When the sun is shining and the air is thick, no beverage will cool you off quite like a frozen drink.
Whether you want to call it an “adult slushy,” a “blended cocktail” or something else, the concept is the same: Even in adulthood (perhaps especially in adulthood), we deserve a summer treat with a little something extra, and local restaurants and bars are delivering.
There are the frozen margaritas and other drinks you can get at just about any Mexican restaurant in town, but plenty other spots have reimagined their own cocktails as slushies as well—plus, wine and cider seem to be perfect for freezing.
So, if you’re hot and thirsty, check out one of these spots around town this summer.
Hancock
1157 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
If you ask anyone in town where to find great frozen cocktails, Hancock will be the first answer to come to mind for most people. They were early adopters years ago, and it only makes sense considering their large, beautiful lawn area that makes the most of the summer weather. Try a nice and balanced Just Peachy, with bourbon, peach, ginger ale, lemon-lime and sugar, or go bright and bold with You’re My Boy Blue, made of just Tito’s, blue curacao and lemonade.
The Score
5301 Northland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids
With a big, sandy, lakeside outdoor patio covered in palm trees, The Score brings a tropical experience to Grand Rapids in the summer. This is complemented perfectly by a variety of frozen cocktails, from a Rum Runner to a Strawberry Daiquiri to variations on a Pina Colada. If you want to try more than one, you can get the frozen flight for four small servings, or go in the opposite direction with the new Fish Bowls, making any frozen cocktail a 46 oz. drink.
The Deck
1601 Beach St., Muskegon
Right on the shores of Lake Michigan, The Deck is known as an “adult playground,” which makes it the perfect place to find slushies for the grown-ups. Adding to the fun, all frozen drinks come in 17 oz. color-changing mood cups, or 32 oz. pails for you to take home! With nine different options, there’s a wide variety of frozen fun here, like the classic Whiskey Peach Lemonade, and the innovative Funky Monkey, made with silver rum, dark rum, crème de banana, coffee liqueur, irish cream and coconut.
Hudsonville Winery
3768 Chicago Dr., Hudsonville
With a large menu of wine, cider, beer and hard seltzer, Hudsonville Winery/Pike 51 Brewing Co. is known for a lot of things. But perhaps most of all, they’ve become known for their frozen wine slushies, available to drink in the taproom or at home! Choose between rotating flavors like strawberry, raspberry, peach and bramble berry for a refreshing, unique drink—find a flavor you love and get it in a Polar Pouch to-go.
Kayla Rae Cellars
31 Courtland St., Rockford
Kayla Rae Cellars in Rockford keeps a rotating stock of frozen wine and cider drinks, with one of their mainstays being a sangria slushie, providing a rich and highly fruity beverage great for any time of year. Stop by in summer on the weekends and take a cup to go around the Rockford Outdoor Refreshment Area. What’s better than sipping a Pineapple Upside Down Cake slushie while standing on the dam?
Pux Cider
311 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
For the Jonny Appleseeds out there, check out Pux. Their pleasant patio on Fuller is perfect for sipping a cider slushie, with rotating flavors like blackberry basil and barrel aged blood orange + cherry. While you’re at it, stop by The Cheese Lady next door for the perfect picnic snacks!
Round Barn Winery & Estate
10983 Hills Road, Baroda
Round Barn gets creative with their seasonal slushies, starting with frozen cocktails and making use of wine-based toppers. Choose from a slushie like the DiVine Vodka Lemonade, then top it off with red or white sangria; plum or blueberry wine; or black currant or Mirabelle plum dessert wine. If you like what you taste, get it in the Round Barn Mega Pint, a 22 oz. reusable tumbler that helps you save on refills.
OTHER FROZEN BEVS
Social Misfits, Grand Rapids: Boozy milkshake.
Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill, Kalamazoo: Rotating frozen cocktails.
12 Corners Vineyards, Benton Harbor: Rotating wine slushies.
Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant & Winery, Fennville: Rotating wine slushies.
The Friesian Gastro Pub, Grand Rapids: Various adult slushie cocktails.
707 Winery and Brewery, Caledonia: Rotating wine slushies.
Glass Creek Winery, Hastings: Rotating wine slushies.
