Top 5 Spring Season Cocktails
The weather is warming, and the days are getting longer. Spring marks the start of a new cocktail season filled with tasty sippers that are lighter, brighter and more refreshing than their winter counterparts. This time of year, ingredients like berries, herbs, floral liqueurs and citrus all make a welcomed resurgence over the heavier cocktails that frequent winter cocktail menus.
In the spring, we welcome berry ingredients like strawberries and raspberries; herb ingredients like mint, basil and thyme; floral ingredients like lavender and elderflower; and citrus ingredients like lemon, grapefruit and lime. Another refreshing ingredient popularly worked into spring cocktails are bubbles, like soda water and Prosecco.
Discover the top 5 spring season cocktails you’re likely to find at your favorite local bar or restaurant. Check out our recipes below to make a Mad River Distillers spring cocktail riff from home.
Aperol Spritz
This cocktail is a popular option in the spring for being light, bubbly, and slightly bitter. A classic Aperol Spritz follows a 3-2-1 formula of Prosecco, Aperol and club soda. Here’s our riff on an Aperol Spritz using our Straight Bourbon along with lemon juice:
BOURBON SPRITZ
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon
- 1 oz. of Aperol
- 3/4 oz. of lemon juice
- Prosecco (or club soda)
- orange slice
Instructions:
In a large wine glass, add all ingredients over ice. Top off with bubbles. Add an orange slice for garnish.
French 75
Like the Aperol Spritz, this cocktail is refreshing, light and bubbly, but with a citrus spin. It’s a popular choice for celebrations, and traditionally is made with gin, Champagne, lemon juice and simple syrup. Here’s our spring-ready riff between a French 75 and a St. Germain using the versatile Rum 44 and Elderflower liqueur:
ELDERFLOWER 75
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 1 oz. of Rum 44
- 3/4 oz. of Elderflower liqueur
- 1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
- Prosecco
- Luxardo cherry
Instructions:
Add a Luxardo cherry to the bottom of a flute glass. Fill the glass halfway with Prosecco. In a shaker, combine Rum 44, Elderflower liqueur and lemon juice. Add ice, then shake well. Double strain into the flute glass over the Prosecco.
Mojito
There are so many flavor varieties when it comes to a Mojito, from traditional mint to fruit flavored. In a classic mojito, you muddle fresh mint leaves with sugar, white rum, lime juice and club soda. Here’s our frozen riff on a traditional mint mojito made with our silver Rum 44:
FROZEN MOJITO
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
- 2 oz. of Rum 44
- 1 oz. of lime juice
- 3/4 oz. of simple syrup
- 6 fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
In a blender, add all ingredients with 1/2 cup of crushed ice. Blend on low until finely crushed. Pour contents into a highball. Add a fresh mint sprig for garnish.
Mint Julep
Another cocktail where mint is a main feature, the Mint Julep is simple but aromatic and refreshing, and always served in a julep cup. Similar to a mojito, with this cocktail you muddle mint with simple syrup, but use bourbon instead of rum. Here’s our riff on a derby-worthy Mint Julep using our Straight Bourbon:
MAD MINT JULEP
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 2 oz. of Straight Bourbon
- 1/2 oz. of simple syrup
- 10 mint leaves
- crushed ice
- 3 mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions:
In a silver julep cup, add the simple syrup and 10 mint leaves. Using a muddler, gently press the mint into the simple syrup to release the oils, being careful not to tear the mint. Pour the Straight Bourbon over the muddled mint. Add crushed ice to the cup, filling until there is a slight mound at the top.
Strawberry Basil
With this refreshing and fruit-forward cocktail (typically made with gin, vodka or tequila), you muddle fresh strawberries and basil, which are in peak season in the spring. Here’s our fresh riff on this cocktail made with our Rum 44 and Runamok Maple Grenadine:
STRAWBERRY SMASH
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
- 5 ripe and rinsed strawberries, leafy ends removed, chopped
- 4 fresh basil leaves
- 1.5 oz. of Rum 44
- 1 oz. of fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 oz. of Runamok Maple Grenadine
- club soda
Instructions:
In a shaker, combine all ingredients except for the club soda. Muddle the ingredients together. Add fresh ice to a shaker, and shake well. Double strain into a stemless glass over fresh ice. Top with club soda, and garnish with a fresh strawberry and basil.
While there are other popular springtime cocktails known for their bright citrus flavors (including the Paloma, Lemon Drop and Bee Knees), our top 5 favorites are super tasty, aromatic and refreshing options that can be made using either our Straight Bourbon or Rum 44. So, once your gardens are growing, be sure to pick yourself some fresh mint, basil and strawberries to make our top cocktails above. If you need any simple syrup or grenadine, stop by the retail section of our Burlington Tasting Room to grab some spring season supplies. Cheers!
Written and published by Brianne Lucas on March 16, 2026.
