23 Father's Day Cocktails to Toast Whatever Makes Your Dad Great

Strawberry-Basil Smash

Celebrate Father's Day with a few of summer's best flavors. This cocktail requires just four ingredients for the base of the drink, so you can set out different fruits and let dad mix his own. Our favorite combination is strawberry, lemon, and basil, but the possibilities are endless!

Spicy Margarita

Some like it hot! If that's your dad, this Mexican-inspired Father's Day cocktail recipe is the ideal fiesta-worthy fix. Jalapeno peppers balance out the sweet OJ and citrus soda for a well-balanced beverage. Mix up a batch and serve it in a glass pitcher.

Pear Old-Fashioned

Put a fruity spin on this iconic drink by adding pear nectar to the classic old-fashioned recipe. A sprig of fresh thyme and slices of fresh pear add extra flavor and make a pretty garnish.

Bourbon Ball Cocktail

This decadent cocktail is perfect for any bourbon fan. With a mix of hazelnut liqueur, créme de cacao, and a splash of his favorite bourbon, this tasty treat will quickly become one of dad's favorite drinks. Don't forget to add chocolate shavings on top for an extra festive touch!

Manhattan

This bourbon beverage gets its flavor from vermouth and bitters. Shake vigorously and serve in a chilled glass or on the rocks to put Dad in a New York state of mind. For a twist on the classic cocktail recipe, try topping it with an orange peel or candied cherries.

Bourbon Stout Cocktail

Stir up a Father's Day cocktail that will satisfy his sweet tooth, too. Rich layers of chocolate stout, bourbon, and chocolate syrup, all drizzled with cream, make this drink a chocolate-lover's delight. Serve it with a Father's Day dessert for a double dose of craving cures.

Citrus Shimmer Cocktail

Since Father's Day is typically celebrated on a warm summer day, mix up a refreshing citrus drink to go along with your Father's Day dinner menu. Made with fresh tangerine or orange juice, cold Prosecco, and a splash of limoncello, this cheery drink is the perfect addition to any outdoor celebration.

Rhubarb Cocktail

Ginger and fresh rhubarb add a kick to this sparkling summer cocktail. Plus, our Test Kitchen found that with the addition of fresh fruit, you can cut the sugar on the simple syrup needed for this recipe, which keeps the calorie count low. After shaking up this cocktail, top it off with a rhubarb stick and a freshly-squeezed lime.

Burnt-Orange Anejo Sour

If dad is a tequila fan, he'll love this tangy combination of a margarita and a whiskey sour. This colorful drink is made with anejo (an aged tequila), orange liqueur, sweet vermouth, and fresh mint leaves for a cocktail that's sweet and a little bit sour. Serve it in a coupe glass and top it off with a caramelized orange slice for an extra special touch.

Black Patent

Dark, creamy Guinness (or any other dry stout of your choosing) melds with vodka in this rich chocolate drink. Then, for the just-right amount of zing, add a splash of lemon juice. Serve in a chilled glass and garnish with a twist of lemon for a delicious 5-o-clock-somewhere sip.

El Perro Salty Cocktail

Break out the highball glasses! This Father's Day cocktail recipe features fresh lime and grapefruit juice. Mint leaves add refreshing flavor, but fear not—this gin-based drink still packs plenty of punch. To balance out the sweet, dip half the rim of each highball glass in sea salt before you pour in the El Perro.

Mudslide Cocktail

This java-inspired cocktail will please any coffee-loving dad! Mix up Kahlua, Irish cream liqueur, and chocolate-flavor syrup for a sweet drink that pairs perfectly with any Father's Day dessert.

Palomas

Leave your dad to relax in peace with a Paloma, which is Spanish for "dove." Mix tequila with lime juice and grapefruit-flavor soda for a bubbly, refreshing beverage. It's the perfect Father's Day cocktail to conquer the summer heat. Bottoms up!

Old-Fashioned

You can't go wrong with the classics. Bitters are an integral part of this bourbon cocktail, as is serving it on the rocks in an Old Fashioned glass with a maraschino cherry. This is one Father's Day tradition Dad will raise his glass to.

Spanish Gin Tonic

Treat dad to a summer cocktail that he can make all his own. This Spanish-style gin tonic is typically made with fresh herbs, citrus, or cucumber, and finished with spices like peppercorns and juniper berries—but this drink is totally customizable, so you can set out all the ingredients and let each person make their own at this year's Father's Day brunch.

Tomato Bacon Sipper

A Father's Day brunch only gets better with bacon—and a modern bloody mary. With fresh basil, heirloom tomatoes, and lettuce, we say both you and Dad can call this a serving of veggies.

Editor's Tip: Make a Father's Day mocktail by trading lemon-lime sparkling water for the vodka.

Blackberry-Bourbon Lemonade

Ditch the splash of vodka and try bourbon-spiked lemonade instead. For extra points, make your own blackberry-rosemary syrup (we've included the recipe!) and pour it into the glass after the drink is stirred for dramatic effect. It's the perfect refreshing summer drink for Dad to kick back with on the patio.

Cherry Sangria

Does your pops love pinot and all things red wine? Serve up a classic Spanish sangria. Start with a bold, sweet red, such as Beaujolais or Zinfandel. Vino + dark sweet cherries + orange juice = a perfect-for-June drink to celebrate Father's Day. Salud!

Bloody Maria

For adventurous dads, we've substituted tequila for the traditional vodka in this Bloody Mary variation. Chipotle chile pepper sauce and fresh jalapeños pack some serious fire. Mix up a pitcher of the base cocktail and let each person add their own garnish to their tall cocktail glass.

Whiskey Sour

Freshly squeezed citrus juice gives this classic cocktail a modern upgrade. Blend with bourbon, then stir in a tablespoon of sugar to balance the tartness. Dress up the finished Father's Day drink with an orange-and-cherry skewer and serve over ice.

The Aloha Shandy

Dad will be saying alo-"ahh" with this Hawaiian twist on the summer shandy. Mix his favorite wheat beer with a lemon and mango juice mixture for a cool treat. The secret ingredient? Fruit ice cubes! (Flowers and luau optional.)

Gibson

One of the driest mixed drinks, the Gibson is a simple combo of gin and vermouth. Shake stylishly in a steel cocktail shaker over ice and pour into a chilled martini glass. To finish things off in Donald Draper-style, garnish with a skewer of cocktail onions and serve it up to your sophisticated dad.

Pickled Whiskey Cocktail

Calling all pickle-lovers: The pickleback gets upgraded to cocktail status when you combine the whiskey and pickle brine with lime juice. A drizzle of honey and sriracha add a unique kick. Skewer a dill pickle (or two) on a toothpick to garnish the drink.