17 Impressive Garden-Fresh Cocktails

Create the Freshest Drinks With Fruits, Veggies, and Herbs

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/1/23
Garden Party Cocktails With Fresh Ingredients
Audi Santoso / EyeEm / Getty Images

The bounty of fresh produce makes the sunshine and warm weather of summer even better. It's easy to take advantage of the season's fruits, veggies, herbs, and flowers to create stunning garden-fresh cocktails.

If you have a green thumb, think about choosing plants for a bartender's garden. Creating fresh drinks from what you grow in the backyard is rewarding. You don't have to be a gardener to enjoy the freshest drinks of the year, though. A trip to the local farmers market or fruit and veggie stand will do just fine.

  • 01 of 17

    Lilac Lemon Drop Martini

    Colleen Graham's Lilac Lemon Drop Martini
    S&C Design Studios

    If you enjoy the floral taste of lavender drinks, give lilac a try. The sweet fragrance of the early spring blooms is spectacular in a lilac simple syrup. And, when you really want to celebrate spring, it makes a wonderful lilac lemon drop martini.

  • 02 of 17

    Sparkling Borage Cocktail

    Sparkling Borage Cocktail
    hazel proudlove / Getty Images

    Borage is incredibly easy to grow and the sparkling borage cocktail is just as easy to make. The pretty blue edible flowers are frozen into ice cubes and the herb makes a lovely simple syrup. Add your favorite gin, a touch of elderflower and soda, and you have an enchanting addition to summer soirees.

  • 03 of 17

    Rhubarb-Rosemary Daiquiri

    Rhubarb Rosemary Daiquiri
    Westend61 / Getty Images

    Rhubarb season is a perfect perfect excuse to juice the popular veggie and create a rhubarb-rosemary daiquiri. Though juicing rhubarb takes a bit of effort, it's not hard and you'll be rewarded on the first sip. The daiquiri pairs it with rum and rosemary syrup to give the underestimated ingredient a new life. 

  • 04 of 17

    The Green Giant

    Prairie Organic Vodka's Green Giant Cocktail Recipe
    Pawel Zoneff/EyeEm/Getty Images

    Fresh snap peas and tarragon are the featured ingredients in the simple green giant cocktail. It's a great way to kick off the season because snap peas are among the first veggies of spring and they're really easy to grow. When paired with organic vodka, honey, lemon juice, and dry vermouth, the result is a unique, slightly sweet drink you'll want to share. 

    Continue to 5 of 17 below
  • 05 of 17

    Celery Cup No. 1

    H. Joseph Ehrmann's Celery Cup No. 1 Cocktail Recipe
    Beata Bernina/Moment Open/Getty Images

    Teeming with fresh ingredients, one trip to the farmers market should set you up perfectly for the celery cup no. 1. The cocktail is a play off the famous Pimm's Cup and features celery, cilantro, and cucumber. The organic cucumber vodka sets the backdrop for the garden-fresh goodness and makes it the ultimate "green" cocktail.

  • 06 of 17

    Strawberry Gin and Tonic

    Strawberry Gin & Tonic Cocktail Recipe
    S&C Design Studios

    While strawberry daiquiris are fun, you can also use the plump, fresh berries for a strawberry gin and tonic. This recipe begins with a strawberry simple syrup, which is paired with your favorite bottles of gin and tonic. You'll be relaxing on the patio with a charmingly sweet cocktail in minutes.

  • 07 of 17

    Garden Patch Smash

    Colleen Graham's Garden Patch Smash Cocktail
    Foodcollection RF/Getty Images

    The garden patch smash is a refreshing spiked soda drink that celebrates the garden's berries. It uses a raspberry-lavender syrup with a muddle of fresh blueberries and lavender soda. The hardest part is deciding whether to pour tequila or mango rum!

  • 08 of 17

    Watermelon Cucumber Cooler

    Easy and Fresh Watermelon Cucumber Cooler Aviation Gin Cocktail Recipe
    Aviation Gin

    When summer starts to really heat up, mix up the watermelon cucumber cooler. It is very refreshing and features an American gin that is light on the juniper. Aviation's floral and citrus notes are an ideal pairing for fresh cucumber and watermelon, creating a perfect drink for backyard barbecues.

    Continue to 9 of 17 below
  • 09 of 17

    Ruby Queen

    Ruby Queen Scotch Whisky and Beet Juice Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    This cocktail may be a little too much fun and it's definitely a unique drink. If you're up for an adventure, juice some beets and mix up a ruby queen. This intriguing recipe mixes the unusual cocktail ingredient with a great blended Scotch whiskey and fresh tarragon. It works remarkably well.

  • 10 of 17

    Basil-Rosemary Orange Shandy

    Freshmade Orange Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

    Shandies are always a hit at summer parties, but there's no need to stick with beer and lemonade. The basil-rosemary orange shandy relies on an orangeade that's flavored with the two herbs. You'll pour that with wheat ale for an amazing new beer drink.

  • 11 of 17

    Basil-ica

    Basil-ica Cocktail
    Alexandra Grablewski / Photodisc / Getty Images

    When basil is a staple in your garden, put the herb to good use in the basil-ica. The cocktail marries Plymouth Gin, St. Germain, and muddled basil leaves in a modern drink that has a classic style. It's sure to please everyone who takes a sip.

  • 12 of 17

    New Old-Fashioned

    New Old-Fashioned Cocktail With Woodford Reserve
    S&C Design Studios

    Put a twist on the whiskey old-fashioned by switching out the core ingredients to give it a fresh, summertime spin. In the new old-fashioned recipe, you'll mix a sultry bourbon with sweet peaches and blackberries. It's an enjoyable combination that will have you reaching for the muddler all summer long.

    Continue to 13 of 17 below
  • 13 of 17

    Raspberry Mojito

    Raspberry Mojito Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    If a fresh mint mojito is your idea of a great drink, toss some berry-licious flavor into the mix! In the raspberry mojito, sweet berries are added to the minty muddle while Chambord takes over as the sweetener and ginger ale brings in some sparkle. Everything else remains the same, so it's both familiar and unique.

  • 14 of 17

    Tomojito

    Tomojito Cocktail with Tomato Vodka
    Philippe Desnerck / Getty Images

    It's like a bloody Mary, but the tomojito begins by muddling fresh cherry tomatoes with basil. The most intriguing aspect of this recipe is the tomato-infused vodka. Flavored with basil and oregano, the infusion is easy and an unusual way to use your garden's tomatoes.

  • 15 of 17

    Pineapple and Sage Gimlet

    Pineapple Sage Gimlet Punch
    S&C Design Studios

    When you need an impressive drink for a small party, the pineapple and sage gimlet is a great choice. Prepared by the pitcher, the recipe adds the tropical fruit and inviting herb to the gimlet's duo of lime and gin. It's a wonderful way to treat your guests to something new.

  • 16 of 17

    Butternut Old-Fashioned

    Little Dom's Butternut Old Fashioned Cocktail

    Little Dom's (Los Angeles, California)

    Reserve a portion of your winter squash harvest for chilly autumn days so you can enjoy a butternut old-fashioned. The squash is roasted with cinnamon and sugar, then infused into a bold bourbon for about one week. From there, the cocktail's as simple as adding maple syrup and bitters, though the flavor makes it seem far more complex.

    Continue to 17 of 17 below
  • 17 of 17

    The Great Pumpkin

    The Great Pumpkin Cocktail
    Rob Palmer / Photolibrary / Getty Images

    Pumpkin cocktails are nothing new, but few use actual pumpkins! That's not the case with the great pumpkin cocktail and this recipe offers another opportunity for a unique whiskey infusion. With a sugar pumpkin, a bottle of scotch, and ginger liqueur, you can create this impressive drink, too.