10 Frozen Cocktails to Try in BHAM This Summer
Take refuge from Birmingham's heat and humidity with these boozy blended beverages found at local bars and restaurants. Image: Facebook / Cayo Coco Rum Bar & Restaurant
Summer days are luxuriously long and tinged with the spirit of celebration. Parks are packed, and restaurant patios are buzzing with activity. Every day feels like a Friday, and there’s no better way to beat the heat than with a frosty treat (or two). Pull up a seat at one of these local spots for a round of frozen drinks!
Takes Two to Mango
Where to Get It: Automatic Seafood & Oysters
Neighborhood: Lakeview
More Info: automaticseafood.com
Made with Lunazul Blanco, Lunazul Reposado, Aperol, mango, and lime, the Takes Two to Mango from the Michelin-recommended Automatic Seafood & Oysters blends bright, citrusy notes with a hint of warmth from vanilla and oak. It’s a glass filled to the brim with fresh summer flavors and perfectly finished with a Tajín rim.
Tucana Painkiller
Where to Get It: Tucana Tiki Bar
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: tucanatiki.com
Cool off with Caribbean vibes in downtown Birmingham at Tucana Tiki Bar. Owner Nicky Vann Tisdale is constantly reinventing the seasonal menu, which is filled with exotic rum drinks, and the frozen Painkiller is the tonic you’ll reach for all summer.
It starts with a mix of Pusser’s British Navy Rum and Planteray Stiggins’s Fancy Pineapple Rum, then blends in pineapple, banana, guava, orange, lime, and coconut cream for a truly tropical experience.
Frozen Mojito
Where to Get It: Social Taco
Neighborhood: Homewood
More Info: socialtaco.bar
Wind down and refresh at SoHo’s Social Taco with one of its irresistible frozen cocktails. The frozen mojito tops our list, with its mix of Cruzan Silver Rum, mint, agave, and lime. Pair your drink with the popular Tlayudas (Mexican-style pizza) or the one-of-a-kind Tablitas (mesquite-grilled short ribs). Plus, catch happy hour for half-off beverages, Monday through Friday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Coco Piña Colada
Where to Get It: Cayo Coco Rum Bar & Restaurant
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: cayococorumbar.com
Cuban-inspired Cayo Coco offers a tropical oasis in the heart of Birmingham. Enjoy a few sips of paradise with something from the frozen drink menu, which includes classic favorites like daiquiris and piña coladas — all made with high-quality spirits and in-house-made fresh-fruit syrups. Complement your drink with ceviche or traditional ham-and-cheese croquettes.
Paramount Paloma
Where to Get It: Paramount
Neighborhood: Downtown & Homewood
More Info: paramountbirmingham.com
Blanco tequila, grapefruit, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup come together to create this refreshing frozen Paloma at both Paramount locations. This simple and versatile cocktail pairs well with anything on the menu, from the Alabama Hummus (made with peanuts) to the El Capitan Burger, a juicy patty topped with bacon, avocado, pico de gallo, mayo, and pickled jalapeños.
Cuánto El Melón
Where to Get It: Adiõs Bar
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: adiosbham.com
Head to Adiõs and cool off with the Cuánto El Melón from James Beard semifinalist, Jose Medina Camacho. This melon-forward sipper hits all the right notes with a blend of vodka, Midori liqueur, Fino sherry, aloe, and yuzu, garnished with mint. It’s sweet, light, and oh-so-refreshing on a sweltering summer day.
Rocket Booster
Where to Get It: Saturn + Satellite
Neighborhood: Avondale
More Info: saturnbirmingham.com
Saturn’s signature frozen drink, the Rocket Booster, combines Cathead honeysuckle vodka and Aperol with Tang — yes, Tang, the orange powdered drink mix that’s “a kick in a glass” according to the ’90s commercials.
Tang was used in specially formulated astronaut drinks in the early days of space travel, making it a fitting ingredient in the space-themed bar’s beloved cocktail. As General Manager Jennifer Waldrip tells us, “It has been one of our best sellers for over 10 years now!”
Frozen Sangria
Where to Get It: El Royale Café
Neighborhood: Lakeview
More Info: elroyalecafe.com
Since opening last summer, El Royale Café has become an instant Birmingham hotspot. Its outdoor patio is the perfect way to spend a beautiful Magic City day with a frozen drink in hand. We recommend the frozen sangria, with its summery blend of vodka, grapefruit, rose, lemon, watermelon, and hibiscus, or the more traditional frozen margarita. Can’t make up your mind? Try the 50/50, a mix of both!
Moe’s Classic Bushwacker
Where to Get It: Moe’s Original BBQ
Neighborhoods: Hoover, Lakeview, Trussville, & Vestavia
More Info: moesoriginalbbq.com
If you’re craving a classic boozy milkshake, head to Moe’s Original BBQ for its signature frozen cocktail, the Bushwacker. Kahlua, rum, crème de cacao, and cream of coconut are blended for a sweet treat with a caffeine and alcohol kick.
Salud Taqueria’s Strawberry Dream Frozen Margarita
Where to Get It: Salud Taqueria
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: saludbham.com
Cool off, catch up with friends, and cheer on the next World Cup match at Salud Taqueria all summer long. Salud’s summer Strawberry Dream Margarita is the perfect complement to your plans, featuring Altos reposado tequila, Chamberyzette Aperitif, strawberries, and lime all in one refreshing glass. Pair your frozen cocktail with one of Chef Christine’s signature birria dishes and enjoy the vibes at this chic downtown eatery.
Stay cool out there, BHAM!
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Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.