By Jamie Wheeler, Intent.com
One of the most wonderful things about summertime is its dual nature. Summer seems to invite both relaxation and adventure. It's a time to lay by the pool or stick your toes in the sand, luxuriate in the sun and try new things. A beautiful summer co*cktail can be pleasing to the eye, delightful to the palate, and refreshing to the spirit. The next time you are headed to a pool party or entertaining on the patio, surprise your friends with one or more of these fabulous summer co*cktails.
Beautiful in a tall glass, basil provides a hint of sweetness to the vodka and smells heavenly.
4 parts Russian Standard Vodka
3 parts fresh lime juice
3 fresh basil sprigs
2 tsp. sugar
What a pretty drink for the Fourth of July! A maraschino cherry is just the pop you need in this slightly sweet, slightly sour drink while awaiting the fireworks, hopefully on a private veranda with a great group of friends!
Ingredients
3/4 cup whiskey (recommended: Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 lemons)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (4 limes)
2/3 cup sugar syrup (see note)
Ice cubes
Maraschino cherries
Directions
Combine the whiskey, lemon juice, lime juice, and syrup. Fill a co*cktail shaker halfway with ice and pour in the drink mix 2/3 full. Shake for 15 seconds and pour into glasses. Add a maraschino cherry and serve ice cold.
Note: To make the sugar syrup, bring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a boil, and simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved. Chill before using.
This pretty co*cktail gets its sensational summer color from Berry Vodka. Mix up a glass or a pitcher, grab your new paperback and snag that chaise lounge chair by the pool.
2 ounces Three-O Berry Vodka
4 ounces Tonic
Splash grenadine
Mix in a glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange slice.
This Berry Mojito captures all that is beautiful about summer, in a glass… azure skies, blue oceans, plump red berries, cool mint and ICE! It's hot! Cool off your guests and yourself with this lovely concoction.
5 fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon(s) granulated sugar
4 wedge(s) lime, juiced
2 ounce(s) Bacardi Razz
1/4 ounce(s) Chambord
1/4 ounce(s) blue Curaçao
1 splash(es) club soda
Mint, for garnish
Raspberries and blueberries, for garnish
Directions
In a tall glass, crush mint with a fork. Add sugar and lime juice; stir. Add Bacardi, Chambord, and blue Curaçao; mix. Top with club soda. Garnish.
If you are thinking fun and fizzy, think Dragon Fruit Fizz! It's a delicate combination of dragon fruit vodka, passion fruit puree, and lemon lime soda. A cool afternoon surprise for the senses
2 1/2 oz. SKYY Infusions Dragon Fruit Combine all ingredients except soda in co*cktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into highball glass. Top with lemon lime soda and garnish with lime wheel and raspberries.
1 oz. Passion Fruit Puree
1/2 oz. Raspberry Liqueur
1/2 oz. Lime Juice
4 oz. Lemon Lime Soda
Lots of "fad" co*cktails come and go, but the Pina Colada is here to stay. Supposedly invented in 1957 in Puerto Rico by a bartender, this smooth and cool blend of pineapple, coconut and rum has become a standard summer co*cktail.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces light rum
3 ounces pineapple juice
3 ounces coconut cream
Pineapple wedge
Maraschino cherry
Ice, crushed
Instructions:
Pour all ingredients into your blender with ice and blend well
Wondering what to do with all that watermelon? Well, put some of it to good use in this fresh and surprising summer co*cktail. Tequila and watermelon… who'd a thunk it?
Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
8 cups (1 pound) diced seedless watermelon
1/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 3/4 cups fresh blueberries
3/4 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed
8 mint sprigs, for garnish
1 1/4 cups silver tequila
ice cubes
Directions
1. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a simmer with the sugar and stir over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute; let the sugar syrup cool.
2. In a blender, puree the watermelon until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the watermelon juice, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp.
3. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the lime juice, blueberries and mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, lightly muddle the blueberries and the mint. Add the watermelon juice and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
4. Pour the co*cktail into tall ice-filled glasses. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.
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