5 Essential Cocktails for May 2025

Each month Chilled presents you with five essential cocktails based on our National Drink Day Calendar. Don’t forget to reference it so you can prepare for the upcoming holidays.

Now that we’ve left the rain in April, it’s time to get ready for the start of warmer weather. This seasonal shift behind the bar brings in longer hours, more foot traffic, and a noticeable change in people’s cravings. There is no better time to fine-tune the transitional cocktails that take us from spring to summer.

May has a wide variety of cocktail options to choose from. Look to these as inspiration to roll out a fresh menu; they’re designed to please a crowd. If you ever needed an excuse to add a new cocktail to your roster, the time is now.

Here are five cocktails you should be sipping throughout May.

Butterbeer Winter Cocktail

Harry Potter is loved by so many. It’s got a cult following for a reason—people love the thrill all movies bring. May begins with International Harry Potter Day on the 2nd, and if you need a cocktail to sip alongside your movie marathon, the Butterbeer Winter Cocktail is for you. Don’t let the name fool you—this cocktail hit the spot at any point of the year. This sweet and creamy drink is indulgent and captures all the dessert favorites.

Melon-Mint Wine-Sicles

Switch up your go-to glass of wine for something cold, sweet, and refreshing. On National Moscato Day (5/9), serve the Melon-Mint Wine-Sicles as a tasty and unique treat. Moscato brings just the right amount of sweetness to the popsicles, while the fresh mint adds a delicious herbaceous flavor profile. With honeydew and melons coming into the season, it’s an ideal time to add fruit to your cocktails.

Virginia Sunryes

If you are going to celebrate any drink day this month, let it be World Cocktail Day. On May 13, let your imagination and creativity run wild. There is no better time to experiment with new techniques and flavors than on a day dedicated to the craft. If you need a little inspiration, try out the Virginia Sunryes. While it might seem like a simple cocktail on the outside, it’s really a beautiful combination of smoky, bold, and spicy flavors. Top it off with a red wine foam for an added delicate and aromatic punch to give the cocktail a velvety and dramatic finish.

Mimosa Royale

The brunch staple shows up on nearly every menu. Stand out from the crowd and add something new to your bar menu on National Mimosa Day (5/16). The Mimosa Royale isn’t your classic cocktail—it’s a fusion of fruits and garden elegance. Between notes of strawberry, cherry, and rosemary, this bubbly cocktail is unexpected in a tantalizing way. It’s just as stunning in the glass as on the palate.

Jalapaloma

Not often seen on menus, but a Paloma is a classic for a reason. On May 22, celebrate World Paloma Day with this smoky, sweet, tangy cocktail. This fiery twist on the citrus drink is an excellent choice for the cooler nights we still experience in May. With notes of lime, jalapeno, and bright grapefruit, you certainly can’t go wrong in terms of making this drink. Adding muddled fruit or vegetables to any cocktail will take the flavor profiles to the next level. If you’re looking for a burst of flavors in a glass, the Jalapaloma will do the job.

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