Making mixed drinks at home is certainly cheaper than happy hour.
But the cost can add up fast if youre serving up sips for a crowd.
Fortunately, doling out a few summer cocktails at your next shindig doesnt have to set you back financially.
Kaz Weida/The Penny Hoarder
you might pour them straight from a pitcher and use ingredients you already have.
Make Big-Batch Summer Cocktails for Your Next Backyard Bash
The proof is in the punch.
Weve found dozens of big-batch drink recipes that wont break the bank.
Many of these easy cocktails only require three or four ingredients.
Need Some Quick Cash?
If youre looking to boost your income this month, weve got just the thing for you.
Bringing a breeze to your next backyard bash is the perfect remedy for hot summer days.
Its as simple as mixing vodka with cranberry juice and garnishing with a slice of lime.
Ditch the bottle and lean intohomemade bloody mary mixto cut costs.
Bonus points if you dig up garnishes like parsley and fresh basil from your backyard herb garden.
Bloody marys also make a great base for aDIY cocktail barat your next outdoor brunch.
The sweet snap of ginger beer makesMoscow mulesthe perfect summer pitcher pour.
This simple drink has just three ingredients but providesendless variationsto suit your tastes all summer long.
These tequila big-batch drinks strike the perfect balance between spicy and sweet.
If you think a margarita is a frozen drink, youre doing it wrong.
Contrary to popular belief, this festive drink makes a beautiful pitcher pour.
If you cant find five-year-old grenadine syrup haunting your cupboards, go for thisclassic versionof a tequila sunrise instead.
Dont pass up the chance to sample one of the most refreshing sips on this list.
You brew coffee at home, you dont walk into Target and you refuse to order avocado toast.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
Watching your blood pressure?
Skip the salted rim and go with agreyhound cocktailinstead.
Got some fresh produce or frozen berries you gotta use?
The beautiful gin-basedPimms cupis adaptable to whatevers in the fridge.
Try it topped with ginger ale and a splash of lemon juice.
Thehistory of this punchs riseas the quintessential summer drink is also worth sampling.
A little fresh mint goes a long way in thissimple mojito recipe.
Youll ride out the storm just fine kicking back with one of these rum cocktails.
The signature division that makes for such an attractive presentation in thistake on a mojitois all in the preparation.
Emeril Lagasse also has a celebrated pitcher recipe for adark n stormy.
Punch up the party with thisrum recipethat begs to be garnished with one of those little umbrellas.
Not sure mint juleps will strike the right note for your shindig?
you’ve got the option to hedge your bets with thesemint julep variations.
Put a cherry on top of this classic cocktail, and youll have a cheerful cup to pass around.
Thesefresh whiskey soursfrom Ina Garten skip the egg white but hang onto the spirit of this tart drink.
you might also soak up the sun with thisstrawberry lemonadeversion that leverages frozen strawberries for a summertime sour.
This cocktail has so many versions that its hard to tell when the smash began.
Start with theblackberry bourbon smashor thepeach summertime smash; no peach schnapps required.
These cups feature wine-based punches and big-batch cocktails thatll cool off your next book club meet-up.
Summer Cocktails With Champagne
Bottoms up to a refreshing drink featuring champagne.
Italians arent the only ones who combine champagne and cocktails.
Say bon appetite to theFrench 75,featuring champagne, gin, lemon juice and sugar.
And, if this sip is too simple for your taste, theblood orange versionearns rave reviews.
A shandy is any cocktail that combines lemonade and beer.
Heard of These Money-Making Hacks?
Ready to find out how some folks effortlessly earn the big bucks?
Millions of Americans ignorethese easy tipsthat could have you padding your wallet in no time.
However, you dont need big-batch cocktails to stay cheap.
These ideas for DIY cocktail bars leave the mixing (and the fixings) to the guests.
Gin and Tonic
The beauty of a basic gin and tonic is that its the perfect springboard.
For a summer cocktail crowd, slice up some citrus for a simple but charminggin and tonic bar.
Mimosa
Dont banish mimosas to brunch.
Baby showers and afternoon meetups are still the perfect place to put together amimosa bar.
3 Budget Mocktails to Throw into the Mix
Dont drink alcohol?
Lemonade
Lemonade sounds boring, but it doesnt have to be.
Sherbert Punch
Have dreams of lovely drinks piled high with whipped cream?
Dropping in some scoops of rainbow sherbet will make your punchbowl pretty as a picture.
Arnold Palmer
Iced tea and lemonade mixed together?
Nothing could be more suggestive of summertime than that.
But check that you get theratio rightfor this classic pitcher drink.
Kaz Weida is a former senior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
