Whether you’re rooting for your home team or just here for the commercials, there are a few Game Day cocktails here you’ll love. Whip up your favorites for the Big Game, March Madness the Olympics or a tailgate to share with your fellow game lovers.

Your ultimate guide to game day drinks
Sportsball: You either love it or you don’t. If you do, you’ve got a favorite team and you watch every weekend. If you don’t, you probably enjoy some amazing Super Bowl commercials, a good halftime show and the Olympics every few years.
(I fall mostly in the “don’t” category, but I do love attending a tailgate once in a while. Honestly, it’s the beer cheese dip and guacamole for me!)
The drinks make it better too. A good cold one — especially a local craft beer from a cooler — is always nice, but it’s also fun to mix up punches and pitcher drinks for an athletic gathering with friends and family.
Whether you’re watching football, basketball, golf, tennis or any other sport, it’s always good to have some recipes for game day cocktails in your back pocket, and I’ve got you covered with some ideas and tips for hosting below.
Game day cocktail themes
Think about the event you’re about to watch, and choose drinks accordingly. One way to do this is to make drinks that match your team’s color scheme. When my Carolina Panthers are playing, I might make frozen blue margaritas to match their jerseys.
Or you could mix up place-related cocktails using ingredients or recipes representative of the team you’re pulling for or the location of the big game. Examples:
- Pulling for New Orleans? Make some Mardi Gras drinks like a Hurricane.
- Hoping New York will win? How about serving Manhattans or a “Big Apple” themed cocktail like the Washington apple cocktail?
- Rooting for Team USA? Make some red white and blue cocktails or some Olympics-themed drinks.

Official game day cocktails
Another idea is to see if your sporting event or tournament has an official (or unofficial) cocktail you could make! A few ideas:
- Mint Julep or Oaks Lily for the Kentucky Derby
- Pimm’s Cup for Wimbledon
- Arnold Palmer for golf events
- Honey Deuce for the U.S. Open (tennis)
Quick tips for hosting
Here are some tips and tricks for serving drinks at your Super Bowl party so everyone has a blast:
Tailgating parties: If you’re bringing drinks from home for, say, a tailgate, you might want to think about pre-mixing your drinks ahead of time. Some drinks just won’t travel well. A pitcher or bottle of classic Bloody Mary mix would work well packed in your cooler along with some beers. You could also make some bottled cocktails to bring, or make hot chocolate in the slow cooker for a hot chocolate bar. Don’t forget the cups and a bag of ice!
Game day at home: If you’re watching the big game from your couch, you can have a little more flexibility. Big-batch drinks like jungle juice are still your friend so your guests can serve themselves. You can also set up a mimosa bar or Bloody Mary bar for your pals to DIY their drinks.
Glass or plastic? If your folks can get rowdy, skip anything glass, including bottles and pitchers. Stick to re-usable plastic (or disposables if you must). You can wash everything when you get home.
Have something for everyone. Not every
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What to serve with game day drinks
Your game day isn’t complete without some snacks! Win or lose, everyone is going to be hungry.
For parties at home, consider things you can make ahead or don’t have to do much prep for, like a basic charcuterie board or some chips with homemade salsa. A warm dish like pizza dip or queso fundido will be a hit too. Sliders are always good for something heartier.
When you tailgate, it’s important to bring cold foods that travel well. Consider things you can make ahead and serve from a cooler or at room temperature. Some caprese skewers, white bean dip or sausage balls would be perfect.
Now, who’s ready for a game day drink?
The best game day drinks






























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