Summer cocktail recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen

Recipe: Thapirinha (left)

Recipe: Thapirinha (left)

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

By Noelle Carter

June 23, 2015 5:04 PM PT

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It’s summer. Take in the warm weather with a refreshing cocktail. Or two. We’ve compiled some of our favorite summer cocktails (including non-alcoholic options) for your imbibing pleasure.

Peachy with a kick

Recipe: White hot peach sangria

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Sangria like you've never sipped

Recipe: White peach Riesline sangria

(Don Kelson / Los Angeles Times)

Homemade

Recipe: Limoncello

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Cooling drink

Recipe: Cucumber cooler.

(Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

Red Snapper

Recipe: Gin-based Red Snapper

(Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

Bloody Mary

Recipe: Bloody Mary.

(Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

Highland Mary

Recipe: Highland Mary

(Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

Jalapeno margarita

Recipe: Blood orange jalapeno margarita

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Vodka cocktails

Recipe: The Gingertini with ginger candy.

(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Let's flirt with ginger

Recipe: Bright ‘n’ Sunny

(Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Let's flirt with ginger

Recipe: La Pigalle

(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Horseradish and pomegranate Margarita

Recipe: Horseradish and pomegranate margarita

(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Remixes make a splash

Recipe: Caipitetra

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Remixes make a splash

Recipe: Sideways sour

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Essence of cool

Recipe: Horchata (non-alcoholic)

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Essence of cool

Recipe: Strawberry jamaica agua fresca (non-alcoholic)

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Vodka cocktail recipes

Recipe: Classic Bloody Mary with pickled green beans.

(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

Champagne punch

Make this Champagne punch ahead of time for a stress-free party.

(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

A bold band of bartenders

Recipe: AM punch

(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Fresh, bright ginger 'tini

Recipe: ‘Gin’-ger basiltini

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Vodka cocktails

Recipe: The Coolidge cocktail with rice vinegar, cucumber and vodka.

(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Icy white sangria for cool sipping on warm nights

Recipe: La Grande Orange Cafe’s white sangria

(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Skewer your next shindig

Recipe: Cocktail cubes

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Vodka cocktail recipes

Recipe: The Blue Whale with vodka, lemon juice, ginger beer and Curacao.

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Vodka cocktail recipes

Recipe: The Montauk packs a punch with vodka, rum and gin.

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Fun

Recipe: Horchata colada

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Crisp and cool

Recipe: Metropolis

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Colorful

Recipe: Recess Thyme

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Make this punch ahead of time

Recipe: Highland punch

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Noelle Carter is the former Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen director. She left in January 2019.

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