appearances, but this cheerful frozen strawberry lemonade tastes as inviting as it looks.

Fans of lemon cocktails will go for second rounds of this delightful combination of limoncello, lemon sorbet, and lemon-flavored vodka, which makes each sip extra tart. Basil leaves add a bit of earthiness for balance.

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Grilled Pineapple–Tequila Punch

Grilled Pineapple Poncha Recipe — Greg Dupree

Cookbook author Paula Disbrowe makes this cocktail when cooler weather starts to hit Texas, but you can make it during warmer weather, too.

The sweet and smoky notes of grilled pineapple are combined with blanco tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde (poblano liqueur), pineapple juice, and lime juice, with Topo Chico and fresh garnishes as the finishing touch.

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Sparkling Mezcal Water

Easily doubled for a party, this cocktail is a refreshing blend of citrus juice, mezcal, and bubbly sparkling water.

Key lime juice and Meyer lemon juice bring a tart and floral flair to the otherwise simple cocktail. Meyer lemons add delicate tanginess, in comparison to regular lemons, while still providing ample acidity to balance the sweetness of the simple syrup and sharpness of the alcohol.

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Tropical Rum Punch

This eye-catching drink will transport you to the beach.

While many punches call for a combination of spirits, all you'll need here is white rum or coconut rum, both of which complement Coco Lopez, our preferred brand of cream of coconut for making cocktails.

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Frozen Gin & Tonics

Frozen Gin and Tonic — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

Why bother complicating a drink as straightforward as the humble Gin & Tonic, you might ask? We'll start by arguing that everything tastes better frozen.

The unexpectedly floral addition of Lillet Blanc along with tonic syrup and plenty of ice makes this classic a smooth, scaleable cocktail for your next backyard bash.

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Orange Wine Sangria

Tired of using red or rosé wine in your sangria? Budget-friendly orange wine adds acidity and funk to this tried-and-true pitcher drink, and adds a little visual intrigue, too.

Not sure which wine to use? Try one of our favorite orange wines from Georgia, Portugal, or Alsace.

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