My Favorite Summer Cocktails
There’s no better way to cool off on a hot summer day than with an ice cold glass of your favorite beverage. Here’s a list of some of my favorite summer cocktails alongside my favorite places to enjoy them.
Almost Frosé
Enjoy this cocktail poolside at your favorite chic hotel, summer hat and sunglasses in tow.
2.5 oz – Still Rosé
1 oz – Lemon Juice
.75 oz – Simple Syrup
.75 oz – Cointreau
4 Raspberries
Club Soda
Directions: Gently muddle raspberries in shaker tin. Add all remaining contents to shaken tin, shake with ice until well chilled. Double strain, add crushed ice. Garnish with thinly sliced lemon wheels and top with club soda.
Tips: To make it a Frosé, add a little bit of ice and blend!
Caipirinha
A staple of Brazilian culture, the bright and refreshing Caipirinha is best enjoyed at the beach in the company of your friends and family.
2 oz – Cachaça
Half of a Lime (Split in 4)
1 Tbsp – Sugar
Directions: Add lime and sugar to shaker tin and muddle. Add ice and cachaça to shaker tin, shake until well chilled. Pour out all contents into the glass without straining.
Tips: Use the glass you are serving in to measure how much ice is going Into the shaker tin. A full glass of ice should yield just enough of the finished product to perfectly fill the glass.
Summer Pimm’s Cup
The always classic Pimm’s Cup is a great addition to any patio gathering or Sunday brunch. With a cooling cucumber and sweet strawberry blend, this summer staple helps keep temperatures cool and conversation flowing.
2 oz – Pimm’s
1 oz – Lemon Juice
.75 oz – Simple Syrup
.5 oz – Vanilla Vodka
2 Dashes – Plum Bitters
1 Strawberry
4 – 1/8″ Cucumber Slices
Club Soda
Tall Glass, Crushed Ice
Directions: Add strawberry and cucumber slices to shaker tin, muddle into a puree. Add all other ingredients except for club soda, shake and double strain over crushed ice. Top with club soda.
Spicy Watermelon Margarita
Just because the temperatures are rising outside doesn’t mean you can’t further heat things up. Spicy and sweet, this margarita makes for the perfect backyard barbecue drink. As a bonus, it includes a bite of a staple summer dish, watermelon.
2 oz – Gran Patron Tequila
.75 oz – Lime Juice
.75 oz – Simple Syrup
.25 oz – Cointreau
3 – 1/8″ Jalapeño Slices
4 – 1″ x 1″ Watermelon Cubes
Directions: Add jalapeño slices and two watermelon cubes to shaker tin and muddle. Add two remaining watermelon cubes to serving glass and gently muddle, top off with ice. Add all other ingredients to shaker tin, shake until chilled. Double strain over serving glass.
The Loki
Named after the trickster god himself, the Loki is certainly a drink to watch out for. Fruity and easy to enjoy, you may find yourself going for seconds. Best accompanied by live music and great company, it’s the perfect drink for day or night.
2 oz – Orange Juice
1.5 oz – Greenhouse Gin
1 oz – Lime Juice
.75 oz – Honey Water (2:1 Honey to Water Ratio)
.25 oz – Cointreau
1 Strawberry
1 Basil Leaf
Directions: Add strawberry and basil to shaker tin and muddle. Add all other ingredients to shaker tin and shake with ice until well chilled. Pour out all contents (no straining) and serve.