The world over, cocktails are enjoyed as part of any celebration. From birthdays to bridal showers, cocktails sure do make the world go round! Nothing is better than a fun, fruity, and sweet cocktail to bring cheer to any event.
Something Sweet
It is a little known secret among bartenders when a customer is in doubt, make something sweet!
Whether you’re a fan of vodka or tequila Sheila or want to try something a little more exotic, the best sweet cocktails are not always the golden oldies!
Vodka
Vodka-based cocktails are like chameleons blended with other flavors to make some of the best sweet alcoholic drinks.
If you prefer cocktails that don't taste like alcohol, these are for you!
Sex on the beach
The trick to the perfect sex on the beach cocktail is a soft citrus garnish and clear ice. With delicate hints of peaches and tangy notes of cranberry, this cocktail is a summer thirst-quencher and truly puts the 'happy' in happy hour!
Ingredients:
- Clear Ice cubes
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1.5oz good quality vodka
- 1.5oz peach schnapps
- 5oz cranberry juice
- 5oz orange juice (to pulp or not to pulp, optional to your taste preferences)
- Garnish - Orange slices, sprigs of mint
- 2 hurricane or highball glasses
Method:
- Place clear ice into your hurricane or highball glasses, place in the freezer for 5 mins.
- In a pitcher, add the vodka, schnapps, and lemon juice, mix well. Add the cranberry juice into the jug, mixing it until combined. Taste test, add more schnapps or vodka if preferred. If the cocktail is too strong, add more cranberry juice.
- Remove the glasses from the freezer, rub a piece of orange rind over the rim of the glass.
- Divide the cocktail mixture into the two glasses, stir well to cool the cocktail.
- Use an orange slice or a sprig of mint to garnish.
Now you have the perfect sex on the beach recipe!
Mudslide
If creamy and comforting drinks are your kind of drinks, then a Mudslide is one to add to your sweet alcoholic drinks list. These adult milkshakes are just the right amounts of sweet, rich, and creamy.
Ingredients:
- 1oz vodka
- 1oz coffee liqueur
- 1oz Baileys Irish Cream
- 1.5oz heavy cream
- Chocolate shavings to garnish
Method:
- Place a couple of glasses in the freezer to chill.
- Pour all ingredients into a shaker with clear ice cubes, shake for 40 secs, or until thoroughly chilled.
- Taste test, adding more alcohol if too weak, or adding a dash more cream if too strong.
- Pour into an icy glass and garnish with chocolate shavings.
Tequila
Tequila is a drink that you either hate or love when it comes to shooters. You’d be surprised to know that tequila is delicious when it comes to a cocktail, and it tastes nothing like a shooter!
Tequila Sunrise
This multicolored cocktail is on every sweet alcoholic drinks-for-beginners list for a reason: It’s simple, tangy, and full of citrus notes.
Ingredients:
- 2oz tequila
- 4oz orange juice
- 0.5oz grenadine
- A Splash of maraschino cherry juice
- Maraschino cherry and a slice of orange to garnish
Method:
- Fill a highball glass with clear ice cubes, pour over the tequila and orange juice, pour in a splash of cherry juice. Stir well.
- Taking a teaspoon, turn it upside down and just into the glass, pour the grenadine over the back of the teaspoon slowly into the glass.
- Garnish with a cherry and a slice of orange.
Rum
Where is the rum? Rum is one of the most universally used liquors for strong sweet drinks.
Rum punch
This tooty-fruity punch is packed full of tropical flavors. Perfect for any poolside event.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of pineapple juice
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup coconut rum
- ¼ cup dark rum
- ½ cup grenadine
Method:
- In a large pitcher, fill till half with clear ice, pour in all of the ingredients, stir well.
- Pour into chilled glasses over ice cubes.
- Garnish with slices of pineapple, oranges, or maraschino cherries.
- Optional: add slices of pineapples and blueberries to the pitcher or freeze fruit pieces into the ice cubes for extra flare.
Passion Fruit Mojito
Few things on earth are more fun and tropical than a passionfruit mojito. This fun yet simple cocktail is hands down one of the best sweet,fruity cocktails.
Ingredients:
- 8 fresh passion fruits
- ¼ cup whole mint leaves
- 5 tbsp sugar
- 6oz rum
- 6 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- Club soda
Ingredients:
- Cutting open the passionfruit, scoop the pulp and juices out into a bowl.
- Add 2 tbsp sugar to the pulp and mix well. Let the mixture stand to the side while prepping the rest.
- In a shaker, muddle mint leaves, add in the rum and 3 tbsp sugar and lime juice, shake until chilled.
- Fill four chilled highball glasses with clear mint ice cubes and fresh mint leaves.
- Pour the rum over evenly between the glasses, top each glass up with the passion fruit pulp and juices, add a splash of club soda, and garnish glasses with sprigs of mint and a fun cocktail umbrella.
Malibu Sunset
Super-sweet cocktails, drinks on the beach, and sand between your toes, the Malibu Sunset is the drink for you.
Ingredients:
- 2oz Malibu coconut rum
- 1oz grenadine
- 4oz Fresh pineapple juice
- Pineapple ice cubes
Method:
- Add ice cubes to a glass, top with rum and pineapple juice, stir to combine.
- Slowly pour the grenadine in using the back of a teaspoon to ensure the layers separate.
- Garnish with cherries and pineapple on a toothpick.
Hurricane
Hurricane cocktails have been crowned one of the queens in the kingdom of best sweet cocktails. Created in New Orleans in the 1940s, this rum-based cocktail packs a punch.
Ingredients:
- 2oz light rum
- 2oz dark rum
- 1oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
- 1oz freshly-squeezed orange juice
- ½oz simple syrup
- ½oz passion fruit puree
- 1 tsp grenadine
- Garnish: Orange slices, maraschino cherries
Method:
- Add all the ingredients and ice to a shaker, and shake vigorously.
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled hurricane glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a twisted orange slice and a few maraschino cherries.
Gin
Gin is the liquor of the century, catering to all pallets, with hints of juniper berries and other floral and fruity notes.
Strawberry Gin & Tonic
Sweet and zingy G&Ts are the best sweet cocktails on the block these days.
Ingredients:
- Strawberry ice cubes
- 3 strawberries
- ½ tsp granulated sugar
- 1.5oz Gin
- Tonic water
Method:
- Muddle 1 - 2 strawberries in the bottom of a large wine glass with sugar.
- Add ice cubes to the glass, pour the gin over the ice cubes.
- Top the glass up with tonic, stir twice.
- A strawberry on the glass rim gives it that finishing touch.
Raspberry Collins
Who doesn't love raspberries and honey?
Ingredients:
- 6 raspberries
- 2 tsp honey
- 1.5oz gin
- 1 tbsp of each lemon and lime juice
- Club soda to top
Method:
- Muddle the raspberries and the honey in the bottom of a chilled Collins glass.
- Add ice cubes, gin, lemon and lime juices, stir to combine.
- Top the glass with club soda, and stir twice.
Whiskey
Whiskey-based cocktails like the Old Fashioned are sophisticated and filled with old-world grace. Whiskey cocktails are often not as sweet as their counterparts.
Irish coffee
Strong, sweet alcoholic drinks don't always come with playful umbrellas over ice. Sometimes they are warm, sophisticated, and decadent. Irish coffee is the height of sophistication.
Ingredients:
- 1 freshly brewed Americano coffee (a shot of espresso topped up with warm water)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1.5oz Irish whiskey
- Lightly whipped heavy cream
- Garnish: Chocolate shavings, a dusting of cocoa
Method:
- Fill a latte cup with hot water to heat it, pour the water out when warm.
- Pour the hot Americano into the glass, leaving a quarter cup of space.
- Stir in the brown sugar until dissolved.
- Add in the whiskey and stir to combine.
- Pour cream over the back of a teaspoon to create a creamy head.
- Top with optional garnish and serve while hot.
Does the ice matter?
Of course, it does. Clear ice is ideal for cocktails. It is frozen in one direction pushing out impurities, and tastes better.
Esthetically speaking, you can suspend fruit pieces, mint leaves, and edible flowers inside ice cubes.
Clear ice has a longer melting ratio, meaning the ice water doesn't dilute the cocktail as it melts.
Pure ice tastes better, looks better and enhances any drink. Clear ice makers like the Homebuddy Clear Ice Maker make esthetically pleasing ice balls that complement any cocktail.