Most of our best childhood memories involve something sweet. Running after the ice cream truck, blowing out candles on a birthday cake, or riding bikes with our friends to the corner store for candy; kids love anything sweet. But we're all grown up now and sweet alcoholic drinks can legally replace cake. That's some good news.
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Sweet cocktail recipes are enjoyed by the youngest of newly legal drinkers to the burliest of burly men. Fruity cocktails are refreshing, pretty, and easy to drink. You don't need to have a fancy martini glass or a brunch planned to whip up these drink recipes. Make sure to always have some of the basic sweet stuff on hand like coconut cream, Cointreau, amaretto, peach schnapps, triple sec, and of course, maraschino cherries for garnish.
Sweet Alcoholic Drinks To Order
Visit any tropical resort or tiki bar and you'll find plenty of fruity alcoholic drinks on the menu. Classics like a Tequila Sunrise or slushy Strawberry Margarita to a trendy Pomegranate Mimosa aren't just for summer cocktails anymore. Stir up some of the following fruity drinks
Mai Tai
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Mai Tai means "Out of this World" in Tahiti. The Mai Tai is a classic cocktail for the tiki bar scene and just screams fruity fun.
You'll need 2 tablespoons dark rum, 2 tablespoons white rum, 2 tablespoons orange juice, 2 tablespoons pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon Cointreau or triple sec, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 drop pure almond extract, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, a dash of grenadine, and orange slice for garnish
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 1 cup of ice cubes, then strain into a glass filled with ice cubes.
Sex On The Beach
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This drink is fun to order at the bar when if you're young and the bartender is cute. Sweet and slightly tart at the same time, this is a very popular sweet alcoholic drink for anyone who needs an opening line and a gentle buzz.
You'll need 1 oz Vodka, ½ oz Peach Schnapps, 1 oz Cranberry Juice, and 1 oz Orange Juice. Pour all into a shaker over ice and give a good shake. Strain and serve with a tiny umbrella and fresh lime wedge.
Sangria
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Sangria is a staple in Mexican restaurants. But it's also become a popular party punch because it's basically impossible to mess up! Everyone has a sangria recipe found usually through trial and error. But here are the necessary basics. Fruity red wine, Sprite, blackberry or peach brandy, orange juice, triple sec, and lots of fresh fruit.
Use frozen peaches, blueberries, and strawberries in place of ice cubes to keep from accidentally watering down your sangria if the fiesta goes late. Feeling a little Martha Stewart vibe? Hollow out a watermelon and give your punch bowl the night off.
Strawberry Lemonade Vodka
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This is a fun combination of a slushie and a muddled drink. Play around with the measurements to your liking.
Chop up little pieces of lemon and strawberries and add them to a shaker. Add simple syrup and mash everything up with a muddler. Add some ice and vodka and shake well. Pour it into a cocktail glass and top it off with the soda.
Strawberry Daiquiri
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You'll need fresh strawberries, 2 oz. coconut rum, 1oz lime juice, 1oz simple syrup.
Add strawberries and lime juice and simple syrup into a shaker and muddle all together. and combine all ingredients together with cocktail muddler. Add the coconut rum and ice and shake really well. If you're not a rum fan, vodka can be substituted to cut the sweetness a little.
Malibu Bay Breeze
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Equal parts Malibu coconut rum, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice are all you need to make this name brand cocktail. This drink is made in the glass over ice for a layered look.
Add few ice cubes into the glass. Add the rum and pineapple juice first. The add the lighter cranberry juice on top. Skip mixing completely or very gently swirl the ingredients together.
Blue Hawaiian
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This Blue Hawaiian cocktail recipe is cheaper than a ticket to Oahu and with enough imagination, will give you a similar vacation feel. Pineapple, coconut, and citrus with that trademark blue color, this sweet alcoholic drink will be a hit on the patio or the couch.
Make sure to use unsweetened or fresh pineapple juice. Coconut cream is really sweet so cut back on the sugary juice to avoid an instant cavity.
Add 2 0z white rum, 0.75 Blue Curacao liqueur, 0.75 oz cream of coconut,1.5 oz pineapple juice, and .5 oz lemon juice to the shaker and shake until very chilled. Fill a tall glass ¾ full with crushed ice and strain and pour the cocktail over the ice.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, and a cocktail umbrella Even better if you have a tiny plastic monkey to hang off your masterpiece too.
Cosmopolitan
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Made super famous by Carrie Bradshaw on Sex In The City, you don't need a quirky fashion sense to love this fruity drink.
You'll need 1 ½ ounces vodka (can be citrus flavored or not), 1 oz. cranberry juice, ½ oz. fresh lime juice, ½ oz. Cointreau, ½ oz. simple syrup (optional), and a lemon twist, lime wedge, or orange peel, for garnish. Combine everything in a shaker filled with ice. Shake like you're Carrie Bradshaw having a fit over Big. Strain and pour into a fancy cocktail glass.
Mojito
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The Mojito is a really refreshing way to get your alcoholic kick and get your money's worth out of your trusty muddler.
Muddle four or five mint leaves with .5 oz simple syrup in a shaker. Add 2 oz. white rum, .75 oz. lime juice, and ice and shake. Strain into a short highball glass and add a splash of club soda. Garnish with more fresh mint and a lime wedge.
Long Island Iced Tea
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The laundry list of ingredients for this super strong cocktail can be intimidating. But if you like sweet tea and want to forget about life for a little while, a Long Island Iced Tea may be the perfect cocktail for you.
Pour .5 oz vodka, .5 oz light rum, .5 oz. gin, .5 oz. tequila, .5 oz. triple sec, 1 0z. sweet 'n sour mix into a coktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain over ice into a tall glass. Add the 1 oz. cola on top for that iced tea color and add a lemon wedge garnish.
