Jug Cocktails Recipes

12 jug cocktails

Hannah Guinness

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Batch cocktails are the ultimate hosting hack! Get ready for the weekend with easy sangrias, icy raspberry frosé and Jamaican rum punch

I'll let you in on a secret: I absolutely LOVE jug cocktails. For me, there's something about whipping up a big batch of delicious drinks for everyone that makes a gathering feel extra special and celebratory. Plus, it's also a million times easier than making up individual cocktails and running back and forth from the kitchen all evening – and as a lazy hostess that's a win in my book.

Sangria is the quintessential jug cocktail and while the classic red wine version always hits the spot I've also tried making it with rosé, white and even sparkling – all are delicious and work with whatever seasonal fruit you have to hand. In the same wheelhouse, our raspberry frosé is a deliciously icy choice when the temperatures soar and I'm also very partial to the white port and grapefruit cooler which riffs on that classic Portuguese combo, white port and tonic – it's super refreshing and low ABV, perfect for session drinking.

For summer barbecues I really enjoy whipping up agave and rum batch cocktails – preferably with some banging beats while I get on with the grilling. I've got a tropical Jamaican rum punch and spicy cucumber margarita (it turns out cucumber, chilli and tequila is a *chef's kiss flavour combo) for you, plus peach & bourbon slushies, cider mimosas and much more to check out. Get mixing!*

Need an affordable and eco-friendly way to keep your drinks cool? Check out the best reusable ice cubes and how to use them.

See our best summer cocktails next.

12 jug cocktail recipes

Gin garden fizz

This gin cocktail is the perfect addition to any barbecue. Made with a homemade sugar syrup, fresh lemon, and a medley of your favourite summer fruits, it’s a simple yet refreshing drink that’s easy to prepare in a jug. Light, zesty, and full of vibrant flavours, it's the ideal drink to serve when entertaining a crowd.

White wine sangria

Do something different if you're entertaining this summer – mix up a jug of our simple white sangria with delicate elderflower and seasonal fruity flavours.

White sangria in pitcher and glasses

Olive summer cup

This is our homemade version of Pimm's and it's the perfect drink for summer sipping. Plus, you probably already have the ingredients lurking in your cupboard.

olive summer cup

Strawberry tequila sangria

Strawberries and elderflower work surprisingly well with tequila in this refreshing jug cocktail. But you could swap the strawberries for raspberries, if you prefer.

A large jug of orange sangria with two prepared glasses in the foreground

Rosé sangria

This light and refreshing raspberry rose sangria is perfect for warm summer evenings. The crisp rosé wine is enhanced with a splash of raspberry liqueur, adding a fruity kick.

White port and grapefruit cooler

Fill a large jug ¾ full with ice.
Add 300ml white port, 500ml pink grapefruit tonic and stir.
Garnish with pink grapefruit slices.

Easy Jug Cocktail Recipes

Jamaican rum punch

Fill a large jug ¾ full with ice.
Add 300ml golden rum, 100ml lime juice, a dash of Angostura bitters, 200ml smooth orange juice, 200ml pineapple juice and stir well.
Pour in 200ml grenadine syrup just before serving.

Check out more of our best rum cocktail recipes here.

Easy Jug Cocktail Recipes

Raspberry frosé

Tip two bottles of rosé wine into a large plastic container, then freeze for 3-4 hours.
Meanwhile, tip 50g caster sugar and 100ml water into a pan.
Bring to a simmer until the sugar dissolves then add 300g raspberries and cover.
Turn off the heat and leave for 20 minutes.
Blend, strain through a sieve and cool.
Scoop the frozen wine out into a blender, whizz until smooth then add the raspberry purée and blend again.
Tip into a large jug and garnish with extra raspberries.

Easy Jug Cocktail Recipes

Negroni sbagliato

Fill a large jug ¾ full with ice.
Add one bottle of prosecco, 100ml Campari and 200ml sweet vermouth.
Top up with chilled soda water and stir. Garnish with orange peel.

Check out our best negroni recipes here.

Easy Jug Cocktail Recipes

Cider mimosa

Fill a large jug halfway with ice.
Pour in 800ml of dry sparkling cider (we used Aspall Premier Cru) with 100ml smooth orange juice and a few orange slices in a large jug.
Mix well, then pour in 1-2 tbsp of grenadine before serving.

Mezcal and kombucha cooler

Fill a large jug halfway with ice.
Pour in 200ml of mezcal with 660ml of plain kombucha, 100ml of fresh apple juice (not from concentrate) and a few slices of red apple.
Mix well before serving.

Peach, tea and bourbon slushie

Steep 2 English breakfast tea bags in 400ml boiling water for 5 minutes, then mix in 2-3 tsp sugar and cool.
Chop 3-4 peaches into bite-sized pieces and mix with the tea and 300ml bourbon.
Pour into a blender and blitz until smooth.
Pour into a plastic container and freeze for 2 hours or until a pourable, slushie-like consistency.
Stir then pour into a large jug and serve.

Cucumber and jalapeño margarita

Infuse one chopped jalapeño in 300ml tequila for 30-45 minutes or until you can taste the heat of the chilli.
Meanwhile, blitz 1 cucumber in a food processor and pass through a sieve to remove the pulp, pressing gently with a spatula to extract as much juice as possible.
Fill a large jug halfway with ice. Pour in the cucumber juice followed by 100ml Cointreau and 100ml lime juice. Mix well.
Serve in glasses with citrus-chilli salt rims (simply rub a lime wedge around the rims, then press into a mixture of mild chilli powder and sea salt flakes).

Plus, we've got plenty more summer cocktail recipes over here.

Authors

Hannah GuinnessSenior sub editor and drinks writer

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