Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Cocktail Recipes 25 Refreshing Big-Batch Cocktails That Make Serving a Crowd Easy Simplify your party prep with pitchers of summer-ready punch, sangria, cocktails, and spiked teas. By Jennifer Anderson Jennifer Anderson Jennifer is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines and Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland is a contributing writer with more than a decade of experience as a freelance lifestyle writer. Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 6, 2023 Trending Videos Photo: Petrina Tinslay We're all about finding clever ways to make entertaining simpler and less stressful, which is why big-batch cocktails belong at every party, from a casual cookout to a swanky soirée. Pre-mixed beverages allow the host to prep ahead of time and the guests to serve themselves, so everyone can relax and have fun as soon as the party starts. While you can easily size up the following big-batch cocktail recipes (most of which you can serve in a pitcher!) to suit a larger crowd, remember that many single-drink recipes you might find elsewhere are formulated to be mixed in a shaker full of ice or served over ice in a glass, which waters down the alcohol. If you set out a pitcher of full-strength margaritas or negronis based on a single-serve recipe and let guests serve themselves, it could end up being a short, messy party. Instead, opt for recipes developed specifically for batch preparation, like the fruity sangrias, sparkling punches, spiked teas, and icy cocktails on our list—each one is perfect for a warm-weather party. 25 Summer Cocktail Recipes to Make All Season 01 of 25 Stonefruit Sangria Call on one of summer's best bounties—stone fruit!—to make a unique, but crowd-pleasing big-batch cocktail. Pitted cherries and sliced peaches, nectarines, and plums are combined with a punchy peach liqueur, dry white wine, and cold ginger ale. Take it from this happy reviewer: "I made this and it was the best sangria I've ever tasted. Even my sommelier husband approved." View Recipe 02 of 25 Rose Sangria with Nectarines and Strawberries Noe Dewitt Dry rosé wine, the base for this lighter take on classic sangria, is steeped with fresh strawberries and juicy nectarines, and garnished with a sprig of just-picked mint (but store-bought mint works, too!). View Recipe 03 of 25 Yellow Watermelon Margaritas Noe Dewitt Puréed yellow watermelon adds a sunny color to this frozen drink, while homemade lime syrup, tequila, and elderflower liqueur provide subtle sweet and tart accents. Mix the batch drink up to two days in advance; then shake each serving with ice to chill before serving. View Recipe 04 of 25 Orange-Mint Margarita Paola + Murray A pitcher full of margaritas on the rocks is a welcome sight at any gathering, whether it's a backyard barbecue or a ladies lunch. This citrus version, garnished with orange rounds and fresh mint, is a bright and vibrant warm-weather option. View Recipe 05 of 25 Kentucky Half-and-Half Petrina Tinslay Toast to 18 holes well played with this twist on a traditional Arnold Palmer. Mix black tea with bourbon instead of lemonade; add lemon simple syrup in a nod to the original recipe. View Recipe 06 of 25 Celery-Lime Gimlet Paola + Murray The earth, tangy taste of fresh celery is tamed by muddling the vegetable in a pitcher with sugar, while the addition of lime juice and gin provide a time-honored complement. View Recipe 07 of 25 Boozy Frozen Lemonade Christopher Testani This isn't lemonade the way you made it as a kid. Instead of the powdered mix that inspired countless childhood lemonade stands, this boozy version—made with tarragon simple syrup, lemon juice, and gin—is an adult-approved frozen alternative that you can make for a crowd. View Recipe 08 of 25 Aperol Gin Punch Paola + Murray This quick-prep punch comes together in just 10 minutes (make it ahead to lighten your day-of to-do list). Mix equal parts gin, Aperol, Lillet Blanc, and lime juice with an optional dash of orange blossom water, a sprig of fresh basil, and colorful edible flowers. View Recipe 09 of 25 Aperol Jasmine Spritz Petrina Tinslay A take on both the Jasmine gin cocktail and the trendy Aperol spritz, this bubbly drink includes homemade lemon syrup and a garnish of fresh rosemary. View Recipe 10 of 25 Pineapple-Rum Cocktail The tropical color of this cocktail isn't the only thing that will have you feeling like you're sunning yourself in the Caribbean with every sip: The combination of pineapple juice and rum tastes like a mini vacation, even in your own backyard. View Recipe 11 of 25 Hibiscus-Honey Iced Tea Iced tea may be one of the simplest warm-weather drinks you can make, but floral hibiscus tea bags, lime juice, honey, and light rum make this version anything but basic (and, of course, boozy!). View Recipe 12 of 25 Strawberry Ginger Smash Paola + Murray Make the most of a basket of strawberries fresh-picked from the farm by mixing up a pitcher of strawberry ginger smash, which combines the chopped fruit with fresh ginger, ginger beer, and vodka. View Recipe 13 of 25 Fizzy Fruit Punch NICO SCHINCO This classic fruit punch, made with sugared fruit, orange juice, cherry juice, and unsweetened seltzer, is an elevated version of your favorite summer throwback drink. Add white rum or tequila for an adults-only beverage. View Recipe 14 of 25 Pineapple-Raspberry Bellini Armando Rafael The bold pink color of this fruity bellini comes from 2 cups of puréed raspberries, while pineapple juice, sparkling wine, and seltzer provide a sweet, bubbly finish. View Recipe 15 of 25 Negroni Sbagliato Mikkel Vang Made with Prosecco instead of gin, this lower-proof version of an Italian Negroni mixes Campari, vermouth, lemon juice and club soda with the sparkling wine. Top this pitcher drink with orange and rosemary to elevate the bar menu at your poolside cocktail hour. View Recipe 16 of 25 Classic Sangria Anders Schonnemann Spanish sangria is the perfect make-ahead drink for parties of any size, since the longer you let the fruit soak int the wine, the better the resulting taste. This traditional recipe calls for soaking an orange, lime, apple, and grapes in a mixture of dry red wine, lemon-lime soda, and brandy, View Recipe 17 of 25 Smoky Lemon Margarita Petrina Tinslay Smoky mezcal and tart lemon cut the sweetness of orange liqueur and simple syrup in this margarita recipe, served with fresh orange slices and frozen lemon wedges. View Recipe 18 of 25 Daniel Webster's Punch Meredith Jenk The presentation suggestion for this circa-1869 punch involves lining a punch bowl with pineapple rounds, while floating orange and lemon slices, star anise, and nutmeg on the top. The rest of the instructions are simpler: Mix citrusy oleo saccharum with brewed black tea, lemon juice, Jamaican black rum, oloroso sherry, and Bordeaux red wine for a big-batch mixed drink that's on the savory side. View Recipe 19 of 25 Pina Colada Bryan Gardner Skip the bottled mixes to prepare a batch of from-scratch pina coladas, using fresh pineapple chunks, gold or white rum, cream of coconut, and ice. View Recipe 20 of 25 Lemony Spiked Sweet Tea Classic Southern sweet tea, made from orange pekoe tea bags, simple syrup, and lemon juice, is given an after-5-p.m. makeover with the addition of a cup of high-proof golden rum. View Recipe 21 of 25 Big-Batch Lemon-Mint Julep Whether you're watching the Kentucky Derby or looking for a crowd-pleasing cocktail for a summer dinner party, this how-to for mint juleps makes it easy to mix up a batch to serve 16. View Recipe 22 of 25 Lillet-Vodka Cocktails The bright flavor of orange juice complements herb-infused Lillet Blanc and vodka in this refreshing big-batch drink. View Recipe 23 of 25 Fresh Grapefruit-Campari Cocktails Sweet-tart grapefruit juice freshens up a blend of Campari, club soda, and simple syrup. Top each drink with a twist of grapefruit peel for an individual, custom garnish. View Recipe 24 of 25 Vodka-Thyme Lemonade Old-fashioned lemonade gets an elegant herbal boost with homemade simple syrup infused with thyme. (Fresh springs lining the pitcher are a woodsy accent against the vibrant color.) View Recipe 25 of 25 Clerico Aaron Dyer This South American standby, a white wine version of sangria, calls for a dry white wine, brandy, and sliced peaches, strawberries, and grapes. Chill for at least two hours, and finish with rounds of fresh banana just before pouring. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit