Refreshing Cocktails for Warm May Days: Easy-to-Make Recipes You Can Enjoy at Home

As temperatures begin to rise, the desire to cool off with a refreshing homemade drink becomes more relevant than ever. With or without ice, sparkling or rich in flavor, summer cocktails remain one of the most refined forms of pleasure. At Alcomarket, you’ll always find not only simple recipes, but also tips that can surprise your taste buds and expand your gastronomic horizons.

From the Spirit of the Gatsby Era

Although it's not exactly known when cocktails became an essential part of social life, they are strongly associated with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Widely consumed during the Prohibition era in the United States in the 1920s, cocktails gained popularity as a practical and elegant way to mask the harsh taste of alcohol. This gave rise to bar culture and creative mixology — a tradition we’ve inherited and continue to develop today.

Simple Recipes You Can Make in Your Own Kitchen

To treat yourself at home or on the terrace, we’ve prepared a few easy recipes based on sparkling wine, gin, and rum. These drinks are quick to make and perfect for a relaxed evening with your partner or friends.

Sparkling Wine Cocktails

Sparkling wines — whether dry, sweet, or non-alcoholic — are the perfect base for light, refreshing cocktails. They’re ideal for brunches, picnics, celebrations, or simply a quiet evening on the balcony or terrace.

Try mixing:
100 ml of Cricova Cuvée Prestige Brut White, 50 ml of mineral water, and 30 ml of elderflower syrup. Add a slice of lime, a few mint leaves, and some ice cubes.

Other sparkling wine suggestions from Alcomarket include Radacini Rose Dulce or Bottega Prosecco Gold for special occasions.
If you prefer alcohol-free options, go for Casa Petru Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosé or J.P. Chenet Alcohol-Free Chardonnay.

Rum-Based Cocktails

Rum is rightfully considered the king of summer — its sweet and warm notes are perfect for a slow evening or a heartfelt chat with friends or a loved one.

For a classic mojito with white rum, you’ll need:
50 ml of Havana Club, 30 ml of lime juice, 2 teaspoons of brown sugar, 1–2 sprigs of mint, some mineral water, and ice.

For something more tropical, try:
40 ml of Tiki Lovers Pineapple Rum, 60 ml of pineapple juice, 20 ml of lime juice, and 10 ml of coconut syrup. Shake well with ice and garnish with a fresh pineapple slice.

Other great rum options from Alcomarket include Bacardi Reserva, Angostura Rum, and Cuerpo White Rum.

Gin Cocktails

And finally — gin. Often served with tonic, gin also pairs beautifully with fruit and spices, especially when you choose something like Burdon Cerezas, infused with natural cherry flavor.

Try this recipe:
40 ml of Burdon Cerezas, 20 ml of raspberry syrup, 100 ml of tonic water, a few grapefruit slices, and ice to taste.

Another recipe worth trying:
50 ml of Bombay Sapphire, 100 ml of tonic water, a sprig of rosemary, a slice of cucumber, and a few pink peppercorns.

For even more pleasure, we invite you to explore gin-based cocktails made with Sakurao Gin, Beefeater Pink, or Thomas Shackley Stof by Kvint.

So grab your shaker and rest assured — every cocktail recipe from alcomarket.md is a true delight.