Summer 2025’s Must-Try Cocktails (and How to Make Them at Home)

When the Montreal summer finally shows up, it’s time to toast with something cold, crisp, and terrace-worthy. Whether you’re planning a rooftop 5 à 7, hosting friends in your backyard, or just want to upgrade your personal happy hour, these are the cocktails that hit hardest this season — in the best way.

At Montreal Craft Cocktails, we serve these all summer long at private events, and we’re sharing our best crowd-pleasers with you. Every recipe here is simple enough to shake up at home with everyday ingredients. No specialty syrups required — but if you’re short on time or want to elevate your flavours, we’ve added convenient substitutions using our handcrafted syrups.

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1. Strawberry Basil Smash

Fruity, herbaceous, and made for warm Montreal afternoons on the terrasse.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz lemon juice
• ¾ oz simple syrup
• 3 fresh strawberries
• 4–5 fresh basil leaves

Optional shortcut: Use ¾ oz of our Strawberry Syrup in place of muddling strawberries and simple syrup.

To Make:
Muddle strawberries and basil in a shaker. Add gin, lemon juice, and syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with basil and a strawberry slice.

2. Spicy Pineapple Margarita

Sweet, tart, and fiery — a summer staple for spice lovers.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila blanco
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• 1–2 thin jalapeño slices

Optional shortcut: Replace the pineapple juice, simple syrup, and jalapeño with ¾ oz of our Spicy Margarita Jalapeño Syrup or ½ oz Grilled Pineapple Syrup + fresh jalapeño for a smoky twist.

To Make:
Muddle jalapeño (if using fresh), then shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a glass with a salted or Tajín rim. Garnish with lime or pineapple.

3. Classic Paloma

A refreshing tequila and grapefruit cocktail perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila blanco
• ½ oz lime juice
• ½ oz simple syrup or agave
• 2–3 oz grapefruit soda or fresh grapefruit juice + soda

Optional shortcut: Swap the grapefruit juice, soda, and syrup for ¾ oz of our Salted Grapefruit Cordial and top with sparkling water.

To Make:
Build in a highball glass over ice. Stir gently and garnish with a grapefruit wedge or lime. Salted rim optional.

4. Passionfruit Spritz

Tropical, bubbly, and bright — easy to sip, hard to forget.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz passionfruit purée or juice
• ½ oz simple syrup (if using unsweetened purée)
• 3 oz Prosecco
• 1 oz soda water

Optional shortcut: Use 1 oz of our Passion Fruit Syrup instead of purée and syrup.

To Make:
Pour all ingredients into a wine glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish with a slice of orange or mint sprig.

5. Frozen Aperol Spritz

Because sometimes a slushy is the answer to 30°C in the city.

To Make (serves 2):

• 3 oz Aperol
• 3 oz orange juice
• 2 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 1½ cups ice

Blend until slushy. Pour into glasses and top with sparkling water or Prosecco. Garnish with orange slices.

Planning a Summer Event in Montreal?

Let Montreal Craft Cocktails bring the bar to you. We offer:

• Private bartending for weddings, birthdays, and corporate events
• Mixology classes for team building, bachelorettes, and more
• Handcrafted cocktail syrups, delivered to your door

From rooftop soirées to backyard BBQs, we help you serve cocktails that impress — without the stress.

👉 Book us or shop our syrups at mtlcraftcocktails.com