6 Must-Try Summer Cocktails with a New England Twist

Looking to cool down with something deliciously local? These six New England-inspired summer cocktails offer creative spins on classic drinks, blending regional ingredients with serious mixology chops. From seaweed-infused martinis in Connecticut to maple-creemee tributes in Vermont, each one is worth a detour—or at least a spot on your seasonal sipping list.

6 Refreshing New England Summer Cocktails

Cousteau Martini
The Shipwright’s Daughter | Mystic, CT

Talk about a taste of place: In this umami-laden sip of the sea, gin infused with seaweed from nearby Stonington Kelp Company meets Rhode Island–crafted Industrious Spirit Company’s Ostreida Oyster Vodka (distilled with bivalves), plus Lillet Blanc and vermouth. The hyperlocal take on a Vesper martini is named for oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, of course.

Clearly Creemee
Barr Hill | Montpelier, VT

Subtly bitter fenugreek seeds and citrus bring balance to this clarified milk punch, which is made with house-infused Barr Hill Vodka and boasts the cutest little clip-on garnish we ever did see: a dainty waffle cone. The result? A not-too-sweet tribute to the Green Mountain State’s favorite frozen treat, the maple creemee.

Strawberry Fields
Coastal Alchemist Corks & Cocktails | Ogunquit, ME

Pine-forward Wild Bevy Distilling Forij Slacktide gin—hailing from nearby Wells, Maine—and basil and green tea foam add bright, grassy notes to strawberry shrub for a drink that’s more savory than sweet. You might want to sip Strawberry Fields … forever.

Lady Stardust
The Wilder | Portsmouth, NH

Vinegary hot sauce sourced from The Wilder’s sister restaurant, Anju Noodle Bar, is blended with El Jimador blanco tequila, juice, and fruit puree in this glam rocker of a pineapple-mango margarita, finished with a mouth-tingling Tajín spice rim.

Ah Shucks
Row 34 | Boston, MA & other locations

Any libation served at Row 34 should pair well with a dozen oysters, and this smooth, pretty-in-pink cocktail—featuring Boston-made Bully Boy Amaro Rosso, vanilla vodka, lemon, and honey, and hints of citrus from the grapefruit oil garnish—goes down especially easy.

Espresso Chocolate Martini
Paper Plane | Camden, ME

Crafted with freshly brewed dark espresso and accented with a chocolate truffle from Lindt (whose U.S. headquarters is in New Hampshire), Paper Plane’s modern, architectural take on the perennially popular coffee-and-vodka quaff is almost too lovely to drink. Almost.

This feature was originally published as “Sipping Away” in the May/June 2025 issue of Yankee.

Courtney Hollands

More by Courtney Hollands