4 Refreshing Cocktails That’ll Transport You To A Sunny Island Getaway

They're easy to make and easy to drink!

Hi, I'm Brittany. I'm a BuzzFeed writer and I'm here to show you how to make some delicious, island-inspired cocktails.

Brittany Barber / Via BuzzFeed

Because we could all use a little getaway right about now — I know I do!

For this post, the LCBO provided me with four different cocktails to try.

LCBO

First up is the Ciroc Watermelon Spritz.

LCBO

For this summery cocktail, you'll need:

Brittany Barber / Via BuzzFeed

1½ ounces Ciroc Watermelon vodka 

2 ounces lemonade

1 ounce cranberry juice

3 ounces soda water

1 lime wheel, watermelon slice, and sprig of mint, for garnish 

Pour Ciroc, lemonade, and cranberry juice into an ice-filled collins glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with lime, watermelon, and mint. 

Makes 1 cocktail. 

Here it is! A delightful, sweet, and summery bevvie reminiscent of your favourite watermelon-flavoured candy.

Brittany Barber / Via BuzzFeed

The watermelon spritz is sweet and delicious. The flavours are bright and fruity, with a hint of aromatic mint at every sip. It feels like something you could have on a hot summer day, after spending the afternoon on the beach. 

Hot tip: Instead of lemonade, I squeezed one ounce of fresh lemon juice and added it to one ounce of water. I personally prefer my drinks on the tart side. And since the cranberry juice and Ciroc are already on the sweeter side, I thought skipping store-bought lemonade was a good call.

Score: 9/10 — It called for a few ingredients I don't usually keep in my fridge, but I would for sure make it again.

Next up is the Gosling's Dark 'N' Stormy.

LCBO

Here's what you'll need to make it:

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6 ounces Gosling’s Ginger Beer

1½ ounces Gosling’s Bermuda Black Seal Rum

Lime wedge, for garnish 

To a tall glass filled with ice, add Ginger Beer and top with Rum. Garnish with lime wedge, if desired.

Makes 1 cocktail. 

The results: A sweet, spicy, and downright delicious cocktail. Plus, how satisfying is that floating layer?

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The Dark 'N' Stormy is robust and flavourful, with the perfect balance of sweet, spice, and citrus. It's simple, refreshing, and didn't take any effort to make. You could definitely sip on this during a warm, summer evening while watching the sunset from your balcony.

Hot tip: Make sure to use lots of ice and pour the rum in last. Doing so will make sure you get that beautiful colour contrast in your glass.

Score: 10/10 — It was SO easy to make and I absolutely adore Gosling's Bermuda Black Seal Rum.

Our third cocktail is the Patron Paloma.

LCBO

Here's what you'll need:

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A quarter of a fresh lime

Kosher or sea salt

1½ ounces Patron Silver Tequila

Grapefruit-flavoured pop 

Rub the lime around the rim of a tall glass. Invert the glass into a saucer of salt to salt the rim. Put two or three ice cubes into the glass. Add tequila. Squeeze lime quarter into the glass and throw it in. Top up with grapefruit pop.

Look at that colour! This dreamy cocktail tastes like it looks — sweet, citrusy, and grapefruit forward.

Brittany Barber / Via BuzzFeed

The Patron Paloma is sweet, bubbly, and refreshing. It looks super cute too! I love the combination of grapefruit, tequila, and salt. It reminds me of being on vacation, lounging by a swimming pool surrounded by palm trees (which is all I could ever want, TBH). 

Hot tip: If you want to make this less sweet, I recommend trying this with a grapefruit-flavoured soda water. I also added a grapefruit slice to my garnish because I thought it looked pretty — but the recipe doesn't call for it so you don't have to. 

Score: 9/10 — I don’t typically opt for tequila-based cocktails, but this? I'd absolutely make this again. 

And finally, we have our Jamaican Mule.

LCBO

Here's what you'll want on hand:

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3 lime wedges plus 1 more, for garnish

2 ounces Appleton Estate V/X Signature Blend Rum

4 to 5 ounces ginger beer

1 dash Angostura Bitters (optional)

Squeeze juice from 3 lime wedges into a Moscow Mule or rocks glass. Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, gently muddle. Pour in rum. Fill with ice. Top with ginger beer. Add bitters. Stir to mix. Garnish with remaining lime wedge. 

Makes 1 cocktail. 

Voilà! A fizzy, fiery, and citrus-forward cocktail. How can such a simple beverage be so delicious?

Brittany Barber / Via BuzzFeed

The Jamaican Mule might just be my new favourite cocktail. The traditional mule cocktail calls for vodka but I love using rum instead. It brings out a whole other layer, with hints of oak and salted caramel. Hands down, this would be the perfect cocktail to sip on while you lie back in a hammock and enjoy a warm breeze. 

Hot tip: The recipe says the dash of Angostura Bitters is optional so I tried it both ways. The cocktail is delicious without it but I loved the extra kick the bitters gave — I would recommend including it if you can!

Score: 11/10 — Simply divine. I'll be making this one all summer long. 

Anyone can make these simple cocktails from home this summer, with a little help from the LCBO! Come in or shop LCBO.com for home delivery today.