3 Easy Cocktails You Can Make For Your Next Beachside Hang Out
These three cocktails are proof that you don’t need an elaborate bar setup to impress. Just good ingredients, a bit of ice, and a beach-ready attitude.
Words Mika Reyes
Photos courtesy of Monkey Shoulder
April 22, 2025
Planning a weekend escape to La Union or Batangas with the crew? You’ve got the playlist, your favorite bikini packed, and the group chat buzzing. But before you hit the sand, there’s a sweet pre-game ritual that’s become just as iconic as the beach trip itself: mixing up a few cocktails in your hotel suite. Whether you’re stirring something simple over laughs or pulling out a shaker to impress with a dramatic foam finish, making drinks at your accommodation is equal parts fun and practical. You’ll save on overpriced bar tabs, maximize that dreamy hotel booking, and set the tone for a golden hour to remember. Plus, there’s something undeniably luxe about sipping your own concoctions before heading out for a night of bonfire stories or seaside dancing.
Luckily for you, we’ve taken a Monkey Shoulder masterclass with their Southeast Asian ambassador, Brendon Khoo, on how to make three undeniably delicious summer cocktails.
If you haven’t heard of Monkey Shoulder, then you’re in for a treat. It’s a whisky that’s made for mixing—and made for moments like this. We’ve rounded up three effortless cocktail recipes that are breezy to make, big on flavor, and designed for group vibes. From a twist on a time-honored classic to a jammy citrus number, these are the drinks to serve before your flip-flops even touch the sand.
1. The Lazy Old Fashioned
Mood: Bittersweet, bold, timeless
An Old Fashioned is like the little black dress of cocktails—forever in style. But who says classic has to mean complicated? This refined update strips it back to the essentials: whisky, bitters, and a hint of sweetness. The secret? A pre-mixed batch you can chill ahead of time. Because when you're at the beach, you deserve more sipping, less stirring.
Single Serve
50ml Monkey Shoulder
10ml sugar syrup
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Orange zest or twist, for garnish
Method: In a mixing glass, combine the whisky, sugar syrup, and bitters. Add ice and stir until it reaches that silky, slightly chilled perfection. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and top with a twist of orange.
Batch It (Serves 10): Multiply the ingredients, mix in a jug, store in the fridge, and serve when ready. Instant cocktail hour.
2. OMG (Orange • Monkey • Ginger)
Mood: Sweet, sparkling, sun-soaked
If cocktails had catchphrases, this one would be "easy, breezy, and dangerously delicious." A go-to for groups, the OMG is crisp, refreshing, and endlessly sippable. Think whisky meets soda with a citrus kiss—zero effort, all reward.
Single Serve
50ml Monkey Shoulder
120–150ml dry ginger ale
1 orange wedge
Method: Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in your whisky, top with ginger ale, and give it a light stir. Garnish with an orange wedge for that extra pop of color and flavor.
Batch It (Serves 6): Mix in a pitcher and bring it out just as the beach tunes start playing. Your friends will thank you.
3. The Monkey Jam Sour
Mood: Tangy, playful, irresistibly fruity
This one’s for the adventurous drinker—the one who’s not afraid to bring a little zing to their sip. A playful twist on the traditional whisky sour, this version adds strawberry jam for a nostalgic, almost dessert-like finish. It’s whisky meets brunch vibes, and we’re very into it.
Single Serve
50ml Monkey Shoulder
20ml fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons strawberry jam
Dash of orange bitters
Egg white or aquafaba (optional, for a silky foam)
Method: Add everything to a shaker and shake hard—yes, even the jam. Add ice, shake again, then strain into a glass over ice. The result? A pink-hued pour that tastes like sunshine and secret smiles.
Batch It (Serves 8): Multiply, mix, and prepare to be the most popular host on the shoreline.
