Five Delicious Summer Cocktails
Sangria is a typical beverage from Spain and Portugal. It normally consists of wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy.
Summer picnics and backyard barbecues are synonymous with great food, good friends, and tasty libations. This is a short season of outdoor gatherings, and many of us feel we need to fill it with as much laughter and amusement as possible. If you are looking for some interesting new drinks or just the right formula for old favorites, we’ve got some recipes that are sure to mix up the fun and add flavor to any get-together. These cocktail recipes are perfect for impromptu parties, plus they travel well, so you can take them along to your next potluck. Here are five delicious summer cocktails we found that will positively please you and your friends all summer long!
Mojito
INGREDIENTS
- Ice
- 6 ounces light rum
- 12 mint sprigs, or spearmint, 8 roughly broken apart
- 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- Club soda
- 4 slices lime
DIRECTIONS
Place ice in beverage shaker then add in the rum, 8 broken up mint sprigs, lime juice, and sugar. Shake well and serve over ice in a high ball glass. Top off each glass with a splash of club soda. Garnish each with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.
Recipe courtesy of Alex Garcia
Rum Punch
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 cups grenadine syrup
- 2 cups Jamaican white rum
- 1 cup light rum
- 2 cups fresh pineapple juice
- 2 cups fresh orange juice
- Pinch freshly grated nutmeg, optional
- Orange slices, for garnish
- Pineapple slices, for garnish
Mix all ingredients together in a pitcher or punch bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with orange or pineapple slices.
Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay
Mai Tai
INGREDIENTS
- 3 ounces light rum
- 1 1/2 ounces dark rum
- 1 -ounce Orange Curacao
- 2 ounces fresh pineapple juice
- 1 -ounce fresh orange juice
- 1/2 -ounce fresh lime juice
- Dash grenadine
- Cracked ice
- 4 maraschino cherries, garnish
- 2 paper umbrellas, garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the remaining ingredients, except the cherries and shake until cold and frothy, 30 to 45 seconds. Strain into 2 tall glasses with cracked ice. Garnish each with 2 maraschino cherries and paper umbrellas. Serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
Cosmopolitan
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup triple sec
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour through a strainer into four martini glasses.
Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten
Sangria
INGREDIENTS
- 2 bottles chilled dry red wine, like Rioja
- 1 cup brandy
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar
- 2 oranges, cut into thin rounds
- 2 Meyer lemons, cut into thin rounds
- 3 Key limes, cut into thin rounds
- 2 apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
- 2 cups cold club soda
In a large pot or bowl, combine the wine, brandy, orange juice, and sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the orange, lemon, and lime slices, the apples and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour. Remove from the refrigerator and add the soda. Serve in glasses over ice.
Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
With a little practice, by the end of the summer you could be whipping up a batch of one of these favorite drinks in no time, with flair! These recipes are guidelines, so play around with flavors and get creative. Stop in and visit Festival Wine and Spirits in Annapolis. We have everything you need for mixing it up this season. Our friendly staff is knowledgeable and eager to assist. We are here to answer all of your questions. So, blend away, have fun, but most of all, be safe this summer!
