Summer Sips: The Most Popular Boozy Drinks This Year

May 02, 2023

Summer drinks stand apart from other mixed drinks due to their casual and refreshing nature. With their presentation, simple preparation, and emphasis on outdoor enjoyment, these drinks embody the relaxed vibe of the summer season. Whether a fruity mocktail or a light cocktail, summer drinks offer versatility and the perfect way to stay cool while socializing with friends and family.

Drizly, an alcoholic beverage delivery platform, just dropped their latest Consumer Trend Report that tells us what legal drinking-age adults will be sipping or skipping this summer. This report combines sales data from their platform with a nationwide survey, giving us the inside scoop on the hottest drink trends for the sunny season ahead.

Although wine remains a popular choice during the warmer months, the specific type of wine that consumers prefer might come as a surprise. On the other hand, ready-to-drink cocktails like hard seltzers are not as trendy as they used to be.

According to Drizly, it turns out that consumers are turning back to the basics and embracing classic cocktails.

Their data shows that 34 percent of the people surveyed are all in for light liquor this summer! This includes clear spirits like vodka, gin, and tequila that can be enjoyed on the rocks or mixed into classic cocktails like martinis, margaritas, or even trendy ranch water. And let's not forget the beloved vodka soda perfect for chilling out on hot summer days.

While at the beginning of summer, you might typically think of red wine as a drink reserved for cozy winter evenings, get ready for a delightful surprise this year! Believe it or not, red wine is set to be one of the most popular drinks this summer. Interestingly, 31 percent of those surveyed have revealed that they plan to reach for red wine as their go-to summer drink. Red wine is stealing the spotlight and taking the lead over popular choices like rosé and white wine.

However, white wine isn't too far behind. In fact, the report shows that 28 percent of respondents said it would be their top summer drink. On the other hand, when it comes to summer sipping preferences, rosé didn't quite take the crown. Only 17 percent of survey participants selected rosé as their beverage of choice. In the meantime, light lager beer, such as Michelob Ultra and Bud Light, emerged as the favored beverage for 23 percent of the surveyed individuals.

The report shows a decline in ready-to-drink cocktails, which had a 17 percent decrease from their 2022 report. A significant 21 percent of the respondents are set on hard seltzer as their go-to summer drink. While still popular, hard alternatives like hard lemonade or hard iced tea didn't quite steal the show, with only 14 percent of those surveyed choosing them as their ultimate summer drink.

No matter which way you pour it, summer is almost here. And these boozy beverages have got you covered for those sunny days. Check out Drizly's complete report here.

With Spring in bloom and Summer on the horizon, I’ve been dying to "open up" my outdoor bar. Warm summer nights with a cold drink in my hand on the patio are some of my favorites. Plus, for those of you who enjoy hosting a summer get-together with friends, an outdoor bar area is a brilliant idea. So I’ve put together a list of my outdoor bar must have items. Check them out below.

This is great for those summer nights with you and friend. This beer table not only can hold two beer bottles, but it also holds a snack! Plus, it has a bottle opener right in the center.

And if you’re a wine drinker, you can still enjoy this great table, but with the ability to hold wine glasses instead.

This is the holy grail of coolers, in my opinion. This cooler cart is 80 quarts meaning it can hold up to 100 cans or 55 bottles. It also comes with a convenient drain so when your ice turns into water you can just drain the cooler quickly. Plus, it has a bottle opener, so you’ll be able to always open your drinks.

Listen, this ring ice pop mold immediately is the winner of the summer. Imagine boozy fruity ring pops being pulled out during those hot summer nights? Sounds perfect, right!?

This is such a lifesaver for boozy brunch on the patio! Like mimosas in this bad boy are so much more secure. The no-spill insulated pitcher is great for when you’ve had a few too many and accidentally knock over the pitcher. It is a 2-liter size so that's great for making batch mixies!

If you’re a garnish person, or even if you just love eating olives while you’re drinking cocktails, this condiment serving tray is so great. The best part is that it can be put on ice, so you won't have to worry about them going bad too quickly in the sun. Pro tip: these are great for grad parties too.

This is great for the margarita lovers out there! The 3-tiered cocktail seasoning rimmer is such a great tool to have whether it's part of your indoor bar or outdoor bar. The three compartments allow you to add lime juice, sugar, and salt to each panel so you can line your beverage glasses more easily. You’re going to feel like a real bartender with this one.

I love a fun beer koozy. These beer life preserver jackets are a fun way to keep your beer bottles and cans cool. Plus, they’re fun if you’re on the water or planning to take a trip to the beach this summer.

Again, I gotta take care of my wine lovers too. These wine sleeves help you keep your wine at the temperature you want. I’m an avid white wine drinker, so these really come in handy when I’ve got a bottle chilled.

I also love a good cheese platter! I am a charcuterie girl at heart, so this is a great way to not only have a delicious charcuterie board outside, but it can also help protect the food from flies and other bugs. But my favorite part is the slate disc. Chill that before taking it outside and insert it into your board so that you can keep the meat and cheese cool.

Well, it just makes it more fun right? This wall pong is just like beer pong, but you can play in a more unique way. Think of it like a combo of darts and beer pong.

You have to create the perfect mood! These outdoor patio string lights are beautiful. They have a beautiful golden light quality that gives you almost a fire-like glow to it.

And last, but certainly not least, these mesh zero gravity chairs are so great for an outdoor bar area. Now most people would probably go with a bar stool, but I am all about the comfort. Which is why I love these so much. I can relax and lean back while I have my drink surrounded by the quiet of the night.