Barbecue or Picnic, Try These 10 Easy Recipes Ideal For The Best Cocktails

For days that you want to see and create your own magic, a cocktail that literally changes colour in front of you should do the trick. This one has more visual appeal than taste, but if you're looking to stay off sugar, this should do just fine. 

Ingredients: White Rum, Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, ice, a few drops of lemon.

Method: Boil around 150ml of water and add the 2 tea spoons of the loose tea mix for a decoction. Allow it to cool. Pour the white rum over ice in a glass, add the cooled decoction. Add the lime at the end to watch the magic. 

It's never a bad time for a Mojito. Basically what adults sometimes drink instead of a regular lime soda, it's ideal for mid-day chilling scenes, you can make this easy cocktail recipe as sweet, strong, or tangy as you want. 

Ingredients: 45ml White Rum, 6 mint leaves, soda, half a lime, 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Method: Muddle the leaves with sugar and the lime juice, add the rum and top with soda. Or put it all in the blender for 30 seconds and pour over ice.

Channel the true tropical summer vibe and while you're at it, feel free to pretend you’re actually relaxing by white sand beaches and azure waters and sipping this out of a pineapple, or coconut, instead of freezing! If neither are available and you just have a glass, you can still get the mix from this brand and make it at home! 

Ingredients: 30ml white rum, 30ml Malibu (optional), 120ml & Stirred Cocktail Mix - Pina Colada 

Method: Mix it all with crushed ice, pour into pineapple, coconut, or glass, find somewhere to lounge, enjoy!

A party without a G&T option is a sin. It's a classic, liked by many, and super easy to make! Check out this brand here for your next glass.

Ingredients: Gin, Tonic, ice. 

Method: Add one part gin and three parts tonic over ice. If you’re feeling fancy, add an orange slice or sliced cucumber for an added flair. 

Pro Tip: If you're looking for the best gins to buy, click here.

Can’t pick between coffee and alcohol? Then this one is perfect for you! Get your caffeine kick while enjoying a drink with your near and dear.

Ingredients: 60ml of your fav cold brew coffee, 15ml sugar syrup, 60ml vodka (can use Smirnoff Espresso Vodka, or the Greater Than No Sleep Gin, if you really like coffee), 30ml Kahlua or Bailey’s Irish Cream

Method: Add all ingredients in a shaker (or add into a blender for a minute) and shake vigorously, garnish with coffee beans or instant coffee powder such as this brand's. Best enjoyed chilled. 

Pro Tip: Confused about where to get the best cold brew? Check here

Serving around five people at least, this one’s for stay-at-home family lunches, or brunches. You can swap out the red wine with white wine or Rose syrup depending on what is available at your closest liquor store. Fruit can be ordered online, so you’re set. 

Ingredients: A bottle of wine, 220ml brandy, ½ apple, ½ orange, 220ml orange juice, 3-4 tablespoons of brown sugar or jaggery. 

Method: Cut up the fruit, and add to a bowl or vessel to hold it, and add the sugar. Muddle with a wooden spoon for a minute. Add the orange juice and brandy and repeat the process for half a minute. Add the wine and mix. Adjust to suit your taste. You can also add edible flowers and other fruit per your preference. 

We could tell you how to make LIIT, but everyone knows how to make that. For balmy evenings to enjoy the sunset, or even for weekend brunches, try making a peach ice tea cocktail. 

Ingredients: 250ml Peach Ice Tea, 30ml vodka, 30ml simple syrup with 6-7 mint leaves, ice.

Method: Make the tea per your preference and cool. Once cooled, add everything into a cocktail shaker (or protein shake mixer, no judgement) and shake. Pour it out, garnish with mint leaves. Feel free to add more tea or vodka. Use lemon tea for the classic version. 

For that really spicy gossip sesh with your squad, this one is a winner. Perfect for vodka lovers, this one will take any party to the next level.

Ingredients: 30ml Vodka, 13ml lime juice, 1 sachet of raspberry fruit juice powder, 200ml Sprite

Method: In glass with 2-3 ice cubes, combine all the ingredients, adding the sprite last. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy.

For long days, and longer evenings, this brand's chamomile tea is ideal. Now throw in some grown-up problems, and suddenly, the drink needs to be stronger, and hopefully, whiskey helps. Ingredients: 2 spoons of Chamomile Tea, 300ml of water, 30ml of whiskey or bourbon, 1.5 teaspoons honey, half an orange slice, one slice of lime.

Method: Boil water and make chamomile tea. Muddle orange and lime. Add the tea over the orange and lime mixture, add honey. Once cooled, add that, honey and some ice in a shaker and shake. Strain it out and pour it into the glass. Enjoy!

Pro Tip: For other teas and tisanes that work great as mixers, check here.

Nothing like a boozy milkshake to really lift your spirits. While there are no real rules and you can actually use any flavour of ice cream or milk and essence, vanilla goes really well with whiskey. As does Cinnamon. We actually decided to make this one dairy-free.

Ingredients: 90ml of Bevry vanilla milk (or 90 grams of vanilla ice cream), 1 teaspoon vanilla essence or extract, 45ml Bourbon or whiskey

Method: Cool the oat milk, add the bourbon and vanilla and mix, or blend in a blender. If you're using ice cream, wait till it melts before you do this. You can also add it to popsicle moulds, and freeze into ice cream for an indulgent dessert.