Top cocktail recipes for May 2026
From perfectly balanced Palomas to a classic Porn Star Martini, here are the top cocktail recipes to make at home this month.
With summer on our doorstep in the Northern Hemisphere, tropical cocktails that share the same hue as the sun are back in the limelight. This month’s list of recipes, therefore, includes a handful of those, plus a Gimlet, Spritz and other serves that all demand hot weather.
May is also when the Paloma gets its own special day of recognition (22 May), so we’ve also added in a few variations of the Mexican classic to mark the occasion.
For the full list of cocktail recipes to make from home this month, read on.
For more cocktail inspiration, see our roundups from March and April.
Generous Gin Gimlet
This Gimlet made with France’s Generous Gin is citrussy, botanical, and simple to make. It ticks every box for a May cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Generous Gin Original
- 30ml Lime juice
- 15ml Simple syrup
Method: Fill a cocktail glass with ice cubes or chill the glass while you prepare the drink. Fill a shaker with ice cubes and add ingredients. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Strain and serve.
La Paloma Ocho
World Paloma Day is on 22 May, so give the cocktail the celebration it deserves with this recipe from Tequila Ocho.
Ingredients:
- 45ml Ocho Plata
- 30ml Fresh grapefruit juice
- 15ml Fresh lime juice
- 15ml Simple syrup
- Soda water
Method: Shake the first four ingredients and serve in a salt-rimmed Highball glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a slice of grapefruit.
Limits Spritz
Everyone might know how to make a Spritz these days, but you can one-up all your friends with this alternative and very spring-friendly recipe from Tatratea.
Ingredients:
- 40ml Tatratea 37% Hibiscus & Red Tea
- 10ml Strawberry syrup
- 100ml Prosecco
- 100ml Soda
Method: Add Tatratea, syrup, soda and lemon juice to a glass with ice. Pour in Prosecco and mix gently.
Ukiyo Blossom Paloma
This vodka-based Paloma brings a Japanese element to the popular cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Ukiyo Rice Vodka
- 15ml Lychee liqueur or syrup
- 10ml Sakura syrup
- 15ml Fresh lime juice
- Fever-Tree Pink Grapefruit Soda
Method: Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a Highball glass and dip it into chilli salt to coat. Fill the glass with ice and add Ukiyo Rice Vodka, lychee liqueur, sakura syrup, and lime juice. Stir gently to combine. Top with Fever-Tree Pink Grapefruit Soda. Garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel.
Partida Paloma Blanco
Another recipe for World Paloma Day. You know what to do.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Tequila Partida Blanco
- 15ml Fresh lime juice
- Top up with grapefruit soda
Method: Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour in Tequila Partida and lime juice. Top up with grapefruit soda and garnish with a lime wheel.
Royal Blue Spritz
This Spritz is like diving off a yacht into the ocean, but in the form of a cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Bols Blue 1575
- 90ml Prosecco
- 30ml Soda water
Method: Build over ice in a wine glass and garnish with an orange twist and lemon slice.
Disaronno Spritz
A low-alcohol Spritz, perfect for imbibing over the course of a sunny afternoon.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Disaronno Originale
- 25ml Lemon juice
- Soda water
Method: Pour Disaronno over ice, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and top with soda.
Fair Mango Daiquiri
You can’t get much more tropical than a Mango Daiquiri, and this one is good for the planet too, as it’s made with Fair’s new ethically sourced mango liqueur.
Ingredients:
- 30ml Fair Mango
- 60ml Fair Rum
- 20ml Lime juice
- 5ml Sugar syrup
Method: Shake well and strain into a coupette glass before garnishing with lime zest.
The Golden Bullet
‘A luxury shot of pure precision’, says Spy X Vodka about this signature cocktail, which comes with both glamorous and dangerous connotations.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Spy X Vodka
- 15ml St-Germain
- 3 Dashes orange bitters
- Garnish: golden cherry
Method: Stir ingredients together.
Matcha Muse
Matcha on your mind? Try out this recipe that also uses Georgian whisky Jimsher.
Ingredients:
- 35ml Jimsher Tsinandali Cask
- 25ml Matcha tea syrup
- 10ml Vanilla syrup
- 20ml Fresh lime juice
- 40ml Green tea
Method: Shake and strain into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with basil and dry lemon.
Porn Star Martini
Make one of the world’s most popular modern cocktails as it was originally intended by its inventor, Douglas Ankrah, in the early 2000s.
Ingredients:
- 40ml Passoã
- 30ml Vodka
- 10ml Vanilla syrup
- 15ml Lime or lemon juice
- Pulp of one fresh passionfruit
Method: Double shake all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Double strain and serve in a fancy pre-chilled coupe or Martini glass. Garnish with one passionfruit half and serve with a shot of Prosecco or Champagne.
Maracujão
Soak up those early summer rays (because we’re just going to assume that you’re somewhere warm) with the exotic flavours of this cocktail from Portuguese liqueur Licor Beirão.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Licor Beirão
- 30ml Lemon juice
- 10ml Passionfruit juice
- Crushed ice
Method: In a Highball glass, add the passionfruit and lemon juice. Then add crushed ice, pour the Beirão and stir vigorously. Add two straws and serve.
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