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15+ Gold & Yellow Drinks for Any Occasion


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With their sunshine-inspired hues, these gold and yellow drinks bring brightness to any occasion! From celebrations to cocktail hour, one of these is sure to shine on the menu.

A glass of Lynchburg lemonade with ice and flowers.

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Your ultimate guide to yellow cocktails

When it comes to colorful cocktails, it’s worth checking the ingredient list. Some gain their hue from artificial ingredients rather than relying on natural ingredients — you won’t find those on this list!

From lemonade to honey, there are plenty of things that can color your cocktails. These sunny drinks would be perfect for summer sipping, but beyond that too. Consider them to brighten dreary winter days or cool off on unseasonably warm days.

Drinks by color

a sliced strawberry on a gold cocktail pick over a pink cocktail.

Pink

A coupe glass filled with a bright red cherry cocktail, garnished with whole cherries; nearby are fresh cherries, mint leaves, and a glass bottle of red liquid on a white surface.

Red

A tall glass with a frothy lemon drink, garnished with mint and lemon zest, on a marble surface.

Yellow

a stemless martini glass

Green

Two glasses of blue margarita with limes on a napkin.

Red

A tall glass with a frothy lemon drink, garnished with mint and lemon zest, on a marble surface.

Quick tips for hosting 

When it comes to colorful cocktails, here are a few of my favorite tips:

  1. Fresh is best. From your ingredients to your garnishes, fresh fruit and herbs will give you the most color (and flavor).
  2. Keep your theme going. Yellow garnishes, like lemon slices, caramelized bananas, gold glitter or even yellow rock candy will make your drinks shine. Edible flowers are a show stopper, whether as a fresh garnish or in flower ice cubes.
  3. Allow for customization. If you’re hosting a crowd, setting up a cocktail bar is an easy way to let everyone craft their perfect drink.
  4. Offer a non-alcoholic option. Mocktails provide the same fun flair as a cocktail without any booze, making them perfect for all ages. The lemon mocktail is bright and fresh while a ginger orange mocktail brings the spice in every season. Or try the ever popular frozen margarita for a cool down.
  5. Big batches are your friend. Craft your drink in a quantity that keeps you out from behind the bar ahead of your get-together — just don’t add anything bubbly until you’re ready to serve!
A glass of lemonade with ice, lemon slices, and flower garnish on a wooden coaster, with flowers nearby.

What to serve with yellow drinks

When it comes to a crowd, you can’t go wrong with dips. They’re simple and shareable, making them a perfect addition to any party. Homemade hummus is easy and flavorful, especially when paired with homemade pita chips. Salsa is another classic, and pineapple cilantro salsa has the brightness to match these colorful sips.

For something that’s a bit of a step up, charcuterie cups and spinach artichoke wonton cups are perfect for mingling. Both capture familiar crowd-pleasing flavors in a format that doesn’t require plates or utensils. Pigs in a blanket are whimsical and a good fit if you have younger guests in attendance.

The best yellow drinks

These drinks are ready to have their moment in the sun!

1
A clear cocktail with ice, garnished with a lemon peel, served in a glass with a gold polka dot pattern. A metal jigger and another drink are in the background.
Gold Rush Cocktail
Simple enough for a weeknight but polished enough for a dinner party, the Gold Rush earns its name with a rich amber pour that glows in the glass. Honey syrup rounds out the bourbon's edges while fresh lemon keeps the whole thing bright and balanced.
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2
A lemon cocktail in a glass with a sugared rim and a lemon twist, surrounded by fresh lemons and cocktail tools on a white surface.
Lemon Drop Martini
Served in a sugar-rimmed glass, the Lemon Drop Martini is bright, tart and elegant. It's the kind of drink that photographs beautifully and tastes even better. Vodka and triple sec keep it clean while fresh lemon juice gives it the citrus punch the name promises.
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3
A cocktail garnished with lemon peel and a sprig of thyme in a glass with a gold rim. Additional garnishes and a glass with a reddish liquid are in the background.
Bee’s Knees Cocktail
A Prohibition-era classic, the Bee's Knees shakes up into a gorgeous pale gold that fits right in on a sunny brunch table or a garden party spread. Honey syrup softens the sharpness of gin's signature botanicals while fresh lemon keeps it bright. The whole thing comes together in minutes.
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4
Two glasses of iced tea with lemon slices and mint leaves, accompanied by a bowl of lemons and a spoon, on a white surface.
Lillet Spritz
With its warm straw color and gentle bubbles, the Lillet Spritz is the kind of drink that looks like it took more effort than it did. Lillet Blanc's honeyed, floral notes get a lift from sparkling wine, making it an easy pour for a slow afternoon or a low-key happy hour.
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5
A drink for the Preakness Stakes, the Black-Eyed Susan Cocktail is so named for the Maryland-shaped blanket of yellow flowers that is draped around the winner's neck. Vodka and elderflower liqueur join pineapple, orange and lime juices for a sunny drink worthy of race-watching. (via feastandwest.com)
Black-Eyed Susan Drink
The official cocktail of the Preakness Stakes, the Black-Eyed Susan is a sunny, golden sipper that's the same color as its floral namesake. Built with whiskey and pineapple juice, it's just as at home on a backyard patio as it is at the racetrack. It's an easy batch drink for a crowd, so it's the perfect choice for game day or any warm-weather gathering.
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6
A glass of lemonade with ice, lemon slices, and flower garnish on a wooden coaster, with flowers nearby.
Elderflower Lemonade
Delicate elderflower syrup adds a floral, honeyed dimension to your favorite classic lemonade, turning it a soft, sunny yellow that's as pretty in the glass as it is refreshing to drink. It works beautifully as a standalone mocktail or as a mixer base for a gin or vodka cocktail.
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7
A glass with gold starbursts garnished with a lemon peel sits beside a honey dripper covered in honey. Half a lemon and a teal dishtowel sit in the background
Honey Lemon Whiskey Sour
An egg white shake gives this honey-lemon riff on the classic Whiskey Sour a frothy, silky top that makes it feel a little more special — worth the extra effort for a cocktail hour or a celebratory toast. The honey adds a rounder sweetness that plays beautifully against the bourbon and fresh citrus.
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8
Two glasses of lemonade with a bottle of lemon juice.
Lemon Champagne Punch
This punch is the move when yellow is the color of the celebration — whether that's a golden anniversary, a yellow-themed wedding shower or a birthday that calls for something bubbly and beautiful. Lemon juice and champagne give it a pale golden sparkle that looks stunning in a punch bowl.
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9
A tall glass of yellow mango mojito garnished with mint, a lime slice, and a straw. Two purple flowers and a piece of lime are placed nearby on the white surface, with green leaves and a blue cloth in the background.
Mango Mojito
Fresh mango brings a tropical sweetness and a vivid golden hue to this beachy twist on the classic mojito. This one is a strong contender for a summer party or any occasion where the vibe is relaxed and the drinks need to be easy.
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10
A glass of Lynchburg lemonade with ice and flowers.
Lynchburg Lemonade
Don't let the name fool you — Lynchburg Lemonade is a full cocktail, not a mocktail. Starring Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey with a splash of triple sec and plenty of lemon, the result is a bright, golden drink that's tangy and just sweet enough to keep things interesting.
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11
A glass with geometric patterns contains an amber-colored drink and an ice sphere, placed on a woven coaster.
Banana Old-Fashioned
Aged rum stands in for bourbon in this tropical spin on the old-fashioned, giving it a naturally golden color and a warm, slightly sweet depth that banana syrup only amplifies. It's a slower, more contemplative drink — the kind worth savoring rather than rushing.
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12
A glass of iced lemonade with a salted rim and a lemon slice, surrounded by whole lemons and limes on a white surface.
Lemon Margarita
Tequila and fresh lemon juice make a surprisingly natural pairing in this bright, golden margarita that's a little more tart and a little more unexpected than the classic lime version. A sugar or salt rim is optional, but either way it's a vivid, citrusy pour that earns a spot on any warm-weather drinks menu.
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13
Tall glass of fizzy lemonade with ice, mint garnish, and lemon zest on top, next to a gold jigger.
Sgroppino Prosecco Float
The Sgroppino is an Italian classic that lands somewhere between a cocktail and dessert, with a scoop of lemon sorbet melting into chilled prosecco and limoncello for dessert drink that's unlike anything else on this list. It's an elegant finish to a dinner party or a whimsical touch at a summer celebration.
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14
A glass of iced lemonade garnished with a lemon slice and fresh mint, with an extra lemon and mint leaves nearby on a marble surface.
Lemon Mocktail
Bright, fizzy and golden in the glass, this lemon mocktail holds its own on any drinks table without a drop of alcohol. Fresh lemon juice and a splash of something bubbly give it plenty of personality — no one will feel like they're missing out.
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15
A cocktail with orange slices and pineapples on a wooden cutting board.
Painkiller Drink
The Painkiller is a rum cocktail with serious tropical credentials, blending pineapple juice, orange juice and cream of coconut into a drink that's richly golden and easy to love. It's the kind of thing you make when you want the backyard to feel like a beach bar, if only for an hour.
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About Susannah

Susannah Brinkley Henry is the founder of Feast + West, a cocktail blog featuring creative, budget-friendly drinks and hosting ideas. A graphic designer with bartending school training, she shares cocktails, mocktails, appetizers and desserts for easy, stylish entertaining. Her work has been featured by Southern Living, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and Mashable, and she was a finalist in the Saveur Blog Awards. Susannah is also a publisher on MSN and has appeared on local news segments sharing seasonal drinks. She lives in Charlotte, N.C., where she brings Southern charm and global inspiration to every pour. Read more.

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