3 Places in North Carolina Serving the Drink Everyone’s Ordering This Summer

While there might not be a leading drink trend across North Carolina this summer, one common quality remains: highly drinkable thirst-quenchers. Fortunately for many, where you'll find the sips of summer in North Carolina aligns with some of the state's best vacation towns. From city to city across the state, there are several bars serving exceptional heat-beaters — from alcoholic slushies to custom libations.

The Wheelhouse Lounge, Manteo

Few places are better suited to a frozen slushie drink than the beach, and that's exactly what you'll find at The Wheelhouse Lounge just outside of the Outer Banks in Manteo. Here, you'll find two flavors of slushies and a third that swirls the two together. And for the ultimate summer throwback, you'll want to order the swirled flavor, the PB & J slushie, which combines a peanut butter bushwacker (think chocolate, hazelnut, and coffee notes) with a cranberry daiquiri (with spiced rum, orange, and lime). Made with the bar's own spirits, Kill Devil Rum, this summer drink in North Carolina is all you'll need to beat the heat at the beach with one delicious, frozen sip at a time. Though it might not be a floating tiki bar, this frozen drink and its proximity to the sand are all you need to enjoy the summer.

Idlewild Bar, Charlotte

In one of the fastest-growing cities in the South, Charlotte, there's a bar that puts visitors' preferences first. At Idlewild Bar, there isn't a menu. Instead, some of the best drinks in North Carolina are shaken up by expert bartenders based on what the customer says they like or are in the mood for. In this sleek, industrial space, guests can expect fresh, housemade ingredients like bitters and juice, as well as unique libations. So whatever the go-to drink is to cool off and enjoy during sky-high heat indexes, there's never a doubt that this spot will deliver — especially if it's too hot to enjoy one of Charlotte's rooftop bars. But if you need some direction, ask for anything served over the highly crunchable crushed nugget ice.

Ginger's Revenge, Asheville

While there are plenty of cocktails in North Carolina to enjoy, this last trending summer drink comes in a can. Ginger's Revenge is a ginger beer brewery that makes surprisingly refreshing ginger beers that are a perfect alcoholic alternative to many quenching drinks people reach for in the warm months of the year. With options like hibiscus lavender ginger beer and lime agave ginger beer, these cans bring spicy, punchy flavors — both of which could be further spiked with tequila or vodka if you so choose. For those who visit the taproom, the streamlined space offers all of the flavors on tap as well as board games, pinball machines, and comfortable sitting areas for groups to gather. Though this isn't a speakeasy in North Carolina, it's tucked away in a hidden spot near the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. It's a quirky spot with plenty of air conditioning and unusual, but refreshing drinks to choose from.

So, no matter what part of North Carolina you find yourself in this summer, there are several bars that have just the thing to cool off with. From the mountains to the ocean, the best summer drinks in North Carolina come down to the most refreshing, thirst-busters around. Don't hesitate to find your way to them for an enjoyable afternoon or evening out of the sun.