5 New Spring Cocktails to Replace Your Same Old Snoozy Sips

The next time you hit up your local bar, pause before you ask the barkeep for your “usual.” Remember that moment when you fell in love with your go-to drink? It was refreshing, it was flavorful, it walked the line between boozy and boozed up. You could sip it all night without it ruining your morning. It flirted with your taste buds and quenched your thirst. 

Related: 10 Scrumptious Spring Recipes

Well, you can feel that again if you venture outside the box and try something new. It can be overwhelming, we know. But don’t let the endless row of gleaming bottles panic you. When you use your favorite spring cocktail as a jumping off point and add a twist, the possibilities become endless. Here are our suggestions for what to try the next time you pull a chair up to the bar. And don’t worry, we won’t tell your ol’ trusty cocktail if you won’t. Salud. [pagebreak]

If you like Mojitos, then try…

• Latino Mint Julep

When done right, a mojito is a feat of engineering: sweet and light but not syrupy. To recreate that feeling, try a Latino mint julep. It has all the refreshing minty flavor of a mojito but with the added oaky smokiness of bourbon. This one is particularly great if you also enjoy aged rum.

If you like Sangria, then try…

• Cynar No. 1 Cocktail

Do you prefer your fruit to be soaked in booze? If you answered yes, this Cynar No. 1 Cocktail is the way to go. Made with the classic Italian liqueur, citrus, and your favorite mixer (try it with ginger ale), this cocktail balances bitter with bubbly and sweet. Add a scoop of your favorite spring and summer fruits to recreate that punch feeling.  [pagebreak]

If you like Daiquiris, then try…

• Fresca Frambuesas

If you mixed a frozen daiquiri with a Sunday mimosa and gave it a Brazilian twist, you would have a Fresca Frambuesa and a smile on your face. Fresca Frambuesa (“fresh raspberry”) is made with cachaça, a sugarcane-based distilled spirit similar to rum but with earthier notes. Champagne and citrus bring out the flavor of the muddled raspberries and lighten the whole drink. It’s fun and festive and perfect for the season.

If you like Classic Margaritas, then try…

• Straight to Hell

Much like tequila-based cocktails, this drink is not for the faint of heart. As in the classic shaken margarita, Straight to Hell pairs a full-bodied agave-based alcohol with liqueur, but here the similarities end. This cocktail is made with mezcal, tequila’s smoky brother, and finished with jalapenos — it’s a drink that bites back. The sharp mezcal is complemented by a surprising apricot liqueur and a tangy ginger simple syrup. The added basil leaves make this drink a refreshing end to any spring day. [pagebreak]

If you like Piña Coladas, then try…

• Toasted Macaroon Cocktail

We get it, you like your drinks with a side of whimsy: cold, sweet, refreshing, and topped with a little umbrella if at all possible. In that case, try out Tequila Partida’s Toasted Macaroon Cocktail. This cocktail has the creamy goodness of a piña colada but with a stronger punch: its seemingly innocuous glass is filled to the brim with Licor 43, Frangelico, tequila, and coconut rum…all hiding behind sweet coconut milk. It may seem precious, but this one will knock you out if you’re not careful!