At Stranahan’s, we take pride in doing things the Colorado way—boldly, thoughtfully, and always with a spirit of craft. As the most awarded American Single Malt Whiskey*, we’ve spent years perfecting a whiskey that’s as versatile as it is expressive. This season, we’re taking it beyond the glass with a lineup of cocktails that bring fresh ingredients and creative thinking into every pour. These summer cocktails aren’t just drinks — they’re personal masterpieces, each designed by our expert mixologists to push the boundaries of what American Single Malt mixology can be. From bright, fruit-forward flavors to layered, spiced builds, these recipes show just how far American Single Malt can go when you mix it with a little imagination.
5 of the Best Whiskey Cocktails for Summer Sipping
Let’s dive into these 5 easy whiskey cocktail recipes, each a personal masterpiece you can recreate at home. When it comes to the perfect summer whiskey drink, you can never go wrong using any of our American Single Malt Whiskeys as the base, especially in these expertly curated recipes crafted by Stranahan’s mixologists.
Each recipe makes one drink. Multiply by the number of drinks needed or make a large batch in advance.
The Water Park
Crafted by Stranahan’s Mixology Expert: Steve Bufalino
“I wanted to create something that reminded me of refreshing watermelon in the hot Midwest summer with family. Something you could enjoy at the bar or out at the lake.” — Steve Bufalino
Sweet summer nostalgia is what immediately comes to mind after one sip of this drink. Like taking a bite out of a bright, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day, this refreshing whiskey cocktail has a similar flavor profile to Watermelon Spritz, but stands out even more by using our Blue Peak American Single Malt Whiskey.
Summer Pairing: Poolside get-togethers or fire pit hangouts.
What You’ll Need:
- Blender
- Ice
- Strainer
- Cheesecloth
- Shaker
- Rocks glass
Cocktail Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Stranahan’s Blue Peak
- 2 oz watermelon water (homemade recipe below)
- 0.5 oz Campari
- 0.25 oz lemon Juice
- 0.25 oz agave nectar
- Lemon wheel (Garnish)
Cocktail Recipe:
- Add ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake
- Strain over ice in a rocks glass
- Garnish with a lemon wheel
How to Make Watermelon Water at home:
- 2 lb watermelon
- 8 oz sugar
- Scoop of ice
Watermelon Water Recipe:
- Blend watermelon, sugar, and a scoop of ice until crushed, some chunks may still remain
- Strain through cheesecloth and store in fridge for up to 2 weeks
Expert Tip: If there isn’t enough time to make the Watermelon Water from scratch, our expert mixologist recommends using Simply Watermelon Juice for a comparable, albeit sweeter, drink.
Feeling Juicy
Crafted by Stranahan’s Mixology Expert: Kevin Hommes
“With the Feeling Juicy, I was wondering how I could bring relaxing Caribbean beach vibes to our Colorado summer. where we don’t exactly have beach access. Guava juice was the answer. Just be careful because they go down easy just like they do at the beach.” — Kevin Hommes
Step aside, Guava Punch, there’s a new sheriff in town. Bright and juicy, this simple whiskey cocktail recipe captures the essence of island life in every delicious glass. Made with our award-winning, Solera finished Blue Peak, every summer day is a sip of paradise with a fresh cocktail like this one.
Summer Pairing: Backyard barbecues or solo afternoons featuring a beach read.
What You’ll Need:
- Shaker
- Collins glass
- Strainer
- Ice
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Stranahan’s Blue Peak
- 1.5 oz guava nectar
- 0.75 oz lime juice
- 0.50 oz blood orange juice
- 0.50 oz agave nectar
- 0.25 oz Grenadine
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
Recipe:
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake
- Strain over ice in a Collins glass
- Garnish with a lime wheel and a straw
Prickled Pink
Crafted by Stranahan’s Mixology Expert: Max Rutherford
“With roots in Colorado and New Mexico, I’ve always loved the vibrant taste and beautiful color of prickly pear. The cactus is the star of the show in this cocktail with its bright summery sweetness, with the lemon agave bringing out the subtle herbaceous notes.” — Max Rutherford
If we’re being honest, pink never goes out of style. Vibrant, playful, and akin to a Pink Fizz, this cocktail highlights the unique flavor of a prickly pear cactus, deliciously using our award-winning Blue Peak Whiskey. Prickly pear’s taste profile echoes flavors like watermelon, cucumber, and berry all at once, while the lemon agave and subtle herbaceous notes balance the warmth.
Summer Pairing: Celebratory post-hike drinks
What You’ll Need:
- Shaker
- Collins glass
- Strainer
- Ice
- Straw
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Stranahan’s Blue Peak
- 2 oz prickly pear puree
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz agave nectar
Recipe:
- Add ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake
- Strain over ice in a rocks glass
- Garnish with a lemon wheel
How to Make Watermelon Water at home:
- Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake
- Strain over ice in a Collins glass
- Garnish with a prickly pear wheel and a straw
Paper Plane
Crafted by Stranahan’s Mixology Experts at our Distillery in Denver
Amber is the color of this simple whiskey cocktail’s energy: bold, bright, inviting. This spirit-forward drink highlights all the best things classic whiskey cocktails have to offer, specifically how it plays up the depth of flavor found in Stranahan’s Sherry Cask. A modern classic for a reason, try it for yourself at our Distillery in Denver!
Summer Pairing: Outdoor patio with friends or toasting to the weekends on a Rocky Mountain getaway.
What You’ll Need:
- Shaker
- Nick & Nora Glass (or coupe glass)
- Strainer
- Ice
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Stranahan’s Sherry Cask
- 0.75 oz Aperol
- 0.75 oz Amaro Nonino
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
Recipe:
- Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake
- Double strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass
- Garnish with a tiny paper airplane (optional)
Whiskey, Mango, Foxtrot
Crafted by Stranahan’s Mixology Expert: Kevin Hommes
“The Whiskey, Mango, Foxtrot was inspired by some sweet and spicy tropical fruit drinks I used to enjoy at one of my favorite hangouts when I lived in Latin America. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself eating street tacos and sipping this spicy Mango treat while overlooking the ‘parque central’.” — Kevin Hommes
Where spiced mango flavor meets Stranahan’s, this spicy little number is truly what summer whiskey cocktail dreams are made of. Inspired by the warmth and brightness of Latin America, we took inspiration from a Mango Smash cocktail and put our own Stranahan’s spin on it. No matter where you enjoy it this summer, it always brings the heat.
Summer Pairing: Impromptu street food (read: tacos) or pre-concert drinks.
What You’ll Need:
- Shaker
- Rocks Glass
- Strainer
- Ice
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Stranahan’s Blue Peak
- 1.5 oz mango nectar
- 0.5 oz lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz pepper agave syrup (homemade recipe below)
- 3 dashes Hella Cocktail Co. Smoked Chili Bitters
- Tajin
Recipe:
- Add ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake.
- Use the lemon juice to coat the top half of one side of the rocks glass before rolling the glass in Tajin
- Strain the cocktail over ice in the glass
How to Make Pepper Agave Syrup at home:
- 36 oz agave nectar
- 18 oz water
- 2 jalapeños peppers, sliced and diced
- 2 serrano peppers, sliced and diced
Pepper Agave Syrup Recipe:
- Add agave nectar, water, jalapeños, and serrano peppers — seeds in — to a pot
- Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Cover with a lid for 20 minutes
- Cut the heat and let cool with the lid on
- Strain and store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks
Expert Tip: If there isn’t enough time to make the syrup from scratch, muddling a few slices of each pepper in a shaker tin with agave nectar will provide a similar tasting experience.
Meet The Experts Behind The Cocktails
Stranahan’s Whiskey has some of the finest sips summer has to offer. After all, American Single Malt Whiskey is so unique and defined that it’s in a category of its own.
So, visit us and book a distillery tour at our Distillery in Denver, where our expert mixologists — like the ones who made these cocktails — are developing new concoctions every season. If you’re looking to learn how to mix cocktails like an expert, sign up for a Cocktail Class at the Distillery. Or you can visit the Stranahan’s Cocktail Lounge and leave the cocktail crafting to our expert mixologists.
We believe every season can be a perfect time to visit the Rocky Mountains and explore Aspen. At the Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge, you can sip on premium whiskey cocktails crafted with our award‑winning American Single Malt, enjoy exclusive Aspen tasting experiences, and immerse yourself in one-of-a-kind whiskey culture at altitude — a true highlight of any trip to Aspen.
Cheers to Summer with Stranahan’s
Let’s raise a glass to these refreshing whiskey cocktails made with Stranahan’s! From casual backyard sipping to celebratory milestones, there’s no better way to savor the season than with the most awarded American Single Malt Whiskey*.
*Claims based on 2020 – 2025 award results; third-party audit conducted by Avid Marketing Group.
