Summer CoolerCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Summer Cooler is an easy-going pitcher cocktail built for sharing, sitting firmly in the fruit-forward, low-fuss mixed-drink tradition rather than a storied classic with a single, agreed origin. With amaretto as the backbone, it leans into the modern “crowd-pleaser” style: simple ratios, familiar juices, and a flavour profile that stays approachable even as you scale it up for a group.
You’ll find the amaretto’s sweet almond character sets a soft, rounded base that immediately reads as dessert-like without becoming heavy. Orange juice brings bright, sunny sweetness and a pulpy freshness that lifts the liqueur, while cranberry juice cuts through with a clean, tangy edge. Together, the orange’s sweetness smooths the cranberry’s tartness, and the cranberry keeps the amaretto from feeling cloying, leaving you with a balanced, fruit-led sip.
Serve it in a pitcher when you want something sociable and unfussy—garden hangs, barbecues, or casual get-togethers where you’d rather top up glasses than play bartender all night. It suits drinkers who like sweet-and-tart flavours and a gentle, liqueur-led warmth, making it an easy option for mixed crowds and long, sunny afternoons.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Tags
Pitcher glass
Ingredients
Cocktail Colin says:
Amaretto’s almond sweetness leads, rounded by bright orange juice and sharpened by tart cranberry juice, creating a juicy, candy-like fruit profile with a lightly nutty finish. The cranberry’s acidity keeps the amaretto from turning cloying while orange adds soft citrus body; it’s ideal for casual crowds who like sweet, fruit-forward pitchers and don’t mind a gentle, low-structure sip.
Method
How to make a Summer Cooler
- Amaretto 200ml, Orange juice 600ml, Cranberry juice 400ml
-
- Pour all ingredients into a jug half filled with ice
-
- Stir and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Summer Cooler with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Learn more about some of the mixology terms used in this cocktail
· Stir ·Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What type of glass is recommended for serving the Summer Cooler?
The recommended glass for serving the Summer Cooler is a pitcher glass. This allows for easy mixing and serving of the cocktail, making it ideal for gatherings or enjoying a refreshing drink over a longer period.
How does the alcohol content of a Summer Cooler compare to other cocktails?
The Summer Cooler has an alcohol content of 4.67%, which is relatively low compared to many classic cocktails. This makes it a lighter option suitable for occasions when you prefer a less potent drink, offering a more refreshing taste without a strong alcoholic kick.
Can I substitute any ingredients in the Summer Cooler for a different taste?
Yes, you can substitute ingredients in the Summer Cooler to suit your taste preferences or availability. For example, if you're not fond of amaretto, you might try substituting it with peach schnapps for a different flavor profile. Similarly, you could use apple juice in place of cranberry juice for a sweeter, less tart cocktail.
Is it necessary to stir the Summer Cooler, or can it be shaken?
The Summer Cooler is best prepared by stirring, not shaking, to mix the ingredients gently. This helps to maintain the integrity of the flavors without aerating the cocktail too much, which can alter the taste and appearance.
How can I make a non-alcoholic version of the Summer Cooler?
To create a non-alcoholic version of the Summer Cooler, you can omit the amaretto and substitute it with a non-alcoholic amaretto flavor syrup, or simply increase the quantities of the orange and cranberry juices. This adjustment will maintain the fruity and refreshing aspects of the drink while making it suitable for all ages and preferences.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Discover this almond-rich cocktail with a whiskey backbone
Jeffrey Morgenthaler Amaretto Sour
Bourbon, Amaretto, Lemon juice, Sugar / simple syrup, Egg
Discover this modern evolution of the Amaretto Sour.
Dolcevita
Whiskey, Amaretto, Rhubarb liqueur, Lemon juice, Pineapple juice, Agave syrup
Try this lush blend of rum and amaretto.
Amaretto Colada
Gold rum, Amaretto, Pineapple juice, Cream, Coconut cream
Explore this indulgent blend of Amaretto and coffee liqueur.
Obal's Toasted Almond
Vodka, Bailey's, Coffee liqueur, Amaretto, Milk
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments