Memorial Day Weekend Cocktails for 2026

Memorial Day Weekend means that summer is almost here (or is here, as far as we’re concerned). Packed with parades, picnics and other gatherings, it’s the perfect time for a specialty cocktail. Here are seven we like for 2026.

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Jewel Remedy

Course Drinks

Keyword blackberry, cardamom, cucumber, gin, lemon

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Lemon juice
• 1 oz. Blackberry cardamom syrup
• 2 Cucumber slices
• 1 oz. Water

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a rocks glass.
• Muddle cucumber.
• Fill with crushed ice.
• Garnish with blackberry and cucumber slices.

Notes

Kapri Robinson created this recipe for Allegory D.C.

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Rosemary Blue

Course Drinks

Keyword Blue Curaçao, Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon, rosemary, tonic water

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Bombay Sapphire gin
• ½ oz. Blue Curaçao
• 3 ½ oz. Fever Tree light tonic water
• 1 Rosemary sprig
• 1 Lemon wedge

Instructions

• Add the gin, Blue Curaçao, rosemary and gently squeezed lemon wedge to a balloon glass.
• Swirl well to combine.
• Fill with cubed ice and top with the tonic water.
• Gently fold with a bar spoon to mix.

Notes

The mixologists at Bombay Sapphire created this recipe.

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Navagia Waves

Course Drinks

Keyword assyrtiko wine, Fever Tree elderflower tonic water, Grapefruit juice, lemon, orgeat

Ingredients

• 3 oz. Assyrtiko wine
• 2 oz. Fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 oz. Orgeat
• ½ oz. Lemon juice
• 2 oz. Fever Tree elderflower tonic

Instructions

• Shake first four ingredients with ice.
• Strain over fresh ice in a wine glass.
• Top with tonic.
• Garnish with rosemary sprig, micro flower.

Notes

Heidi Finley, assistant food & beverage manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, created this recipe for Jack Dusty.

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Pomegranate Mojito

Course Drinks

Keyword club soda, lime, mint, Pomegranate syrup, rum

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Bacardi Superior rum
• ¾ oz. Lime juice
• ½ oz. Pomegranate syrup
• 1 oz. Club soda
• 9 Mint leaves

Instructions

• Gently muddle mint leaves and pomegranate syrup in a cocktail shaker.
• Combine with the lime juice, rum and ice.
• Shake for 10 seconds and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
• Top with club soda and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

Notes

The mixologists at Bacardi created this recipe.

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Agave Mirage Ranch Water

Course Drinks

Keyword agar agar, cristalino tequila, fino sherry, Topo Chico sparkling water, watermelon, yuzu

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. 1800 Cristalino tequila
• 3 oz. Clarified watermelon-yuzu juice*
• 3 oz. Topo Chico sparklng water
• splash of Fino sherry
• 1 drop Saline solution

Instructions

• In a mixing tin, combine all ingredients.
• Add ice and shake.
• Strain over fresh ice into rocks glass.
• Grated lime zest and watermelon spear.

Notes

*For Clarified watermelon-yuzu juice
4 ¼ cups Watermelon juice
¾ cup Yuzu juice
1 cup Water
1 tbsp. Agar agar

Combine fine-strained watermelon juice and yuzu juice. In a medium saucepan, mix water and agar agar until combined. Bring to a boil and whisk the whole time, a few minutes. Remove from heat and slowly pour the combined watermelon-yuzu juice, still whisking. Plunge the pan into ice water to cool quickly. Wait about 5–10 minutes until it gels completely. Once gelled, put it through cheesecloth.

New York mixologist Julio Xoxocotla created this recipe, a winner in 1800 Tequila’s Most Awarded Ranch Water Competition.

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Starlight

Course Drinks

Keyword Ketel One vodka, lemon, mint, mint syrup, soda water, watermelon

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Ketel One Vodka
• 1 ½ oz. Fresh watermelon juice*
• ¾ oz. Fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz. Mint simple syrup
• 3 oz. Chilled soda water or rosé sparkling wine
• Muddled mint

Instructions

• Combine vodka, watermelon juice, lemon and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
• Shake very briefly and strain over fresh ice in a tall/Collins glass.
• Top with chilled soda and gently stir to combine.
• Garnish with fresh mint bouquet.

Notes

*For Watermelon juice:
Roughly chop fresh watermelon; use a blender, smoothie maker, food processor or stick blender to puree. Strain away the pulp to leave watermelon juice. You can use the pulp in a refreshing gazpacho or freeze it into cubes. 


Charles Joly created this recipe for Ketel One.

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Swimming Pool

Course Drinks

Keyword coconut cream, coconut liqueur, orange liqueur, Pineapple Juice, rum

Ingredients

• ½ oz. Bols Blue 1575 orange liqueur
• 1 ⅓ oz. Rum
• 1 ¾ oz. Coconut cream
• ¾ oz. Bols Coconut liqueur
• 1 oz. Pineapple juice

Instructions

• Put all ingredients in a blender, except for the Bols Blue 1575.
• Add ice and blend for 20 seconds.
• Pour in a highball glass.
• Float Bols Blue 1575 on top.
• Garnish with pineapple wedge and mint sprig.

Notes

The mixologists at Bols created this recipe.