Tailgate Cocktail Ideas for Each Different Kickoff Time

Next week y'all. Next freaking week football will grace us with its presence. I have no doubt in my mind that you guys are as excited as I am for this.  I have a few ideas for the next several Drink On Fleeks that will all center around tailgate cocktails. For today, I thought I'd do 3 different cocktail ideas for each different kickoff time: 12pm, 3pm and 7pm. They start out pretty light, and progress to a heavier cocktail as the day goes on. 
Tennessee kicks off the season at 7pm EST for those who may not have written it 15 times in their planner. 
These cocktails are all very quick and easy to make. I've included a list of ingredients and tools you'll need to remember to throw in your cooler before you leave, and you'll be all set for cocktails far more impressive than keg beer. For the record, I'm not knocking keg beer. I'll gladly consume your keg beer too. 
Before I jump in too deep, I want to let you in on my bartender secret. This is something I use to mix my cocktails, and is way more convenient than using a traditional bar shaker. A plastic protein shaker with measurements printed right on the bottle, like this one, is awesome. The small opening also acts as a built in strainer. Just get a cheap one from Walmart or Target, and thank me later. 
Pro Tip: Drink the very last drink listed below at every single event you ever have. It is the best thing you'll ever have in your mouth --- jokes jokes jokes. 

|| What to Bring to the Tailgate ||

Your Cheap Shaker with Printed Measurements 

Ice

1/2 cup Canned Grapefruit Juice 

(no need to mess with squeezing grapefruits at a tailgate)

1.5 oz Vodka

Salt for rim

Basil + Grapefruit for garnish if you want to get fancy

|| Instructions ||

Spread salt out evenly on a plate. To rim your glass with salt, dip your rim in the grapefruit juice, then into the salt. Add ice to your glass. 

Fill your shaker with ice, and combine grapefruit juice and vodka. Shake and strain into your glass.

Garnish with grapefruit slice and basil.

|| What to Bring to the Tailgate ||

Your Cheap Shaker with Printed Measurements 

Ice

4 oz Pineapple Juice

1.5 oz Tequila

0.5 oz Triple Sec

1 oz Lime Juice

Salt for rim

|| Instructions ||

Spread salt out evenly on a plate. To rim your glass with salt, run a lime wedge along the edge of your glass, then dip into the salt. Add ice to your glass. 
Fill your shaker with ice, pineapple juice, lime juice, triple sec and tequila. Shake and strain into your glass. Garnish with a lime wheel. 

|| What to Bring to the Tailgate ||

Your Cheap Shaker with Printed Measurements

Muddler

Ice

2 oz Jack Daniels

1 oz Simple Syrup

0.5 oz Lemon Juice

Blackberries

Rasberries

Bitters

Mint for Garnish

 || Instructions || Muddle 2 blackberries and 2 raspberries in the bottom of your shaker. Add simple syrup, lemon juice and bourbon to your shaker. Shake and strain over a glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint and 3 blackberries.  This drink is for the night game for a reason. Be ready to be hammered because you'll want to drink 45 of these they are so gosh darn delicious.