Frozen Cocktails for Summer

The temperature is going up, which means just one thing! Frozen cocktail season! Nothing is more refreshing in the summer than a blended cocktail. What are the most popular frozen cocktails and where do they come from? We break down all the frozen cocktail details so you will be ready to cool off during the hot months ahead.

What is a Frozen Cocktail?

Many cocktails are served on the rocks or shaken with ice, but to make it a frozen cocktail, it must be blended. The modern blender was invented in 1922, and since the prohibition days, frozen cocktails have become more and more popular.

A frozen cocktail is colder than most iced cocktails since the ice is actually blended and broken down into the cocktail, giving it the traditional slushy texture. The slushy evokes a sense of childhood joy, while the spirits give you the adult enjoyment you can only get from a frozen cocktail in the summer.

Classic Frozen Cocktails

There are several traditional frozen cocktails, here are a few of our favorites:

The Margarita

A classic mix of tequila, cointreau, and lime, the classic margarita dates back to Mexico in the 1930s. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that this popular cocktail added an extra chill. Mariano Martinez invented the first frozen Margarita machine in Dallas in 1971.

Since then people have been enjoying their margaritas with blended ice. Frozen margaritas today come in flavors way beyond the classic lime. You can find strawberry or raspberry and more exciting flavors like Jalapeno-Grapefruit or Sriracha-Mango. No matter what fruit you add in, the frozen margarita is a staple at any summer party.

The Daiquiri

Just like the margarita, the daiquiri actually did not start out as a frozen cocktail. It was invented in Cuba in 1896. This cocktail was similar to the original margarita – using lime juice as the fruit, but this time it was mixed with brown sugar and rum. After the invention of the blender, the Daiquiri transformed into its current state as a slushy drink in the 1920s and 1930s.

The daiquiri was made even more popular by Ernest Hemmingway, who created his own (lighter sugar) variety of daiquiri and was known to drink many on his frequent trips to the bar. Now, the Hemingway Daiquiri, is a classic, including grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur, in addition to rum and lime.

Today you can find daiquiris in many flavors and combinations.

The Pina Colada

The introduction of the Pina Colada in the 1950s brought about the most popular era for frozen cocktails. Pina Colada was created in Puerto Rico in the early 1950s and coincided with the invention of Coco Lopez, the creamy coconut syrup. There are many variations on how to make the perfect frozen Pina Colado, but most include rum, lime juice, and coconut cream.

Frozen Cocktail Mixers

Now, we know what you are thinking – frozen cocktails? Don’t those usually taste like just ice? In many ways, you’re not wrong. In the 1970s margarita mixes arrived on the shelves and offered people a quick and easy way to make frozen cocktails at home.

Mixers resulted in bars and restaurants making frozen cocktails without real ingredients, and also led to people adding poor-quality spirits to the drinks. With the decline in quality for frozen cocktails, their popularity has gone down as well.

Making Frozen Cocktails Today

Just because there are mixers on the shelves, it doesn’t mean you need to buy them or even consider using them for your cocktails this summer. Stick instead to real ingredients and quality spirits.

Add real limes and real pineapples to your cocktails. Use spirits that you actually enjoy and would drink neat. Experiment with new combinations and have fun! After all, it’s summer – take a break and cool off with a delicious frozen cocktail!