8 Easy Tips For Perfect Frozen Cocktails Every Time, According To Experts

The summer is the season for frozen drinks (we’re sorry, but we don’t make the rules). We chose the 2025 summer drink to be the Naked & Famous. However, we always have room for a chilled cocktail.

Making a cocktail involves a lot more science and technique. The frozen component requires more precision. You can get a watery or lumpy drink if you make a mistake with the ratios, use the wrong ingredients or mismanage your blender.

There are some tips you should keep in mind to avoid a frozen cocktail flop. The bartenders Camille Goldstein and Cody Goldstein of Muddling Memories give you all the dos and don’ts when it comes to blending frozen cocktails. Keep these tips in mind to enjoy refreshing drinks throughout the summer.

Add Ice Last

You will need ice to create a frozen cocktail. You might be tempted first to put ice into the blender. The key to creating a drink that is smooth and flavorful is to add all your liquid ingredients before the ice. Who wants the ice to melt even before turning on the blender. We don’t.

Freeze Alcohol Beforehand

It’s best to use cold ingredients when making a drink. This includes the base spirit. A bottle of room temperature liquor on your bar cart will melt some ice when it is placed in the blender.

Keep the Liquor Back

We love strong drinks as much as anyone else, but a cocktail that is frozen does not call for a second shot. Alcohol does not freeze so too much can affect the texture of a drink. You don’t have to give up alcohol. Add a floater to your drink!

Use Frozen Fruit

Fruit is used as an ingredient in all of the classic frozen cocktails. The best fruits to use when making drinks at home are found in the frozen aisle. The added chill thickens your drink without the use of plain ice. It’s going to all be blended anyway, so save the fancy fruit for snacks.

Use Liquid Sweetener

You can blend almost anything (especially with a powerful model such as a Vitramix). It doesn’t necessarily mean that you should abandon the simple syrup. Granulated sugar is not recommended because it’s too fine to dissolve in your blender and the liquid temperature makes it impossible.

Add Salt

Salt is a great tool to use for almost any cocktail. (That’s why so many mixologists have saline solutions behind the bar.) The cold temperature dulls your taste buds. Salt on the other hand amplifies flavors. Add a pinch of salt to your blender and your drinks will taste even better. Don’t worry; your cocktail won’t be too salty.

Blend on Low

While it’s tempting to be excited about a frozen drink, the best ones require a little patience. While it’s tempting, the best thing to do is to run the blender at low speed. This will help you avoid stray chunks of ice, ensure that your drink pours smoothly and prevent the blender from overheating.

Securing That Lid Tightly

It shouldn’t be necessary to mention, but nearly everyone has experienced a blender disaster (including us). Double check that your lid is securely fastened before you turn on your blender to avoid splattering Strawberry Daquiri over your kitchen.