Summer is approaching and it means you’ll have to start thinking of drinks to help cool you down. Now when you think of summer and drinks, you think of bright, colorful, fruity drinks. And that’s what we have here. After all, it also needs to look pretty (to an extent), otherwise it’s not really all that fun (or so I like to think). So come on, whip up one of these summer drinks and bring out the party!

Iced Fruit Punch (recipe)

This drink just screams summer, wouldn’t you agree? When I think of summer, I think of all the summer fruits, the bring yellow/orange/red/pink colors swirling in my drink and I just think, ‘Ah, bliss.’ And that’s what this drink reminds me of. So basically, you need 6 different fruit juices, freeze some of that fruit juice, and throw the fruit ice cubes into your drink and watch as the ice cubes melt under the summer sun. Not only that, but you can cut your fruit pieces into different shapes to give it a more fun and playful look.

Raspberry Spritzer (recipe)

While it doesn’t have that bright colorful look, just take a look at this drink. I mean, there’s a mint leaf in the drink, which immediately would give you cool thoughts (well, for me, at least). And the fact that it’s more transparent with lots of ice and fruit, it just gives the impression that it is indeed a very nice summer-inspired drink. In summer, we want our cool drinks that don’t leave us even thirstier than intended. And pfft, you want something refreshing on a hot summer day. So why not try this very delectable-looking drink, eh?

Lemon-Orange Fizz (recipe)

I think this drink here is just perfect for any types of summer parties. It’s that cool vibe to it, like laidback and refreshing. And don’t think you need to serve this as an alcoholic drink; in fact, the recipe says that the vodka is optional, which is perfect for those of you throwing summer parties with little kids around. I’m sure they’d love the color of this drink as well. Just need seltzer, lemonade, and some lemon juice for this green yellow concoction. Just looking at this drink makes me cool down immensely, even though I write this in my undoubtedly cold room. I’ll look at this drink come summertime.

Strawberry Lemonade (recipe)

Ok, I will be the first to admit: yes, strawberry lemonade is not all that original; it’s a little boring. But! Lemonade is a classic drink for the hot hot summer. But you probably want to spruce up that lemonade, then, right? So add strawberries - balance out the sour, tangy with the sweet. And I love that color! It just really reminds me of summer and reminds that it’s a refreshing drink that I should have during the hot summer. Ah, bliss.

Mango Piña Smoothie (recipe)

Summer drinks should be full of fruit and with this delicious Mango Pina Smoothie, you’ll get just that. You take mango and pineapple with either papaya or mango juice and throw them all into a blender, complete with ice. It makes for a tropical drink and should allow you to daydream about the tropical islands that you just haven’t been able to visit. Paradise!

Pina Colada Smoothie (recipe #1)

By looking at this drink, you know that summer has come. After all, only summer will allow you to drink out of cut-out fruit shells and whatnot and still look cool (no pun intended). You don’t have to drink your delicious smoothie out of a fruit shell, but it just gives it a little more flair. And besides, you’ll get more of an authentic taste from the pineapple in the your drink thanks to the drink sitting in a pineapple (and now I’m hearing Spongebob’s theme song playing in my head).

A Very Berry Medley (recipe #5)

No summer drink is complete without its numerous berries. After all, summer is the time where all berries make an appearance, so it’s the perfect time to perfect your berry drink. Mix strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries together for a very berry medley. And not only will it keep you refreshed during those scorching hot days, but it’s also good for your body because it will keep you healthy with all of those antioxidants. And I’m just a sucker for fruit, so I had to add this in.

YellowJacket Mocktail (recipe #8)

When I first saw this, I was enraptured by the color. The color! It’s a very bright yellow-orange color that just brings images of summer to mind. Plus, it’s a mocktail, which is the closest thing to a cocktail with no alcohol inside! Awesome. You just need a lot of juice - pineapple, orange, and lemon. Oh, so that’s where it gets its yellow-orange color from. Crafty. I should probably try this out - it looks so refreshing! Random note: There’s a manga called “Kitchen Princess” and one of the recipes that it gives to readers is called “Cinderella,” which uses the same ingredients. I have made this drink before! But, instead of using the 1.5oz of lemon juice, I would use 1/4 oz - you don’t want it too sour.

Cantaloupe Aqua Fresca with Green Tea (recipe)

The recipe linked calls for just an Aqua Fresca, but you can put a twist on your drink by adding different fruits and other liquids. This Cantaloupe Aqua Fresca looks very refreshing indeed - it’s a smooth, little watery orange color with ice and mint leaves as a garnish. And cantaloupe is sweet, hence probably the amount of ice. It will keep you cool, though!

Wesall Refresher

I’m saving the best one for last. This is a custom-made Starbucks drink by a barista at a Starbucks that I frequent. One day I saw her drinking this drink and I asked her what it was because I had never seen it before. She told me it was her own creation, hence “Wesall” (for her name) and it was definitely refreshing. I particularly liked the color of the drink - it’s a really pretty combination of red, orange, and yellow. Now what’s in this drink, you might ask? Orange mango juice, apple juice, and pumps of raspberry. Very delicious. I highly recommend it if you ever go to Starbucks (it’s the price of their passion tea lemonades) and if you want, I’ll try to get the exact recipe so that you all may enjoy this fun drink.

My bad, looks like I got carried away by talking about these drinks. Very summer-inspired and definitely fitting for the summer, the hot summer we’re supposed to get (but I don’t trust the weather forecast nowadays. I mean, it rained when apparently there was a 0% chance of rain, but I digress).

Which drinks will you be itching to try out come summer? Be a brave soul and try all of them!