15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (2024)

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Fifteen delicious and refreshing ways to enjoy frozen booze throughout the hotter months (and maybe the colder ones, too).

By

Rabi Abonour

15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (1)

Rabi Abonour

Rabi Abonour is a planner specializing in transportation, but has also been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for several online and print publications.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated July 21, 2020

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15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (2)

Loyal Serious Eats readers know that we're staunch defenders of the frozen co*cktail. Most blender drinks might be crimes against good taste, made with bottom-shelf booze and artificially flavored mixers, but that doesn't mean there's anything inherently wrong with the concept. On a hot day, who could really complain about what is essentially an alcoholic slushie?

Our mission to reclaim the frozen co*cktail begins with rescuing the classics—daiquiris, piña coladas, and margaritas made with real fruit and good liquor. But that's just the start. You can give all sorts of co*cktails the blender treatment, from the Negroni to the Blood and Sand. Keep reading for 15 refreshing recipes that will teach you to love frozen co*cktails.

  • The Best Frozen Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (3)

    Forget your daiquiri preconceptions—at its purest the co*cktail is a delicious mix of rum, lime juice, and sugar. We'd recommend going with an assertive dark rum since chilling a spirit mutes its flavors somewhat. When it comes to sweetening the drink we like turbinado sugar, which is more flavorful than white sugar.

    Get the recipe for The Best Frozen Daiquiri

  • The Best Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (4)

    Our recipe for a frozen strawberry daiquiri uses the same ratio of rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, then adds two strawberries and just a pinch of salt. Be sure to taste and adjust as you go, though—different rums and different strawberries can taste wildly different.

    Get the recipe for The Best Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

  • Frozen Fernet Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (5)

    A daiquiri shouldn't be overly sweet if you make it properly, but if you're still looking for a sharper edge, then consider replacing half an ounce of the rum with Fernet Branca, which will give the drink a bitter, minty bite. Fernet can be an intimidating spirit, and this is as easy an introduction as you will find.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Fernet Daiquiri

  • Sweet Peach Frozen Daiquiri With White Pepper and Green Tea

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (6)

    We're starting to stray further from daiquiri orthodoxy, and here we make the drink with ripe fresh peaches and a simple syrup flavored with white pepper and green tea. It might sound like a lot for one co*cktail, but the grassy tea and spicy pepper are wonderful complements to the sweet fruit.

    Get the recipe for Sweet Peach Frozen Daiquiri With White Pepper and Green Tea

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.

  • Savory Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Frozen Daiquiri

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (7)

    White pepper and tea not unusual enough for you? Then try making a frozen daiquiri with cucumber. As far as vegetable-based* co*cktails go, this one is quite approachable, with just a mild savoriness backed up by herbal Green Chartreuse.

    *I know cucumber's technically a fruit, but who thinks of it as one when it comes to cooking?

    Get the recipe for Savory Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Frozen Daiquiri

  • Ultra-Tropical Piña Colada

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (8)

    There are no artificial flavorings here—our piña colada gets its tropical taste from coconut cream and ripe pineapple. To let those natural flavors shine, we freeze all the ingredients before blending, which means less ice and less dilution. It might sound silly, but don't skip out on the paper umbrella.

    Get the recipe for Ultra-Tropical Piña Colada

  • Frozen Gin and Tonic

    There's no reason blender drinks have to be sweet. If you want something a little more bracing, try this frozen take on the classic G&T. Rather than using tonic water (believe us, you don't want to pour that into the blender), we flavor the co*cktail with concentrated tonic syrup.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Gin and Tonic

  • Frozen Negroni

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (10)

    If our frozen gin and tonic is up your alley, you have to try this frozen Negroni. We use the traditional mixture of gin, Campari, and vermouth, but instead of a 1:1:1 ratio, we cut back on the Campari and vermouth. You can use whatever gin you'd like, but something floral will taste especially summery.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Negroni

    Continue to 9 of 15 below.

  • Watermelon White Negroni Slushie

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (11)

    Here we move to the White Negroni, which uses Cocchi Americano and dry vermouth in place of Campari and sweet vermouth. Watermelon gives the drink some summer flair—instead of blending in watermelon juice and diluting the co*cktail, we infuse the melon right into the gin.

    Get the recipe for Watermelon White Negroni Slushie

  • Frozen Mezcal Palomas

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (12)

    This recipe is inspired by the Paloma—a simple highball of grapefruit soda spiked with tequila—but replaces the soda with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lime juice, and honey. Instead of tequila we use mezcal, which adds a savory complexity. Just a pinch of salt helps bring out the character of the smoky spirit.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Mezcal Palomas

  • Frozen Blood and Sand

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (13)

    You probably associate blended drinks most closely with liquor like tequila or rum, but that's not the only option. Here we go with Scotch, making a refreshing variation on the Blood and Sand. Since blended drinks are always slightly diluted we replace the Cherry Heering and orange juice with more intense Luxardo syrup and Grand Marnier.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Blood and Sand

  • Frozen Jungle Bird

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (14)

    We have to tip our hat to Chicago's Three Dots and a Dash for inspiring this version of the Jungle Bird. The rich, bittersweet co*cktail is made with the classic combination of pineapple, lime, Campari, and rum (we go with both blackstrap and Navy-strength). Maple syrup sweetens the drink while also adding some depth.

    Get the recipe for Frozen Jungle Bird

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.

  • Peach and Tequila Frozen Blended co*cktail

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (15)

    Overripe fruit is perfect for co*cktails—it's extra sweet, and once you've blended it up you'll have no idea how mushy it was. We put overripe peaches to use in this co*cktail, blending them with fresh pineapple, pineapple juice, mint leaves, blanco tequila, and a citrusy French apertif called Suze.

    Get the recipe for Peach and Tequila Frozen Blended co*cktail

  • Peachy Rum and Coconut Frozen Blended co*cktail

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (16)

    Coconut and rum can already veer toward sickly sweet territory, so you might be worried that adding in peaches, too, would be a bad idea. This drink ends up remarkably balanced, though, thanks to a healthy dose of astringent Angostura bitters and a dash of cinnamon. We like to finish the drink with a float of dark rum, but you can leave it off if you'd prefer something less heavy.

    Get the recipe for Peachy Rum and Coconut Frozen Blended co*cktail

  • The Best Frozen Lime Margaritas

    15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (17)

    You didn't think we'd make it all the way through this list without mentioning the margarita, did you? The most iconic blended drink is also one of the easiest to make—when all the recipe calls for is tequila, triple sec or Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup, there's no good reason to even consider using sour mix.

    Get the recipe for The Best Frozen Lime Margaritas

  • co*cktails
  • Frozen Drinks
  • Summer
15 Frozen-co*cktail Recipes Worth the Brain Freeze (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to frozen co*cktails? ›

Opt for Crushed Ice

The trick to transforming a co*cktail into a frozen treat is ice. It chills the rest of the ingredients, turning them into a crisp frosted slush. Regular cubed ice still cools your drink. However, it creates a different texture and mixing experience.

What is the best frozen alcoholic drink? ›

1. Piña colada. There is absolutely no drink out there that rivals the vacay vibes of a frozen piña colada. With pineapple, coconut, rum, and a juicy maraschino cherry to top it all off, these frozen beverages are a tropical vacation in a glass.

How to make a freezer co*cktail? ›

Begin by adding 3 ounces of your spirit of choice to your jar or bottle. Next, add . 75-1 oz of water (basically, you want to divide your amount of spirit by 4 then add that amount of water). Then place your jar or bottle in the freezer for a minimum of eight hours along with your co*cktail glass.

What is the ratio for frozen co*cktails? ›

As a general rule of thumb, for most frozen co*cktails, the ice-to-liquid ratio should be 1:1. However, feel free to adjust this ratio depending on your taste and the consistency you prefer. Quality of Ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the co*cktail. Use fresh fruits and high-quality spirits and mixers.

What alcohol makes you the happiest drunk? ›

Champagne is a symbol for celebration- you'll often find it at birthdays, parties and, of course, new years! Drinking champagne can make you feel euphoric, excited and energetic.

What are frozen co*cktails called? ›

A frozen, also called an alcoholic slushy, is a type of slushy made with alcohol. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic ingredients are processed in a blender to create a slush texture. Frozen alcoholic drink. A frozen daiquiri bar in Louisiana. Type.

How do you thicken frozen co*cktails? ›

Crushed Ice is Your Friend

You'll want to opt for crushed ice when whipping up frozen co*cktails. Crushed ice blends more easily and will give you that ideal thick, slushy consistency.

Can you pre make frozen co*cktails? ›

The brilliance of the pre-batched co*cktail lies in both its efficiency and consistency. Prepared and frozen ahead of time, the next day's ready-to-pour co*cktail yields a richer mouthfeel than one stirred à la minute, all while effortlessly achieving that coveted ice-cold temperature—without any ice.

What is a freezer martini? ›

There's no ice and no stirring or shaking with the Frozen Martini: With a formula of two parts gin, one part vermouth, and one part water, the ideal dilution is built into the batch. When you take it out of the freezer, the liquid won't be completely frozen but will glide right out of the bottle.

What is the king of all co*cktails? ›

Dry Martini: The King of co*cktails - The Atlantic.

What are the big 6 co*cktails? ›

Get a handle on those six drinks, the authors write, and you'll be able to create innumerable variations. They are the Old Fashioned, Martini, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Whiskey Highball, and Flip. In each drink, every ingredient falls into at least one category.

What are the six essential co*cktails? ›

Embury's six basic drinks are the Daiquiri, the Jack Rose, the Manhattan, the Martini, the Old Fashioned, and the Sidecar.

How do you make frozen drinks not icy? ›

You can also add a little bit of simple syrup to increase the viscosity of your mix and help keep the ice suspended in the liquid. By the way, if you can make simple syrup, you're halfway to making your own margarita mix.

How do you make frozen co*cktails thicker? ›

There are several factors that play into creating thick frozen drinks. Keeping everything cold and using frozen fruit are keys to thick smoothies, milkshakes, co*cktails and slushies. Make sure your ratio of liquids and ice to solids is spot on, and don't forget the thick sweeteners.

How do you make a frozen margarita without separating it? ›

Xanthan gum, this is an emulsifier and stabilizer. It's what the big coffee chains use in their frozen drinks to keep them from separating as they melt. I usually use 1/8th of a tsp but you can go up to 1/4tsp. Add this in your dry blend 4.

How do you make a drink more slushy? ›

Crushed Ice is Your Friend

You'll want to opt for crushed ice when whipping up frozen co*cktails. Crushed ice blends more easily and will give you that ideal thick, slushy consistency.

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