April showers bring tasty cocktails. That's absolutely how that saying goes, and here's why: with less time outside because of the rain, there's more time in your own house or at the bar to enjoy a cocktail. Especially a seasonal cocktail that captures the flavors of spring. Let's stop talking about it and get down to making them.
April Rain Cocktail
As clear as the April rain, this martini turns those raindrops on the window from an annoyance into a treat.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka OR gin
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, dry vermouth, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with,a mint sprig.
April Shower Cocktail
Don't stress about the April showers, friend. They're softening the ground for planting and ushering along the blossoms that're going to be the crown on every bud, tree, and bush you see. It's easier with this cocktail in hand, promise.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces white rum
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- ¼ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Raspberry and grapefruit ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, grapefruit juice, raspberry liqueur, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a grapefruit ribbon and skewered raspberry.
Cherry Blossoms in April Cocktail
Depending on where you find yourself in the world, you might be one of the lucky ones to enjoy the snowfall of cherry blossoms in April. If not, this cocktail will hold you over while you dream, doubly so on National Amaretto Day on April 19th. If amaretto isn't the flavor for you, consider pecan flavoring or even whip up a pecan cocktail in honor of National Pecan Day on April 14th.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces cherry-infused whiskey
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce amaretto liqueur
- 2-3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Cocktail cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, cherry-infused whiskey, sweet vermouth, amaretto liqueur, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a cocktail cherry, pierced with a cocktail skewer.
Smoked Pineapple Cocktail
Sink into a glass of vitamin C. You may not yet be getting much sunshine from the outdoors yet, but you can swirl it neatly into an April cocktail. National Vitamin C Day falls on April 4th, hint hint.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces mezcal
- ¾ ounce gold tequila
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orgeat
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and pineapple leaf for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, mezcal, gold tequila, pineapple juice, lime juice, and orgeat.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge and pineapple leaf.
April's Rose Garden Cocktail
Capture the color of the rosy buds you see outside in a cocktail that's beyond fitting for the springtime blossoming all around you in April. It's only right to bring that color directly to a cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1-3 fresh basil leaves
- 1-2 fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Basil sprig and strawberry slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the basil leaves and strawberries with simple syrup.
- Add ice, vanilla vodka, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Pour, do not strain into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a basil sprig and strawberry slice.
Strawberry Blonde Margarita
A light strawberry margarita hits the spot in your soul that's been ever-so-patiently waiting for the warmer weather that April brings. It might seem too on the nose, but this pairs perfectly with National Burrito Day, which falls on April 6th.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 1½ ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce strawberry liqueur
- ½ ounce agave syrup
- Ice
- Strawberry slice for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime juice, strawberry liqueur, and agave syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
A Peachy Day in April Cocktail
There are few pleasures in life that compare to that first bite into a juicy ripe peach. Except when you don't want to dribble all over yourself or wind up with sticky-peach fingers. Enter this April peach martini to scratch your itch.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vanilla vodka
- ¾ ounce peach liqueur
- ¾ ounce peach nectar
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Peach slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, peach liqueur, peach nectar, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a peach slice.
April Corpse Reviver
To quote T. S. Eliot, "April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain." This corpse reviver riff does exactly that, but for you.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce gin
- ¾ ounce Lillet Blanc
- ¾ ounce elderflower liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, Lillet Blanc, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
April Is the Bee's Knees
Daffodils are making their grand entrance to the world. Capture that very essence in a drink that's nothing short of being outta this world.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin OR vodka
- ¾ ounce honey liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce thyme simple syrup
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, honey liqueur, lemon juice, and thyme simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Old-Fashioned
Smoosh your favorite childhood, or adult sandwich - we won't tell your secret - into an old-fashioned cocktail. If you don't want to shake the cocktail for days, go ahead and use a strawberry or raspberry liqueur. It's no April Fools, National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day happens on April 2nd, so don't let this one get away from you.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces peanut butter whiskey
- ¾ ounce strawberry OR grape jelly
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, peanut butter whiskey, jelly, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Shake thoroughly to dissolve jelly.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a strawberry.
April Gin and Tonic
Did you know that national Gin and Tonic Day falls on April 9th? Now you do. And since you have that information in your pocket, that's the best day to experiment with the classic.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces lavender, cucumber, OR basil-infused gin
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Tonic to top off
- Cucumber ribbon and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks or highball glass, add ice, infused gin, and lime juice.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Garnish with a cucumber ribbon, piercing with a rosemary sprig.
Bloody April Mary
April is National Brunch Month. Let your mimosa take the month off and instead step up your Bloody Mary game. You don't need to stack on a dozen garnishes, either. Keep it simple and highbrow, like your favorite Taurus would. Oh, and since National Grilled Cheese day falls on April 12th, think about making a cheesy breakfast sandwich to fit the theme of both.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and Bloody Mary rim salt
- 2 ounces bacon-infused vodka
- 4½ ounces Bloody Mary mix
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce horseradish, optional
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Shrimp, asparagus stalk, and lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, infused vodka, Bloody Mary mix, lime juice, horseradish, salt, and pepper.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with asparagus, lime wedge, and one cooked shrimp.
- Toast to living the delicious life.
Swamp Water
You can chase your friends around, telling them to get our of your swamp, or let them in on your secret. Maybe don't tell them there's avocado in here until after they try it. Or tell them -- they won't believe you with an April Fool's Day cocktail.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 1½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces agave syrup
- ¼-½ avocado, peeled and pitted
- ¼ cup crushed ice
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add crushed ice, tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, agave syrup, and avocado.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Green Tea Shot
There are no healthy antioxidants here. This is the ultimate, and tastiest, prank shot you can play on April Fool's Day.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce whiskey
- ¾ ounce peach liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Small splash lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, peach liqueur, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a shot glass.
- Add a splash of lemon-lime soda.
April Fool's Day Shot Roulette
The ultimate trick: shot roulette. Whether you opt for mostly tequila, vodka, or rum shots and only a shot of water or two, or make it mostly water with a few liquor surprises is up to you.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces water
- 1½ ounces tequila, vodka, or rum
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a set number of shot glasses with alcohol or water.
- Don't lose track of which is which, or do!
- Garnish with lime wedges.
April Drinks to Put A Spring In Your Step
Bounce your way over the snowbanks and into April with a floral, or trickster, cocktail in tow. Play to the theme of a national day (who doesn't need a little extra peanut butter and jelly in their life), or live your most luxurious brunch life. However you shake it, these April cocktails are a delight.
