Top 11 Ocean-Inspired Cocktails to Refresh Your Summer Evenings

I’ve got a serious soft spot for coastal flavors. Give me anything that tastes like salty waves, breezy boardwalks, or tropical shorelines, and I’m in heaven.

As soon as summer rolls around (and honestly, sometimes even before), I’m all about mixing up cocktails that remind me of swaying palm trees and cool ocean air. It’s my kind of happy place.

I made a list of my favorite ocean-inspired cocktails, each with its own vibe. You’ll see all sorts of breezy blues, luscious rums, tangy citrus, and playful garnishes—basically, everything you need to summon that vacation mood.

So grab some ice, rummage for those tiki glasses hiding in your cabinet, and let’s get right to it.

1. Blue Hawaiian

Something about this drink instantly calls to mind the bright turquoise waters of a tropical island.

It’s not just pretty to look at—it’s also a sweet, creamy burst of pure vacation in a glass. I find it’s an absolute crowd-pleaser, and it photographs like a dream.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. light rum
• 1 oz. blue curaçao
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 1 oz. cream of coconut
• Crushed ice
• Pineapple slice and maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

1. Toss your rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and a handful of crushed ice into a blender.
2. Blitz until everything’s smooth and frosty.
3. Pour into a hurricane glass (or any fun, tall glass you have hanging around).
4. Dress it up with a pineapple slice and that classic maraschino cherry on top.

Personal Tip

There’s a playful sweetness here, so I like to serve it with something salty, like little bar snacks or lightly salted chips, to keep things balanced.

2. Sea Breeze

This crisp drink has a magical way of making me feel like I’m standing on a sailboat deck with the wind in my hair.

Cranberry and grapefruit team up to give that tart yet sweet combo that’s unbelievably refreshing during the hottest part of the day.

Ingredients

• 5 oz. vodka
• 3 oz. cranberry juice
• 1 oz. grapefruit juice
• Ice
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice.
3. Give it a gentle stir.
4. Pop in a lime wedge on the rim or just drop it in.

Personal Tip

If you find grapefruit juice a bit on the bitter side, a splash of simple syrup can soften things up. That said, I usually keep the bitterness because it’s part of the signature vibe.

3. Ocean Water Cocktail

I’ve always been intrigued by anything that claims to capture that ocean-blue hue. This one gets extra points for mixing coconut and citrusy notes, so it’s super light and bright.

Plus, the color looks amazing in photos—Instagram-worthy, for sure.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup coconut water
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 2 oz. blue curaçao
• 1 oz. coconut rum
• Ice
• Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mixing glass, blend coconut water, pineapple juice, blue curaçao, and coconut rum.
2. Stir it all up, then pour over ice into your favorite glass.
3. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a shiny red cherry on top.

Personal Tip

Try using fresh pineapple juice if possible. The flavor difference can be huge—fresh juice gives a sweeter, more tropical essence that’s totally worth the extra step.

4. Shrimp Cocktail (A Snack With That Drink)

Okay, I know we’ve been all about the liquid sunshine so far, but let’s take a quick detour into snack territory. After all, what’s a beachy cocktail hour without a little something to nibble on?

Enter: the shrimp cocktail. It’s chilled, zesty, and feels just as refreshing as a dip in the ocean. Plus, it’s a total classic—like the Audrey Hepburn of appetizers.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 lemon, halved
• 2 tsp Old Bay seasoning (optional, but highly recommended)
• Ice bath (just a big bowl with water and ice)

For the Cocktail Sauce

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp prepared horseradish (more if you like it spicy!)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• A dash of hot sauce (I always say yes)

Instructions

1. Fill a medium pot with water, toss in the lemon halves and Old Bay, and bring it to a boil.
2. Add the shrimp and cook for about 2–3 minutes, just until they turn pink and curl up.
3. Quickly transfer them to your ice bath to stop the cooking and keep them juicy.
4. While they chill, stir together all the cocktail sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
5. Serve the shrimp in a fancy glass or bowl over crushed ice, with the cocktail sauce on the side.

Personal Tip (for cocktail shrimp)

I like to keep the tails on the shrimp for presentation (and for easier dipping). Bonus points if you chill the serving glasses ahead of time.

For guidance on selecting the freshest shrimp, check out this comprehensive resource on how to buy seafood.

5. Salty Dog

Despite its simple recipe, the Salty Dog feels like a mini-vacation for your taste buds. It’s tangy, salty, and oh-so-refreshing on a warm evening. If you’re a grapefruit juice fan, you’ll adore this one.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. gin or vodka (depending on your preference)
• 4 oz. grapefruit juice
• Coarse salt for rimming
• Ice
• Grapefruit wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. Wet the rim of a highball glass, then dip it into coarse salt.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Add gin or vodka.
4. Pour grapefruit juice on top and give a quick stir.
5. Toss in a grapefruit wedge for that final flourish.

Personal Tip

I usually lean toward gin because its botanical notes add a little extra layer of fun. Vodka keeps it more neutral if you’re not a fan of gin’s herbal twist.

6. Mermaid Water

There’s something utterly mesmerizing about this mix of spiced rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, and lime.

It’s sweet, a bit tart, and has a hint of subtle warmth from the spices. It kinda reminds me of a hidden cove you might stumble upon during an island getaway.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. spiced rum
• 1 oz. coconut rum
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 1 oz. lime juice
• Ice
• Pineapple slice and lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add spiced rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
3. Shake it up like you mean it.
4. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
5. Slide in a pineapple slice and lime wheel for that extra flair.

Personal Tip

The ratio of spiced rum to coconut rum can be adjusted based on how strong and how sweet you like your drink. Sometimes I’ll go a bit heavier on the spiced rum if I’m craving a more robust flavor.

7. Ocean Breeze

It’s bright, it’s bubbly, and the name basically conjures up images of palm-lined beaches. This drink combines white rum and blue curaçao, then tops it off with lemonade to keep it tangy and refreshing.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. white rum
• 1 oz. blue curaçao
• 4 oz. lemonade
• Ice
• Lemon slice and blueberries for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a glass halfway with crushed ice.
2. Pour in the white rum and blue curaçao.
3. Top it off with lemonade.
4. Give it a gentle stir.
5. Garnish with a lemon slice and toss in a few blueberries for a pop of color.

Personal Tip

I love using fresh-squeezed lemonade. The flavor is zippier and less processed. Store-bought will work, but if you have the time, fresh is definitely the way to go.

8. Bay Breeze

Think of the Bay Breeze as the sweeter cousin to the Sea Breeze. Instead of grapefruit juice, you get pineapple—so it’s fruit-forward and downright delicious. I usually break this one out at summer barbecues because it pleases just about everyone.

Ingredients

• 5 oz. vodka
• 3 oz. cranberry juice
• 1 oz. pineapple juice
• Ice
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in vodka, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice.
3. Stir gently.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Personal Tip

You can also swap out the vodka for coconut rum if you want even more tropical flair. It’s not the classic recipe, but it’s a fun twist that I can’t resist from time to time.

9. Blue Lagoon

 

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I remember being fascinated by this cocktail the first time I saw it at a hotel bar. The color is as vivid as the name implies. With vodka, blue curaçao, and lemonade, it’s simple yet striking, and it’s often the one guests go for when they want a picture-perfect drink.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. blue curaçao
• 4 oz. lemonade
• Ice
• Lemon wheel and maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and blue curaçao.
3. Top with lemonade and stir gently.
4. Float a lemon wheel on top and add a cherry.

Personal Tip

For a little sparkle, use a carbonated lemonade or lemon-lime soda. It’ll give the drink a lightly fizzy texture that really hits the spot.

10. Sex on the Beach

The name might raise a few eyebrows, but this is a classic, fruity favorite that never goes out of style. Peach schnapps pairs beautifully with vodka, cranberry, and orange juice, making a candy-like flavor that’s ideal for summertime parties.

Ingredients

• 5 oz. vodka
• 5 oz. peach schnapps
• 2 oz. cranberry juice
• 2 oz. orange juice
• Ice
• Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in vodka and peach schnapps.
3. Top with cranberry juice and orange juice.
4. Stir it up gently.
5. Crown it with an orange slice and a cherry.

Personal Tip

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swap the orange juice for pineapple juice, or even combine the two for a tangier punch.

11. Navy Grog

This one’s a tiki classic that calls on multiple rums and a splash of citrus. It’s got depth from the rum blend and a lovely brightness from lime and grapefruit.

You’ll see variations, but the blueprint is typically the same: a trifecta of rums balanced by tangy juices and a bit of sweetener. It’s sort of a nod to old-school naval concoctions.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. light rum
• 1 oz. dark rum
• 1 oz. demerara rum
• 75 oz. lime juice
• 75 oz. grapefruit juice
• 5 oz. honey syrup (equal parts honey and water)
• Ice
• Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine light rum, dark rum, demerara rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and honey syrup in a shaker.
2. Add ice.
3. Shake with energy—enough to get it nicely chilled and blended.
4. Strain into a glass loaded with crushed ice.
5. Decorate with a lime wheel and a sprig of fresh mint.

Personal Tip

Honey syrup can be made at home quickly. Just warm up equal parts honey and water, stir until combined, and let it cool. A dash of cinnamon or allspice in the syrup can add a subtle twist.

Brief Conclusion

I hope these liquid gems bring that ocean-kissed feeling straight into your home. They’re a blast to experiment with, and each one can spark a little daydream of crashing waves, golden sand, and the smell of suntan lotion.

Personally, nothing beats setting up a lounge chair on my back porch, sipping on a mermaid-colored drink, and cranking the steel-drum music. It’s all about that easy, breezy summer life.

Have fun mixing it up, and don’t be shy about adding your own twists. After all, the best cocktails are the ones that capture your personality—salty, sweet, or somewhere in between.