Summer Breeze Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Colleen Graham
Updated 03/28/20
Summer Breeze Cocktail recipe

The Spruce
  • Total: 3 mins
  • Prep: 3 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: 1 cocktail (1 serving)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
257 Calories
0g Fat
28g Carbs
2g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 cocktail (1 serving)
Amount per serving
Calories 257
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Protein 2g
Calcium 75mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Refreshing, easy, and a great way to enjoy whiskey on warm days, the summer breeze has it all. This recipe comes from Maker's Mark, and the bourbon is a wonderful background for the sparkling citrus cocktail.

While this drink may look like the average whiskey highball, it has a couple of twists that make it interesting. It all begins by muddling fresh orange with Cointreau, the premium orange liqueur that's so useful in the bar. Once the citrus mix is done, it's topped off with bourbon and ginger ale. Share it with friends at your next barbecue or just sit back and enjoy it on the patio. 

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Summer Breeze Cocktail recipe
    The Spruce

  2. Muddle an orange slice and a splash of Cointreau in an old-fashioned glass.

    Summer Breeze Cocktail recipe
    The Spruce

  3. Add equal parts of bourbon and ginger ale.

    Summer Breeze Cocktail recipe
    The Spruce
  4. Summer Breeze Cocktail recipe
    The Spruce

  5. Fill the glass with ice and serve.

    Summer Breeze Cocktail recipe
    The Spruce

  6. Serve and enjoy!

Tip

  • Premium ingredients are key. The whiskey and liqueur recommendations are top-shelf spirits, so there is no reason why your ginger ale shouldn't be as well. Vernors is a favorite for many ginger ale fans and Q Ginger and Fever-Tree Ginger Ale are excellent choices as well.

Recipe Variations

  • Make this drink taller by building it in a highball glass. In this case, pouring equal parts of bourbon and soda would be too much whiskey. Instead, try it with at least 4 ounces of ginger ale and extra ice.
  • Switch to another light soda. Lemon-lime sodas will ramp up the citrus, while club soda creates a drink that's not quite as sweet. Tonic water is an excellent choice as well and makes a nice alternative for dinner.
  • Pour a different whiskey if you prefer. Maker's Mark tends to fall on the sweeter, softer side of the bourbon spectrum. This recipe can stand up to a robust bourbon, and even a spicy rye whiskey.

How Strong Is a Summer Breeze?

The great thing about whiskey-soda drinks is that you can make them as strong as you like. If you're looking for a casual happy hour drink, add a little more soda. When you want the bourbon to take center stage, back off a bit on the ginger ale.

In either scenario, the summer breeze has an alcohol content that's average for mixed drinks. When made according to the recipe in a rocks glass, it's pretty strong at about 19 percent ABV (38 proof). The highball version with twice the soda is more like a glass of wine, at 13 percent ABV (26 proof). That extra soda does make a difference, and it's nice to know that you can easily customize it to fit your mood.