26 Popular Frozen Cocktails, Ranked Worst To Best

Spring is in full swing in much of the Northern Hemisphere. Our daylight hours grow longer every day, the last remnants of snow are melting into the softened earth, and bright green buds are bursting forth from barren trees. We all know what that means: Frozen cocktail season is approaching fast. It's time for sipping frozen margaritas at happy hour, waiting 30 minutes in line for tiny cups of $14 frosé at festivals, and dancing the balmy night away at Pensacola's Flora-Bama with a Bushwacker in hand. (If you know, you know.)

The world of frozen cocktails ranges far and wide. You've got your classics, sure — the frozen margarita, the piña colada, the frozen daiquiri, and so forth — but there's a whole host of adult slushies out there that draw on spirits like gin, brandy, crème de cacao, and other liquors that aren't typically first-in-mind when daydreaming about frozen drinks. They come in every color under the sun, and range in texture from creamy and milkshake-like to something resembling a snow cone. These days, just about any cocktail can be made frozen, so the sky's the limit here. From little-known vintage tiki cocktails to well-loved classic drinks, here are 26 popular frozen cocktails, ranked from our least favorite to ultra-delicious.

Thin Mint stans who enjoy a boozy kick will go nuts for the frozen grasshopper cocktail. Most frozen dessert drinks feature whiskeys, brandies, and bourbons, but the frozen grasshopper does away with the hard stuff and focuses instead on melding the flavors of crème de menthe and white crème de cacao blended together with ice, plain vanilla ice cream, and a splash of milk — and chocolate syrup drizzled on top for pizzazz. These bright green-hued medleys are a refreshing change from the chocolate and coffee-forward dessert drinks one typically sees, but be warned: If you're not a fan of the mint and chocolate combo, this ain't the drink for you.

Frosé and friesling certainly have their place within the world of frozen cocktails, but what if you're craving a nice frauvignon blanc or a frordeaux? Good news: Frozen fruit wine slushies can be made with any wine you like, and as a lagniappe, you'll add some healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your drink by incorporating fruit. Simply toss your wine of choice and some frozen fruit in a blender, adding sweeteners, fruit juices, or herbs for more flavor if desired. Experiment with pairing different wines and fruits, like a jammy red with frozen cherries or chardonnay with frozen strawberries. Try them out for your next summer book club meeting or girls' night in.

Get your copper mugs ready; it's frozen Moscow mule season. Like a classic Moscow mule, these freezies use only three ingredients (vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice), so if you can't find a bar serving them up near you, just make 'em yourself. Freeze ginger beer in an ice cube tray, then toss the frozen cubes in a blender with vodka and lime.

Ginger beer isn't for everyone, but these are a real treat for those who enjoy it. Frozen Moscow mules offer the crisp coolness of a traditional mule with the added benefit of being extra cold and refreshing. Try experimenting with whiskey or tequila in place of vodka, or adding fresh herbs into the mix for a unique boost.

A mudslide on a hillside? Potential tragedy. A mudslide in a glass? Boozy dessert perfection. With Irish cream, coffee liqueur, ice cream, and bourbon or vodka, the mudslide resembles a frozen Irish coffee, but with coffee liqueur in place of espresso and bourbon or vodka standing in for Irish whiskey. The drink's name comes from the mudslide-like visual effect in the non-frozen version of the drink, in which chocolate syrup seeps through layers of cream and liqueur — which is harder to achieve when all of the ingredients are blended with ice. These adult milkshakes are common fixtures at restaurants, but it's a breeze to make a frozen mudslide at home, too.

The frozen Negroni is yet another frozen cocktail that doesn't rely on rum, vodka, or tequila like many of its popular counterparts. With an herbal, licorice-like taste and deep, dark fruit flavors, Negronis aren't for everyone, but a frozen version is a treat for those who enjoy the bitterness of Campari and the botanical qualities of vermouth. In addition to these, you'll find gin and orange juice in a frozen Negroni. Gin lends an intriguing, piney taste to the mix, while orange juice balances everything out. It's somewhat surprising to find the Negroni's sophisticated flavor profile in frozen form, but that's what makes this drink special.

The original recipe for a brandy Alexander used a base of gin. If that sounds absolutely horrifying, you'll be relieved to know that the cocktail has since evolved, and if you order one today, you'll likely find cognac or brandy in gin's place. This drink is a fun one, and a frozen brandy Alexander, which swaps in ice cream for heavy cream for a wonderfully creamy texture, makes a delightful after-dinner drink on a warm summer evening. In addition to cognac and ice cream, dark crème de cacao stars in this recipe along with whipped cream and cacao nibs for garnish. Bon appétit!

Donn Beach, the aforementioned creator of the Pearl Diver, is credited with inventing many of the tiki cocktails we know today, including the zombie, the rum julep, and a lesser-known drink known as the Missionary's Downfall.

The Missionary's Downfall is a nuanced frozen cocktail with moderately low alcohol content. Crème de pêche (a liqueur made from peaches) and pineapple chunks provide a bright but delicate base, while honey syrup adds sweetness and fresh mint sprigs lend a lovely herbal aftertaste to the drink. The Missionary's Downfall may not be in vogue nowadays, but maybe it's time for a comeback.

Gin and Campari fans, rejoice. The Sicilian slush is a tasty alcoholic slushy made with gin, Campari, fresh lemon and orange juice, and simple syrup for a refreshing, citrusy cocktail that'll have the 21+ crowd reliving their glory days.

With a glowy orange hue reminiscent of a Florida sunrise, these blended cocktails have a bright flavor from the citrus balanced by the piney aromatics of gin and a light bitterness from Campari. Depending on how much Campari is used, a faint trace of nutmeg or clove may be perceptible in the finished product. The Sicilian slush is a great way to shake things up if you've grown weary of frozen daiquiris and margs.

If you're craving the creamy coconut heaven of a piña colada but pineapple isn't your jam, a mango castaway might just hit the spot. The mango castaway uses mango rather than pineapple for a juicy, tropical flavor and favors both coconut rum and aged rum in place of coconut milk and unaged white rum — all blended together with condensed milk. The result is effectively a mango piña colada. It's creamy and a little bit tart, and depending on the type of aged rum used, may also carry a hint of caramel, wood smoke, and baking spices on the palate.

The peach lover's answer to a mimosa is the Bellini. Made with prosecco and peach puree, these beauties are traditionally served mimosa-style (not blended and without ice), but the frozen version of a classic peach Bellini is a fun twist — plus, you'll use frozen peaches, so there's no need for pesky peach prep. Frozen peach Bellinis temper the sweetness of prosecco with delicate peach flavor to magnificent effect. Just toss frozen peaches, prosecco (use another sparkling wine if desired), a dash of sugar (or honey or agave), and some ice cubes into a blender and process until your desired texture is achieved, and you're good to go.

Aperitifs seem to be growing in popularity, and one drink that's slowly climbing its way to the top of cocktail lists is the Aperol spritz. On the surface, it's fairly simple, made with just Aperol, prosecco, and soda water; but the zesty, herbaceous, smooth flavor of Aperol helps it stand out from the crowd. The most basic iteration of a frozen Aperol spritz involves the traditional ingredients blended with ice — Aperol doesn't freeze completely, so ice is needed to accomplish a fun slushy-like texture. To shake things up, consider using frozen fruit in place of some or all of the ice, or using flavored soda water to achieve a unique taste.

There's nothing like a piping hot mug of coffee with whiskey and Bailey's to warm the bones on a cold day. Conversely, a frozen Irish coffee is a perfect cocktail to cool you down on a hot one. Frozen Irish coffees contain Irish whiskey, Bailey's, Kahlua, espresso, and a hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream blended together like a milkshake — make sure to garnish with some crushed coffee beans for a little extra zest. These cocktails are fun brunch fare, but they also make for a yummy dessert. These decadent cocktails are a popular offering at Irish bars, especially in the summertime — in fact, we named the frozen Irish coffees at Erin Rose in NOLA the best frozen cocktail in the state.

There is absolutely no drink out there that rivals the vacay vibes of a refreshing frozen piña colada. With pineapple, coconut, rum, and a juicy maraschino cherry to top it all off, these frozen beverages are a tropical vacation in a glass. The sweet, tart taste of pineapple is balanced perfectly by rich, creamy coconut milk. Piña coladas are cruise ship and beach bar favorites, but they're just as easy to whip up at home. (And you won't have to shell out $16!) Most piña colada recipes call for white rum, but experimenting with dark rum and even flavored rum can lead to some fun twists on the classic cocktail. For a virgin version, just leave the rum out altogether.

Static Media owns and operates Tasting Table and Mashed.