The Best Tailgate Drinks According to Fetch

Not everyone at your party is going to have the same idea of what the best tailgate drinks are, and that’s okay. What makes a good tailgate drink? It depends on a lot. From breakfast tailgate drinks to non-alcoholic mixed drinks for tailgating (aka mocktails) to hot drinks for those cold game days, Fetch has you covered.

We help you with your tailgating needs, sure, but Fetch is also America’s Rewards App. Download Fetch from the app store and start earning points on your grocery purchases with just the snap of your camera.

What makes a great tailgate drink

There’s no one thing that makes a great tailgate drink, but it’s a good idea to follow a few simple rules. They shouldn’t be too strong and they need to be portable, easy to make (or prepare ahead of time) and sweet (but not too sweet).

• Go big, mix drinks in bulk
• Simple trumps fancy
• Use leak-proof containers
• Label your drinks
• Keep water on-hand to stay hydrated

Wondering what ingredients make a great tailgate drink? We’ve got you covered with mixed drinks and more below.

How to earn rewards on your favorite tailgate drinks and ingredients

Step one: snap your receipt. That’s not the only way to turn your best tailgate party drink recipes into Fetch Points. Take your rewards game to the next level with:

• Favorite Offers: Every time you open the Fetch app, you’ll find offers that can earn you extra points for trying a product or shopping at a specific retailer. Favorite the offers you like and use it as your shopping list.
• Boosted Brands: In addition to offers, you can find whole brands with boosted points. You’ll see a flame icon next to the brand logo: the bigger the flame, the bigger the boost.
• Fetch Shop: You’ve got to get ready for the tailgate, let someone else do the shopping for you. Order your tailgate drinks (and practically anything else) delivered to you right from our app using Fetch Shop. The best part? You earn points on almost every dollar spent.

Another helpful play: use curbside pickup for last-minute ice, cups or mixers. Target Drive Up makes quick runs painless, and if you’re stocking coolers, a fast stop at Home Depot for an extra 5-gallon drink dispenser or bags of ice can save the day. Snap those receipts in Fetch to keep the points rolling.

Best tailgate cocktails by crowd size

To keep the party moving, match your drink plan to your headcount. Here’s how to pick the best drinks for tailgating without getting stuck behind the cooler.

Small but mighty crew (4-6 fans)

• Beer Margarita: Beer, 1800 tequila and frozen Minute Maid limeade concentrate. Mix in a small pitcher and pour over ice.
• Irish Lemonade: Lemonade, simple syrup and Jameson whiskey. Add lemon wheels to look fancy with zero effort.

Medium crowd (8-12 fans)

• Alabama Slammer: Southern Comfort, amaretto, sloe gin, orange juice and cherries. Big flavor, fast pour.
• Pool Party Punch: Simply lemonade, blue curacao, lemon wheels and orange wedges. Sunshine in a pitcher.

Big squad (12+ fans)

• Jungle Juice: Skyy vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, fruit juices and lemon-lime soda. Make it the night before and chill hard.
• Classic seltzer spread: Topo Chico, Vizzy or Lone River hard seltzers. Easy, portable, no mixing needed.

Great non-alcoholic tailgate drinks

If you’re hosting a game day party, it’s good to be prepared for any guests who don’t drink. You don’t have to stretch your imagination too far to find great non-alcoholic tailgate drinks. You can turn any of our mixed drinks into mocktails (though some might be better choices than others), and it’s tough to go wrong with soda (or pop).

Here are some specific non-alcoholic drinks and their ingredients to top off your tailgating menu:

• Canned drinks: Brisk, Bubly, Pepsi or Coke, Dr. Pepper and Mug Root Beer
• Sweet tea. Black tea, granulated sugar and lemons.
• Cherry limeade. Limeade concentrate, maraschino cherries, lime wedges and sparkling water.
• Shirley Temple. Grenadine, lime juice, lemon-lime soda and maraschino cherries.
• Fruit lemonade. Favorite frozen fruits (strawberries, peaches and blueberries are great), granulated sugar and fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

Mocktail pro tip: pack a bottle of zero-proof spirit and you can turn Irish Lemonade or even an Alabama Slammer into a sipper that still feels special. Label everything so guests know what’s in each jug.

Traditional tailgate party drinks

We think the best tailgate drinks are quick, easy and homemade (more on that below), but you might need more time for other plans. Here are some traditional tailgate party drinks you can grab at the store and go with:

• Topo Chico, Vizzy or Lone River hard seltzers
• Arnold Palmer spiked teas or Simply Spiked juices
• Your favorite case of Coors, Miller or Keystone
• CÎROC Vodka Spritz or Bulleit Crafted Cocktails
• Cola, diet cola and lemon lime sodas as mixers

Want to stretch your cooler space? Mix 50/50 with sparkling water for lighter pours. Keep a permanent marker handy so you can label cans for guests and reduce trips back to the stash.

Mixed drinks for tailgating

Take off your mixologist hat, your best mixed drinks for tailgating are going to be pitcher cocktails. If you don’t do your prep work, you’ll spend all your time making mixed drinks with tailgating an afterthought.

Pitcher cocktails

When choosing your mixed drinks for tailgating, make them ahead of time, refrigerate and pour as needed. Some favorites include:

• Pool Party Punch: Simply lemonade, blue curacao, lemon wheels and orange wedges.
• Jungle Juice: Skyy vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, fruit juices and lemon-lime soda.
• Irish Lemonade: Lemonade, simple syrup and Jameson whiskey.
• Alabama Slammer: Southern Comfort, amaretto, sloe gin, orange juice and cherries.
• Beer Margarita: Beer, 1800 tequila and frozen Minute Maid limeade concentrate.

Need a lot of ice to keep things cool and want good, strong tailgate drinks? Make them stronger and plan for them to get diluted.

How to batch and transport cocktails like a pro

• Pre-chill everything. Cold juice, cold spirits and cold pitchers mean less ice melt.
• Scale with simple math. If a 2-serving recipe calls for 2 ounces spirit and 4 ounces mixer, multiply by 8 for 16 servings.
• Use dispensers. A 2-3 gallon beverage dispenser with a locking lid travels better than open pitchers.
• Label clearly. Name, ABV estimate, “contains citrus” or “nut-free” helps every guest pick with confidence.
• Bring garnish in zip bags. Lemon wheels, cherries or orange peels last longer packed on ice.

Breakfast tailgate drinks

Sometimes you’re up at dawn to get everything ready. You’ll want all of the good tailgate drinks we mentioned above, but you’ll also want some breakfast tailgate drinks. Yes, alcohol drinks for breakfast exist and they absolutely belong at a sunrise kickoff.

• Bloody Mary: Absolut vodka, tomato juice, tabasco and anything else you might have in your fridge (olives, pickles, cubed cheese on a skewer, worcestershire sauce).
• Bloody Maria: Take your Bloody Mary ingredients and swap tequila for vodka.
• Screwdriver: Simply Orange Juice and vodka (try Svedka).
• Mimosas: André champagne and orange juice.
• Irish Coffee: Hot or iced coffee, your favorite whiskey, brown sugar syrup and heavy cream.

Keep the a.m. menu light and bright. Pair mimosas with fruit trays, set out breakfast burritos or a General Mills pastry spread, and add a yogurt bar with Sargento shredded cheese for savory egg cups. Snap those receipts to turn breakfast into Fetch Points.

Hot drinks for tailgating

In addition to Irish coffee (a breakfast tailgate drink staple), you should plan hot drinks for tailgating as game days get colder and colder.

• Mulled Wine: Mulling spices, oranges, apples and a dark red wine.
• Spiked Hot Chocolate: Hershey’s cocoa and your favorite whiskey or vodka.
• Hot Toddy: Stella Rosa brandy, Local Hive honey, cinnamon sticks and orange liqueur.

Use an insulated drink dispenser or a slow cooker to keep hot sips at temp. Pack a separate cooler for dairy so your heavy cream and garnishes stay fresh.

Smart gear for better tailgate drinks

Great tailgate cocktails start with smart packing. Here’s a quick gear list that earns its parking spot:

• 2-3 gallon beverage dispensers with locking lids for batched cocktails and mocktails
• Rolling coolers plus a dedicated ice-only cooler for faster refills
• Reusable cups with a marker station to cut down on waste
• Bar caddy with a jigger, long spoon, bottle opener and towel
• Folding table and tray bins from Home Depot for a tidy drink station

Running late? Use Target pickup for cups, straws and napkins. You’ll be back to the pregame playlist in minutes.

Tailgate drink and snack pairings

You’ve got the best tailgate cocktails and the best tailgating drinks. Now add easy snacks to match the vibe.

• Beer Margarita + Tostitos: Chips, salsa and queso dip make a crisp, salty match.
• Irish Lemonade + sliders: Sargento slices melt perfectly on mini burgers.
• Pool Party Punch + pasta salad: Barilla pasta with vinaigrette keeps well on ice.
• Jungle Juice + crowd mix: General Mills cereal mix with pretzels and nuts for a quick sweet-salty bowl.

Keep the snack table close to the drink station so guests can top off both. More mingling, less wandering.

Quick safety and hosting tips

• Hydration station: Set out a big jug of water with citrus slices next to your cocktails.
• Sun and chill: Shade for cold drinks, a hot pad or insulated carafe for warm sips.
• Right-size ABV: Lower-proof punches keep the party friendly and the game-day memories happy.
• Plan a ride: Use rideshare or designate a driver before kickoff.

Find the latest tailgate drink offers in the Fetch app

Now you know the best tailgate drinks for cold weather, breakfast and nearly any other occasion. Check out your current offers in the Fetch app, make your list and get those supplies ready for your party. Start banking those points now and by the end of tailgating season, you might be able to splurge on new decorations, more drinks or just save them up for the start of next season.

Find the latest tailgate drink deals in the Fetch App

Now you know the best tailgate drinks for cold weather, breakfast and nearly any other occasion. Check out your current offers in the Fetch app, make your list and get those supplies ready for your party. Start banking those points now and by the end of tailgating season, you might be able to splurge on new decorations, more drinks or just save them up for the start of next season.