5 Beach Cocktails You Can Make Ahead

Beach cocktails should be simple, cold, and hard to mess up. These five need only a few ingredients. All amounts are per drink; multiply and mix in a bottle or jug at home, and add ice and bubbles at the beach. Adults 21+ only.

1. Paloma

2 oz tequila, 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 1/2 oz lime juice, pinch of salt, top with grapefruit soda. Pour over ice. Batch tip: mix tequila, juices and salt at home; add soda per glass so it stays fizzy. Alcohol-free: skip the tequila, use extra grapefruit juice and soda.

2. Rum Punch

1 oz dark rum, 1 oz light rum, 2 oz orange juice, 2 oz pineapple juice, 1/2 oz lime juice, a splash of grenadine. Shake or stir over ice. Batch tip: holds well in a jug for a day, cold. Alcohol-free: juices plus a splash of ginger ale.

3. Aperol Spritz

3 oz prosecco, 2 oz Aperol, 1 oz soda water, orange slice. Build over ice. Batch tip: bring the Aperol in a bottle and pour wine and soda per glass. Alcohol-free: orange juice, soda water, a dash of bitters if you have it.

4. Dark and Stormy

2 oz dark rum, 4 oz ginger beer, 1/2 oz lime juice. Build over ice with a lime wedge. Batch tip: pour rum and lime into cups at home; add ginger beer at the beach. Alcohol-free: ginger beer, lime, and ice is already good.

5. Frozen Lemonade Slush

4 cups ice, 1 cup lemonade concentrate or strong lemonade, 1/2 cup vodka or rum (optional). Blend until smooth. This is where a portable blender earns its place, see our blender guide.

Packing notes

• Use plastic or acrylic cups, or lidded jars. Many beaches ban glass.
• Check local rules first. Some beaches and parks ban alcohol entirely.
• Bring water. Sun and alcohol dehydrate quickly. Have one glass of water for every cocktail.

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