For summertime sipping, we love cocktails on the rocks. There's a time and a place for drinks served up, like a martini, Cosmopolitan, or a Rob Roy, but we like ice when the sun is shining.

Cocktails served on the rocks can be sophisticated and refined, relaxed and beachy, or anything in between. From spicy to sweet and fruity to flavorful, you can make these amazing cocktails for any occasion.
What’s great is that many of these drinks can be made easily at home but taste like premium cocktails from your favorite bar.
Like a strong cocktail that is full of flavors? Try one of these Peach Crown Royal cocktails.
Prefer a lighter drink with the perfect balance of natural ingredients? This Raspberry Moscow Mule or this Skinny Vodka Margarita will hit the spot.
Why We Love Cocktails on the Rocks
These rocks cocktails can be made with premium spirits or whatever you happen to have around the house.
If you’re planning to have a party, for the sake of convenience you can batch a cocktail (make a large amount in advance) and then pour it over the rocks to serve.
Whether you’re going with a classic cocktail, a simple cocktail, a popular cocktail, or just mixing up some new kind of different drink from an original recipe that you came up with on the spot, there are few wrong ways to make a cocktail on the rocks.
Equipment Needed
You can get by with very little equipment when making cocktails, as you've probably learned. But it's nice, especially when entertaining, to have a set up. This Cocktail shaker set has everything you need to have a proper bar set up, including a bamboo stand to keep everything together and organized.
For glasses, you'll want to have whiskey rocks glasses and highball glasses. If you like mules, pick up a set of copper mugs. If you drink out by the pool as we do, you'll need plastic tumblers.
We also like these ice ball makers.
We have a really nice fridge, but the ice maker hasn't worked for years. We picked up this counter top ice maker and it works great! It was the third brand we had tried and cost less than fixing the fridge, too.
You might want to pick up a set of bitters as so many cocktails call for it.
We created this list of recipes for our favorite kinds of cocktails served over ice to help get you started. Take a look to find your perfect drink for your next happy hour.
Raspberry Mojito Recipe
Raspberry Moscow Mule Cocktail
Refreshing Vodka Margarita
Mango Mojito Recipe
Spiked Arnold Palmer Cocktail
Delicious Crown Peach Drink
Refreshing Mango Margarita
Blackberry Mint Gin Bramble
Raspberry and Citrus Mezcal Cocktail
Sex On The Beach Cocktail
Classic Mint Julep Recipe
The BEST Vodka Strawberry Lemonade
Easy and Refreshing Strawberry Moscow Mule Drink
Whiskey Sour Cocktail Cocktail
Low Carb Hatch Chili Margarita
Hot Honey Margarita
Lemon Margarita (Tequila Lemon Cocktail)
Pimm’s Cup
Peach Old Fashioned
Paloma Cocktail
Tipsy Mermaid Drink
Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
Amaretto Stone Sour A Perfect Blend
Limoncello Cocktail (Italian Limoncello Spritz Recipe)
Maple Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
Blood Orange Whiskey Sour Cocktail Recipe
Limoncello and Vodka Cocktail
Pomegranate Margaritas
Salty Dog Cocktail Recipe
Skinny Margarita
Candy Kiss Cocktail
Orange Pomegranate Manhattan
Bourbon Rosemary Cocktail
Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Hibiscus Margaritas
Singapore Sling Cocktail Recipe
The Tiki Rita Margarita
Hibiscus Margaritas
Tips for Making Cocktails on the Rocks
- Don’t shake or stir too long as you’ll water down the drink. You want to blend the ingredients, but not cause the ice to melt.
- Use a high-quality jigger to measure out ingredients. This will allow for a precise blend of the ingredients so your drink is perfectly balanced.
- Chill your glasses ahead of time. Using a chilled glass will mean the ice in your drink won’t melt as quickly, keeping the drink cool and refreshing and not instantly watered down.
FAQs
While unopened liquors are shelf-stable for years, once they are open, alcohols have about 8 months before they start to lose their peak flavor. If you’re mixing a batch of cocktails at home, keep them in the fridge. Drinks that contain fruit juices should be consumed within a day or two. Any drinks with perishable ingredients like egg whites or milk should be consumed right away.
Vodka is the most popular spirit in the US, with gin, rum, whiskey, and tequila being other must-haves for your bar setup.
One-by-one-inch standard cubes are the most versatile and can be used in any drink. Crushed ice, large cubes, ice spheres, and Collins spears can dress up certain cocktails but aren’t absolutely necessary.
More Delicious Cocktails
Recipe
35 Best Cocktails on the Rocks
Ingredients
- Raspberry Mojito Recipe
- Raspberry Moscow Mule Cocktail
- Refreshing Vodka Margarita
- Spiked Arnold Palmer Cocktail
- Delicious Crown Peach Drink
- Refreshing Mango Margarita
- Blackberry Mint Gin Bramble
- Raspberry and Citrus Mezcal Cocktail
- Sex On The Beach Cocktail
- Classic Mint Julep Recipe
- The BEST Vodka Strawberry Lemonade
- Easy and Refreshing Strawberry Moscow Mule Drink
- Whiskey Sour Cocktail Cocktail
- Low Carb Hatch Chili Margarita
- Hot Honey Margarita
Instructions
- Pick a cocktail on the rocks recipe.
- Gather the ingredients you need.
- Mix and sip on your new favorite rocks cocktail.
Christina Conte
What a great list of cocktails to go through this summer (and fall)! They all look fab!
Kelly Stilwell
Thanks, Christina! I love your Limoncello cocktail!