Recipes & Cooking Drinks Cocktails 24 Cocktail Pitcher Recipes for Festive Flavor at Your Next Party These big-batch cocktail recipes are perfect for entertaining a crowd. By Wini Moranville Wini Moranville Food, wine, and travel writer Wini Moranville is the author of "Everyday French Cooking: Modern French Cuisine Made Simple." Over the past 25 years, she has written hundreds of articles, covering everything from Christmas Cookies to Cognac for Better Homes and Gardens, Bonjour Paris, Relish Magazine, and other national publications. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for more than 10 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on March 28, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Blaine Moats You know the cocktails that make guests swoon, "That's so pretty!" Well, these are them—and they're remarkably easy to make, even if you're expecting a crowd. With fresh fruit, liqueurs, and all sorts of garnishes, these pitcher drinks for a party bring color and festive flavor to your gathering, in quantities large enough to quench a thirsty group. Scroll through these easy big-batch cocktail recipes, and you'll discover both perfected classics and exciting new flavors. Now grab your favorite cocktail pitcher or a large drink dispenser (like this Better Homes & Gardens 2 Gallon Glass Beverage Dispenser, $13, Walmart), and let's get the party started. 01 of 24 Sangria View Recipe Jason Donnelly No collection of cocktails for a crowd would be complete without a ruby-red sangria recipe. With brandy, red wine, and two hits of lemon for extra refreshment, this is a party pitcher drink you'll turn to again and again. 02 of 24 Apposta Cocktail View Recipe Andy Lyons Try this Italian drink recipe, and you'll stop your search for big-batch cocktails that include gin. This baby has everything going for it: gin, Aperol (a refreshing bitter-orange aperitif), vermouth, and citrus, plus an unmistakable Italian essence. And it's perfect for a crowd: This recipe puts the "big" in big-batch cocktails—it serves 12 (although you can easily scale it back for a smaller gathering). 03 of 24 Grilled Peach Frappé View Recipe Andy Lyons When the temperature rises and you're looking for refreshing big-batch summer cocktails, pick up some peaches. Grill the fruit, then toss those juicy lovelies in a blender with fresh lemon, sugar, and a swig of Southern Comfort for one of our coolest (and most creative) pitcher cocktails yet. 04 of 24 Orange-Ginger Pomegranate Punch View Recipe Blaine Moats Here's a fun make-at-home cocktail featuring fall and winter flavors: This seasonal punch is built around tart pomegranate juice, along with orange liqueur, Prosecco, and fresh ginger. Give your party pitcher drink an herbal finish with some sprigs of rosemary. 05 of 24 Big-Batch Margaritas View Recipe Karla Conrad Some guests love inventive craft cocktails, others prefer sticking with the tried-and-true. For the latter crowd, choose a classic pitcher cocktail recipe such as this traditional margarita. If you're expecting a more adventurous group, tweak this recipe with fresh watermelon juice. 06 of 24 White Cucumber Sangria View Recipe Karla Conrad How do you make one of the world's most refreshing pitcher cocktails? Start with some of the most refreshing ingredients. Honeydew melon, cucumber, mint, lime, and Sauvignon Blanc (the crispest of crisp wines) team up for one of our most thirst-quenching summer party cocktails ever. 07 of 24 Rosé-Cucumber Cooler View Recipe Andy Lyons Slightly citrusy and a wee bit floral, elderflower liqueur has been called bartender's bacon because, like bacon, it greatly enhances anything it touches. It's no surprise that the liqueur works beautifully in pitcher drinks for a party. Add it to rosé wine with a little lemon juice for a guaranteed head-turner. For a coordinated look serve the cocktails from a pitcher with matching drinkware (similar to this Better Homes & Gardens Sage 2.2-Quart Plastic Ribbed Pitcher Set with Tumblers, $17, Walmart). 08 of 24 Sparkling Golden Sangria View Recipe Karla Conrad Unite the warmth of the sun with the coolness of a breeze. This beachy cocktail includes orange liqueur and mint—among other enticing ingredients—for the perfect summer sipper. This sparkling cocktail can be made up to 24 hours ahead so the flavors have time to meld. 09 of 24 Apple-Cinnamon Winter Sangria View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Fruity party pitcher drinks aren't just for summer. They're handy for winter gatherings, too, especially when the party's rife with salty snacks, warming fires, and happy holiday revelers. In this case, dried fruits and cinnamon add a seasonal angle to sangria. 10 of 24 Spicy Beer Mary View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Beer cocktails are usually lower in alcohol than spirits, which makes them terrific for late-morning gatherings. This brunch cocktail pitcher combines your favorite savory bloody mary flavors—tomato, Worcestershire, and hot sauce, to name a few— with lager or pilsner beer rather than vodka. 11 of 24 Tea-Gin Splash View Recipe Andy Lyons Spike your iced tea to make this satisfying big-batch gin cocktail. Lemon juice, tea, club soda, and gin combine to create a summery concoction that mingles well with fresh fruit and cucumber slices. For a wilder-tasting sip, use a botanical gin rather than a dry gin. Tasty options come from Scotland, Ireland, and California. 39 Refreshing Summer Drinks to Beat the Heat 12 of 24 Pepino Punch View Recipe Blaine Moats The dilemma: You're hosting Taco Tuesday, but you want a big-batch cocktail that goes beyond the usual margarita. The solution: the Pepino. This ultra-contemporary cocktail has the sweet-tart angle common to batch summer cocktails but with an ultra-fresh touch of cucumber and the spice of jalapeño. 13 of 24 Strawberry Sangria View Recipe Andy Lyons Pitcher drinks for a party are even better when they make the most of your trip to the farmers market. When strawberries are at their ripest, bring home a few pints and plunk them into this colorful beverage. Because it doesn't include a brandy (the high-proof ingredient in many sangria pitcher drinks), this recipe is a good choice for day-drinking. 14 of 24 The Porcupine View Recipe Andy Lyons Thanks to two hits of pineapple—one in the juice and the other as a garnish—drinking this will make you'll feel like you've landed in Hawaii. The fizz comes from a couple of our favorite bubble-makers for pitcher cocktails: prosecco and pale ale beer. 5 Reasons You Should Be Drinking Canned Wine (Plus 7 Sommelier-Approved Cans to Try) 15 of 24 Bourbon Strawberry Smash View Recipe David Tsay Pairing bourbon with fruit is not a novel idea (think of the cherries and oranges in a classic old-fashioned). But with this cocktail pitcher recipe, we've refreshed the combo with strawberries and lemon. Muddled mint adds a cooling touch. 16 of 24 Watermelon-Mint Coolers View Recipe Andy Lyons Remember to choose at least one nonalcoholic choice for the abstainers at your cocktail party. Watermelon, mint leaves, lime, and ginger ale make this mojito-inspired choice much more interesting than the usual club soda with lime. (For those who do drink, see the alcoholic version for a great watermelon pitcher cocktail!) 17 of 24 Vodka Lemonade View Recipe Mark Peterson On the steamiest of summer nights, this vodka pitcher drink is certain to hit the spot. Go the extra mile by squeezing your own fresh lemon juice—your efforts will be rewarded with bright and tangy results. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and cute paper straws. The Best Summer Recipes to Add Fresh Flavors to Your Menu 18 of 24 Watermelon Margarita View Recipe Andy Lyons Orange liqueur plays up the fruity flavors of this frozen big-batch margarita, which is packed with five cups of fresh seedless watermelon. For extra credit, chill pieces of watermelon a few hours before you serve the drink to use as ice cubes. That way, none of the flavors of this luscious frozen delight will be diluted. 20 Watermelon Recipes to Satisfy Your Summer Cravings 19 of 24 Pineapple-Ginger Punch View Recipe Andy Lyons If you've never had fresh ginger in a beverage, prepare to fall in love. We adore the way it adds tingle to cocktails. This punch is actually a mocktail, so it will be much appreciated by your guests who don't drink alcohol (although you can add rum or pineapple-flavored vodka if you prefer). 20 of 24 Basil Lemon Drop View Recipe Andy Lyons If you like lemon drop martinis, this is the party drink for you. Homemade basil simple syrup layers on flavor in this pitcher drink. The herb's minty, clove-like flavor pairs with the sweet vodka lemonade for a complex cocktail. 21 of 24 Peach Bellinis View Recipe Blaine Moats When you're searching for a celebratory summer drink, keep these Champagne cocktails in mind. Sweet peaches and uplifting sparkle bring cheer—as does the fact that this drink requires only five ingredients, one of which is ice. 22 of 24 Coconut Cream Island Punch View Recipe Con Poulos We love the classic rum cocktails like mojitos and mai tais. But we also adore the ones that introduce inventive flavor combinations, such as this recipe. Star fruit is the unexpected pleasure here (it's a beautiful garnish), and mixing the rum with grapefruit soda and coconut sorbet brings a refreshing balance of sweet and tart. Cheers! 23 of 24 The Aloha Shandy View Recipe Andy Lyons Shandy is typically a half-and-half mixture of lemonade and beer. Although those flavors are included in this version, we also punched it up with tropical passion fruit juice (or mango juice—your choice!) Serve this shandy with a lemon slice garnish at your next summer party. 24 of 24 Peach Aperol Punch View Recipe Blaine Moats A full pound of fresh summer peaches is the start of this pitcher cocktail recipe. Simmer them with basil and sugar to create a sweet puree. Add in gin, Aperol, sparkling water, and fresh fruit to round out this easy summer drink idea. Read More in the Outdoor Entertaining Issue Featuring Mindy Kaling Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit