12 Drink Recipes for Your Super Bowl Party

As you plot your Super Bowl gathering, you're probably thinking about spicy wings and creamy dips, epic nachos and meaty chili, potato skins and of course, a fridge full of beer. Still, it's nice to have a pitcher of cocktails—and an non-alcoholic option—ready as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

The Ultimate Bloody Mary

You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning, so we recommend mixing up a pitcher or two of Bloodies before the kickoff. The key to a winning Bloody Mary is punching up the savory side with umami-rich ingredients like Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce, plus freshly grated horseradish and a little Frank's hot sauce. As for the vodka, any decent cheap brand will do: the flavor isn't going to be that apparent once you mix in all your tomato juice and other flavorings.

Get the Recipe and Tips: The Ultimate Fully Loaded Bloody Mary »

Frozen Lime Margaritas

This is the best recipe we know for frozen margaritas: tart, refreshing, cooling, and easy to make ahead. The secret: placing your homemade margarita 'mix' in the freezer overnight. Try to use decent tequila here; we recommend seeking out Tapatio, which was recently introduced in the US. It's a steal at around $34 for a liter bottle.

Get the Recipe: Frozen Lime Margaritas »

Steak Island Beer Cocktail

This beer cocktail is somewhat similar to a michelada, but with a secret savory ingredient: steak sauce. It's an earthy drink that pairs up well with meaty nachos or chili; but it's cooling, tart, and refreshing, too.

Get the Recipe: Steak Island Beer Cocktail »

Pineapple Rum Punch

If you're feeling ready for a little winter escape, this tropical drink will take you there thanks to ripe, fresh pineapple which infuses a simple syrup for a few hours (or overnight.) Aged rum adds caramel notes and richness, offset by tart lemon and sparkling water.

Get the Recipe: Pineapple Rum Punch »

Bitter Salty Perro

We're all about citrus this time of year. For this pitcher drink, tangy pink grapefruit juice is front and center, paired with herbal silver tequila or a joven mezcal. The result is awesome for sipping early in the day...or into the evening. The acidity of the grapefruit, the bright tequila, and the bitter bubbly tonic with salt will cut through a plate of nachos or seven-layer dip like nothing else.

Get the Recipe: Bitter Salty Perro »

Savory Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Frozen Daiquiri

While we're talking about drinking your veggies, we recommend cooling your mouth after fiery wings with this unusual spin on a frozen daiquiri, made with cucumbers and herbal, softly licorice-scented Green Chartreuse. This is best prepped the night before your party, which frees you up at game time.

Get the Recipe: Cucumber and Green Chartreuse Frozen Daiquiri »

Hibiscus Rum Cooler

We always recommend making drinks by the pitcher for a party, and this one's a really nice presentation with fresh mint and a gorgeous magenta hue. Think of it as a spiked lemonade, that's super-easy to make, especially if you use Tazo tea bags.

Get the Recipe: Hibiscus Rum Cooler »

Grilled Pineapple Mojito

Fire up the grill for this fun muddled drink, which showcases super-sweet grilled pineapple. The extra-sweet charred fruit is excellent paired with lime and mint leaves. The result is subtly smoky, tropical, and refreshingly minty.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Pineapple Mojito »

Tequila and Campari with Tangerine

This pitcher cocktail is a light and refreshing option for Negroni lovers. Tequila pairs beautifully with bitter ingredients like Campari, and an aged tequila lends depth. Fresh tangerine juice (in season right now!) adds sweetness and just the right amount of bright acidity to keep everything lively.

Get the Recipe: Tequila and Campari with Tangerine »

Fresh Watermelon Margaritas

If you're serving super-spicy wings and jalapeno-topped nachos, you may want something fruity to calm the heat. Watermelon juice is extra refreshing, especially with a hit of lime (and, ahem, tequila.) To get the watermelon flavor to really come through in this thirst-quencher, you'll whir an ample amount of ripe cubed melon (seedless is best) in a blender with a little kosher salt. Instead of the traditional triple sec, this recipes calls for St. Germain elderflower liqueur, which adds a delicate floral sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Watermelon Margaritas »

Classic Lemonade

Don't forget non-drinkers—and don't forget to encourage drinkers to occasionally alternate boozy drinks with something non-alcoholic! Grocery-store lemonade is ok, but the fresh homemade stuff is much better. Here's a classic recipe for lemonade with the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Classic Lemonade »

Panela Limeade

Panela, unrefined cane sugar that is often sold in solid discs, has a full-bodied, robust molasses-like flavor. (Check out Kenji's recent post on how panela is made.) It needs to be chopped up and dissolved in hot water before being used in a drink, but the resulting deep, caramely flavor is totally worth the small amount of extra effort.

Get the Recipe: Panela Limeade »