Summer days are luxuriously long and tinged with the spirit of celebration. Kids splash in pools; parks teem with sunbathers, picnickers and dog walkers; restaurant patios jangle and clatter with activity. Indeed, every day feels like Friday. So whether you’re kicking off the weekend after a long week at work, enjoying brunch with friends or just looking for a boozy way to beat the heat, stop by your favorite watering hole and try a fabulous frozen cocktail. Here, we’ve rounded up eight of our favorites — from a frozen Moscow Mule to the now classic Frosé.
8 Frozen Cocktails to Try This Summer in Birmingham
Thyme Frosé from Roots & Revelry
1623 2nd Ave N suite b, Birmingham, AL 35203 • (205) 730-1907
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Monday
Roots & Revelry combines Provençal rosé, a dash of fresh lime juice, thyme-infused simple syrup and a little Reisling to add a touch of sweetness, minerality and depth. “The special ingredient is the thyme-infused simple syrup,” says Roots & Revelry’s General Manager, Lane Smith. “It’s a delicate herbal flavor that works well with the rosé.” Lane also notes that the Thyme Frosé’s acidity makes it a good match with the restaurant’s signature PB&J: “It’s pork belly and quince jam on country toast, topped with cashew butter and crushed candied peanuts, drizzled in chive oil and garnished with cilantro.”
Enjoy your Thyme Frosé and PB&J on the restaurant’s second-story terrace, where you can catch an occasional breeze as you overlook the Magic City.
“Unlike most frozen drinks, we never make it too sweet — that’s the trick,” says Roots & Revelry’s General Manager, Lane Smith. Image: Roots & Revelry
Negroni Popsicle from The Atomic Bar & Lounge
2113 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203 • (205) 983-7887
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday & Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Closed Sunday & Monday
The Atomic Bar & Lounge — a two-time James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Bar Program — doesn’t disappoint with their Negroni Popsicle. This adults-only treat is a classic Negroni cocktail — gin, sweet vermouth and Campari — dropped into a mixture of fresh grapefruit and orange juice with a pinch of salt and a little sugar water to aid in freezing. “We name all of our drinks after our regulars, and this is named after Ashley Tanner. She’s the GM of Chez Fonfon,” says owner Feizal Valli. “Pair it with a pool, a summer music festival or a charcuterie board. I like it because it checks all the boxes: sweet, bitter, savory, boozy, refreshing.”
The Negroni Popsicle pairs gin, sweet vermouth and Campari with a mixture of fresh grapefruit and orange juice with a pinch of salt and simple syrup. Image: The Atomic Bar & Lounge
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Horchata Colada from Queen’s Park
112 24th St N #102, Birmingham, AL 35203
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday & Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Closed Monday
Popular in Mexico and Guatemala, horchata is a creamy concoction made from rice, water, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. It’s delicious on its own, but at Queen’s Park, they’re also blending it with ice and adding pineapple, lime and Lunazul Reposado Tequila. The end result is a fun twist on the classic Piña Colada. “I love how it’s creamy without being heavy,” says bar manager and Beverage Director Laura Newman. “This drink is so refreshing!”
“We don’t serve food, but I would drink the Horchata Colada with churros,” says Queen’s Park bar manager and Beverage Director Laura Newman. Image: Laura Newman
Orange Dreamsicle Daiquiri from The Rougaroux
817 39th St S, Birmingham, AL 35222 • (205) 518-6677
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 9 p.m.; Closed Sunday
At The Rougaroux, you’ll feel like you’ve walked into a shotgun-style house on the outskirts of New Orleans — a shotgun-style house that’s serving up authentic cajun and creole food in the heart of Forest Park. And now that it’s officially daiquiri season, you can also try their new Orange Dreamsicle Daiquiri, made with freshly squeezed orange juice, vanilla vodka, Abita cream soda, triple sec and crushed ice with layers of fresh cream. “This refreshing summer cocktail goes down easy on a warm Birmingham day,” says Anne Stacey, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Ed. “It pairs perfectly with the rich and acidic flavors of our blackened catfish po’boy with sweet corn relish, smoked tomato aioli and charred lemon.”
Grab a seat on The Rougaroux’s patio and order a spicy Cajun dish to complement your Orange Dreamsicle Daiquiri. Image: The Rougaroux
Frozen Moscow Mule from The Woolworth Recreation & Refreshment
1006 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35205 • (205) 518-6311
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Closed Monday
The Woolworth Recreation & Refreshment turns the classic Moscow Mule — vodka, ginger and lime — into a refreshing summer-friendly slushie. This crowd-pleaser is the perfect beverage to enjoy on The Woolworth’s rooftop bar while overlooking the bustling streets of Five Points South. “It’s a light and refreshing drink that pairs with just about anything,” says bar manager Tyler Vincent. “I’d suggest pairing it with the Gulf shrimp bucatini!”
Play duckpin bowling, bumper pool, foosball, darts, pinball, shuffleboard and several other games while you sip on a refreshing frozen Moscow Mule. Image: Lauren Helmer
Mango Tango from Mom’s Basement
4411 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222 • (205) 774-6667
Hours: Sunday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Thursday through Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Head to Mom’s Basement in Avondale, where you can enjoy trivia night, live music and karaoke — all while sipping on an ice-cold Mango Tango. It’s made with Cathead honeysuckle vodka, mango margarita mix, passion fruit juice and lemon juice. “It’s nice, light and very vibrant,” says bar manager David McSween. “It’s not overly sweet, and the passion fruit juice adds a nice note on the back end.”
The slushie machine at Mom’s Basement also currently features Mom’s Lemonade, a sweet-and-sour mashup of Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, Minute Maid lemonade, Avondale Sour Pash beer, passionfruit juice and simple syrup.
Mom’s Basement currently offers two frozen cocktails — the Mango Tango and Mom’s Lemonade. Image: Wes Frazer
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Frozen Daiquiri at Paramount
200 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203 • (205) 320-2824
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Closed Monday
Ron Matusalem Platino rum, fresh lime juice and simple syrup create this refreshing frozen daiquiri at Paramount in Downtown Birmingham. “I love its classic simplicity and versatility in pairing,” says Tim Wardlow of Paramount. Tim suggests enjoying the frozen daiquiri with the El Capitan Burger, a juicy patty topped with bacon, avocado, pico de gallo, mayo and pickled jalapeños.
Grab a spot on Paramount’s patio, where you can people-watch and savor your El Capitan Burger before washing it down with a frozen daiquiri.
Rocket Booster at Saturn | Satellite
200 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222 • (205) 703-9545
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to midnight; Friday & Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturn’s signature and beloved frozen drink, the Rocket Booster, combines Cathead honeysuckle vodka and Aperol with Tang — yes, Tang, the orange powdered drink mix that made its debut in 1959. “We like to take our space theme here to the extreme, and since Tang is associated with NASA’s manned space flights, it seemed the perfect ingredient,” says bar manager Byron Sonnier. “It is also our best-selling cocktail.”
The cosmic music venue’s adjoining coffee shop and bar, Satellite, is a great place to visit with friends before a show at Saturn, and with funky art, a picture booth and games galore, it’s impossible to get bored. Just don’t forget to order a Tang-infused Rocket Booster before you launch into your favorite brand of old-school fun.
A frozen homage to the old-school orange powdered drink mix, the Rocket Booster includes Cathead honeysuckle vodka, Aperol and Tang. Image: Saturn | Satellite
Cheers to some frozen imbibing this summer in the Magic City!
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