If we had a dollar for every song about drinks on the beach, we’d buy everyone a round! There’s something about hot sand and a salty breeze that pairs perfectly with a cold cocktail. While New Smyrna Beach does not permit alcohol on its shore, our vacation rentals provide the loophole you need for a fun beach buzz. Sip margs to an ocean view when you stay in one of our beach condos or homes. From balconies that overlook the ebbing tide to kitchens fully-stocked with happy hour essentials, there’s no place like our vacation rentals to live out your Jimmy Buffett dreams. Discover our curated collection of summer cocktails below!
Blend It
Let’s be honest, blended cocktails are just the adult-version of an Icee… and that’s why we love them! As New Smyrna Beach averages 90 degrees in the summer, you’ll often be pulling out the blender for a delicious cool-down. Our vacation rentals are all equipped with blenders, some even providing specialty brands like Magic Bullet or Ninja. Stock your rental’s fridge with the below ingredients and get to blending these refreshing drinks.
Hawaiian Margarita
What You’ll Need:
| 1 cup of ice | 1/4 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen) |
| 1.5 oz tequila | 1/4 cup pineapple (fresh or canned) |
| 0.5 oz triple sec | 2 dashes of sour mix |
| Garnish: strawberry slice | Garnish: pineapple wedge |
How to Make It:
1. Pour all ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour into chilled glass and garnish with fruit slices.
Best Enjoyed: On a hot afternoon on your direct oceanfront balcony.
Pomegranate-Grapefruit Frosé
Unfortunately, a glass of rosé doesn’t cut it on a hot Florida day. Transition your favorite wine into a summery beverage with this amazing “Frosé” recipe.
What You’ll Need:
| 1 cup of ice | 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice |
| 3 oz rosé wine | 1/4 oz simple syrup |
| 1 oz pomegranate vodka | Garnish: mint or thyme sprig |
| 1 oz ruby red grapefruit juice | Garnish: strawberry slice |
How to Make It:
1. Pour liquids into a blender.
2. Add ice and blend until smooth.
3. Pour into chilled glass and garnish with a sprig of mint or thyme and a strawberry slice.
Best Enjoyed: Reclining by your vacation home’s private pool with a magazine.
Shake It
Toss in ice cubes and shake away! Nothing says happy hour like sliced fruit, your favorite liquors, and a cocktail shaker to bring the goodness together. Pack your mixed-drink essentials and make your vacation rental’s kitchen your very own beach bar. Kick off your NSB trip with the recipes below!
Paloma
Nothing tastes quite as refreshing as a Paloma after an afternoon of walking, swimming, and laying out on New Smyrna’s shore. This cocktail is just light enough to be thirst-quenching and delicious enough to be a treat.
What You’ll Need:
| 1 lime wedge | 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice |
| Kosher salt (optional) | 3/4 oz fresh lime juice |
| Ice | .5 oz simple syrup |
| 2 oz blanco tequila | 1 oz chilled club soda |
How to Make It:
1. Moisten the outer rim of a highball glass with a lime wedge and coat lightly with salt.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the tequila, grapefruit and lime juices and simply syrup; shake well.
4. Strain into the glass, stir in the club soda and garnish with a lime wedge.
Best Enjoyed: After a long walk on NSB’s non-drive beach.
Spicy Grapefruit Sidecar
You’ll want to pull out your camera for this gorgeous drink! From the festive chili rim to the pops of pink grapefruit, this beverage is one that deserves to be documented before enjoying.
What You’ll Need:
| Grapefruit wedge, for rimming | 2 oz cognac |
| 2 tsp. granulated sugar | 2 oz grapefruit juice |
| 2 tsp. chili powder | 1 oz Cointreau |
| Ice | Grapefruit slice, for garnish |
How to Make It:
1. Rim glass with a grapefruit wedge. Combine sugar and chili powder on a plate and dip rim into mixture.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add cognac, Cointreau, and grapefruit juice. Shake until chilled.
3. Strain into rimmed glass and garnish with grapefruit slice.
Best Enjoyed: At sunset with dessert.
Stir It
Why dirty extra dishes when you can pour and stir everything in one glass? Stirred drinks are straightforward, little-mess, and easy to whip up. The best part about them? These cocktails look (and taste!) so craft that no one will suspect it took less than five minutes to make.
Rainbow Sangria
Fresh fruit, bright colors, and a rainbow array give this drink the full essence of summertime. Mix up your drink, pick your favorite spot on the balcony, and sip away to the Atlantic’s crashing waves.
What You’ll Need:
Yields 8 servings
| 1 1/2 bottles moscato, chilled | 3 cups blueberries |
| 1/2 cup triple sec | 6 kiwis, peeled & sliced |
| Juice of 3 limes | 2 cups diced pineapple |
| 1/4 cup granulated sugar | 2 cups diced mango |
| 3 cups blackberries 2 cups halved strawberries | |
How to Make It:
1. In a large pitcher, stir together moscato, triple sec, lime juice, and sugar until combined.
2. In tall glasses, layer blackberries, blueberries, kiwis, pineapple, mango, and strawberries.
3. Pour wine mixture over fruit and serve.
Best Enjoyed: At brunch in a luxury vacation condo or home.
Strawberry Jalapeño Mint Julep
This cocktail embodies all that a New Smyrna Beach trip ought to be… Fun, sweet, and full of heat. Warning: The sweet & spicy combo is so good it’s impossible to stop at “just one drink”!
What You’ll Need:
| 1/2 cup water | 8 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish |
| 1/2 cup granulated sugar | 2 oz. bourbon |
| 2 jalapeños, halved | Ice |
| 1/4 cup chopped strawberries | 1 (12-oz) can seltzer |
| Garnish: Strawberry & red jalapeño slices |
How to Make It:
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, sugar, and jalapeños. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Discard jalapeños.
2. In a cocktail glass, muddle strawberries and mint. Add bourbon and 1 tablespoon simple syrup and stir. Fill with ice and top off with seltzer.
3. Garnish with mint, a strawberry, and red jalapeño slices.
Best Enjoyed: With friends at an at-home happy hour.
From icy frosés to citrusy sidecars, these craft cocktails are sure to give you the beach buzz you seek! Set up your at-home bar in one of our vacation condos or homes. Browse our selection of direct oceanfront, ocean view, pet-friendly, luxury, and home rentals online or call us at 386.478.7863 to book!