Memorial Day 2016: 5 Creative Cocktails To Keep You Refreshed During Long Weekend

As tradition holds, Memorial Day is celebrated the last Monday in the month of May. This year it falls on Monday, May 30th. The federal holiday in the United States is in remembrance of the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.

As the U.S. holiday sneaks up on us, we've put together a list of easy-to-make and delicious cocktails to keep refreshed during the long weekend. Other options to celebrate Memorial Day include, grilling a BBQ at home with close friends and family members, heading to the beach or pool, planning a road trip with your loved ones, attending a local parade honoring our fallen soldiers, or making it a movie date!

Whatever the case, don't forget to enjoy the weekend with these refreshing and creative cocktails that can be done and served in no more than five minutes!

1) THE LIGHT (created by Colombian mixologist J.D. Marin)

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Buchanan’s DeLuxe
• 1/2 oz Orgeat
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 Orange Juice
• Orange Peel

Preparation:

1. Add the orgeat, lemon juice, orange juice and Buchanan’s DeLuxe to a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a rocks glass.
4. Garnish with the orange peel.

2) MEXICALI BEER MARGARITAS (via AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can limeade concentrate
• 1 1/2 cups gold tequila
• 3 (12 fluid ounce) cans Mexican brand beer
• 1 whole lime, cut into 6 wedges

Preparation:

1. Pour the limeade, tequila, and beer into a pitcher.
2. Stir
3. Fill tall glasses with ice and pour mixture into the glasses.
4. Squeeze a lime wedge into each drink.

3) PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE MARTINIS (via AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup pineapple juice, chilled
• 1/3 cup vanilla flavored vodka
• 1 dash grenadine syrup
• 2 pineapple wedges
• 2 maraschino cherries

Preparation:

1. Pour the pineapple juice, vodka and grenadine into a shaker full of ice.
2. Shake, then strain into two martini glasses.
3. Garnish with a piece of pineapple and a cherry on a skewer.

4) WHISKEY PARALYZER (via AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 fluid ounce Canadian whiskey, such as Crown Royal™
• 1 fluid ounce Kahlua or other coffee flavored liqueur
• 1/2 cup root beer
• 2 fluid ounces milk

Preparation:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in the Canadian whiskey, coffee liqueur and root beer.
3. Slowly pour in the milk so it does not curdle.
4. Stir gently and enjoy immediately.

5) ABSOLUTE STRESS (via AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 fluid ounce vodka
• 1 fluid ounce dark rum
• 1 fluid ounce peach schnapps
• 1 fluid ounce orange juice
• 1 fluid ounce cranberry juice

Preparation:

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, rum, peach liqueur, orange juice and cranberry juice.
2. Shake well.
3. Pour over ice in a tall glass and garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry.