5 Fun Summer Drinks to Make at Home for the Whole Family

Because Summer Tastes Better With the Right Drink in Hand

There is something about a warm summer's day that immediately makes you want something cold, refreshing and a little bit special in your hand. Not just a glass of water from the tap. Something that feels like the season. Something that makes the garden feel like a holiday and the kitchen feel like the best place in the house to be.

At James James Kitchens, we spend a lot of time thinking about how kitchens work for real life and in summer, real life means long lazy afternoons, impromptu gatherings, kids running in and out and everyone wanting something delicious to drink. 

So we've put together five of our favourite summer drinks to make at home. Something for the adults, something for the little ones, something for the coffee lovers and something that makes even a glass of water feel like a treat. Let's get into it. 

1. Strawberry Gin Fizz: For the Adults

Summer and strawberries were made for each other. 

When you add gin, lemon and soda to the mix, you end up with one of the most effortlessly beautiful drinks you can put on a garden table. Light, refreshing and incredibly easy to make, this is the ultimate summer cocktail for entertaining.

You will need:

• Fresh strawberries

• Gin

• Lemon juice

• Sugar syrup

• Soda water

• Ice

• Fresh mint and sliced strawberries to garnish

How to make it:

1. Add a handful of fresh strawberries and a squeeze of lemon juice to a glass or cocktail shaker

2. Muddle, which means gently crush, the strawberries until they release their juice

3. Add a good measure of gin and a splash of sugar syrup

4. Fill with ice and shake well until combined

5. Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice

6. Top generously with soda water

7. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a few sliced strawberries and serve immediately

Our Top Tip: Make the strawberry and lemon base in advance and keep it in the fridge. When guests arrive, all you need to do is add gin and soda. Scale it up in a big jug for a crowd and let everyone help themselves, effortless hosting at its finest.

2. Watermelon & Mint Lemonade: For the Kids

Every summer gathering needs a drink that the kids are genuinely excited about. 

The Watermelon and Mint Lemonade is vibrant, refreshing and such a stunning shade of pink that it almost feels like a shame to drink it. Almost. Naturally sweet, tangy and wonderfully fresh, this is the ultimate summer drink for the little ones. And if we are honest, the adults tend to reach for a glass too.

You will need:

• Fresh watermelon

• Lemons

• Sugar syrup

• Fresh mint

• Sparkling or still water

• Plenty of crushed ice

How to make it:

1. Cut the watermelon into chunks, removing the rind, and blend until completely smooth

2. Strain through a sieve to remove any pulp and set the juice aside

3. Squeeze the lemons and combine the juice with sugar syrup to taste to make a simple lemonade

4. Combine the watermelon juice and lemonade in a large jug and stir well

5. Add a generous handful of fresh mint and stir again

6. Fill tall glasses with crushed ice and pour the lemonade over

7. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon and serve immediately

Our Top Tip: Freeze small cubes of watermelon the night before and use them as ice cubes in the drink. They keep it perfectly cold without watering it down and look absolutely gorgeous in the glass.

3. Coconut Iced Coffee: For the Coffee Lovers

If you cannot get through a summer afternoon without a coffee but a hot drink in the heat feels completely unappealing, this one is for you. 

The Coconut Iced Coffee is rich, smooth, a little tropical and genuinely one of the most satisfying things you can make in your kitchen on a warm day. It has serious coffee shop energy without the coffee shop price tag.

You will need:

• Cold brew coffee or strong espresso cooled completely

• Coconut milk

• Honey (Or a syrup of your choice)

• Ice

• A tall glass

How to make it:

1. If making cold brew, steep coarsely ground coffee in cold water in the fridge overnight, using a ratio of 1 cup of coffee to 4 cups of water

2. Strain the cold brew through a fine sieve or coffee filter and set aside

3. Fill a tall glass generously with ice

4. Pour the cold brew coffee over the ice until the glass is roughly two thirds full

5. Add a generous pour of coconut milk and watch it swirl beautifully through the coffee

6. Finish with a slow drizzle of honey over the top

7. Give it a gentle stir before drinking and enjoy immediately

Our Top Tip: Make a big batch of cold brew at the start of the week and keep it in a jar in the fridge. It stays fresh for up to two weeks and means a gorgeous iced coffee is never more than a pour away. Cold brew is smoother and less bitter than regular iced coffee, making it the perfect base for this drink.

4. Mango & Passion Fruit Spritz: The Alcohol Free Cocktail

Not everyone wants an alcoholic drink and they absolutely should not have to settle for something that feels like an afterthought.

The Mango and Passion Fruit Spritz is a proper, grown-up, gorgeous drink that just happens to contain no alcohol whatsoever. Sweet, tart, tropical and wonderfully fizzy, this is a mocktail that genuinely impresses.

You will need:

• Mango juice

• Fresh passion fruit

• Lime juice

• Sparkling water

• Ice

• Fresh mint to garnish

How to make it:

1. Fill a tall glass generously with ice

2. Pour mango juice over the ice until the glass is roughly half full

3. Scoop the pulp of a fresh passion fruit directly into the glass

4. Add a generous squeeze of fresh lime juice

5. Top with sparkling water and stir gently to combine

6. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of lime

7. Serve immediately and enjoy

Our Top Tip: Rim the glass with a little lime juice and dip it in desiccated coconut before pouring the drink. It adds a tropical touch that makes this feel like a really special, considered cocktail and it takes about ten seconds to do.

5. Cucumber, Lemon & Mint Infused Water: Make Hydration Feel Special

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most brilliant. 

A big beautiful jug of cucumber, lemon and mint infused water sitting on a summer table looks incredible, like something from a spa or a very stylish garden party. And the best part? It takes almost no effort at all. The result is water that is gently flavoured, wonderfully refreshing and so much more satisfying to drink than plain water alone.

You will need:

• Cold water

• Fresh cucumber

• Lemon

• Fresh mint

• A large jug or glass dispenser

How to make it:

1. Wash the cucumber, lemon and mint thoroughly

2. Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and cut the lemon into wedges

3. Add the cucumber slices and lemon wedges to a large jug

4. Add a generous handful of fresh mint, gently pressing the leaves to release their flavour

5. Fill the jug with cold water and stir gently

6. Cover and place in the fridge for a minimum of two hours, overnight is even better

7. Serve over ice in tall glasses and enjoy throughout the day

Our Top Tip: Make it the night before and let it infuse in the fridge overnight. The longer it sits, the more flavourful it becomes. A glass dispenser with a tap looks absolutely beautiful on a kitchen counter or garden table and makes it easy for everyone to help themselves throughout the day.

One Final Thought

The best summer gatherings aren't about complicated recipes or impressive cocktail lists. They're about good drinks, good company and a kitchen that makes it all feel effortless.

Whether you're hosting a garden party, keeping the kids entertained on a hot afternoon or simply treating yourself to something a little more special than usual, we hope these five drinks bring a little extra sunshine to your summer.

At James James Kitchens, we design kitchens that make moments like these feel even better. A space where the preparation is as enjoyable as the occasion itself.

If you'd like to talk about creating your dream kitchen, we'd love to hear from you.