Beat the heat or relax during a rainstorm while enjoying one of these yummy, summer cocktails. From a classic Tom Collins to a variety of blended fruit drinks, you’re sure to love these 10 simple recipes!
1. Mojito
- 2 ounces white rum
- 8 mint leaves
- ½ chopped lime
- ½ ounce sugar syrup
- Club soda
- Ice cubes
Mash up the mint, lime, and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker, add a scoop of ice and rum, and then shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled glass 1 inch (5cm) from the rim and top it off with club soda.
2. Traditional Red Sangria
- ½ cup brandy
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1 (750 ml) bottle dry red wine
- ½ cup of triple sec
- 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 1 lime, sliced into rounds
- 1/4 cup of white sugar
- 8 maraschino cherries
In a large pitcher or bowl, mix together the brandy, lemon juice, lemonade concentrate, orange juice, red wine, triple sec, and sugar. Float slices of lemon, orange, lime, and maraschino cherries in the mixture. Refrigerate overnight for the best flavor. Makes 6 servings
3. Fresh Lime Margarita
- 4 lime wedges
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- ½ cup tequila
- ¼ cup Triple Sec
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
- 1 1/3 cups crushed ice
Moisten the rims of four glasses using the lime wedges. Dip the rim into the salt, coating the entire rim, and set aside. In a pitcher, combine the tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, lemon juice and sugar; stir until sugar is dissolved. Serve in prepared glasses over crushed ice. Makes 4 servings.
4. Peach Bellini
- ½ ounce peach liqueur
- 1 ounce peach juice or nectar
- Chilled champagne or sparkling wine
Pour liqueur and juice into a chilled champagne flute. Slowly top up with champagne or sparkling wine.
5. Piña Colada
- 1½ ounces white rum
- ½ ounce coconut cream
- ½ ounce Malibu
- 3½ ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce sugar syrup
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Pineapple leaves
Place all ingredients but the pineapple leaves in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a large cocktail glass and garnish with the pineapple leaves.
6. Raspberry Beer
- 1 cup fresh raspberries or frozen
- 4 bottles of 12 oz. Corona beer (chilled)
- 1 container frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed or pink lemonade
- ½ cup quality vodka
- Garnish: lemon slices, or raspberries.
In a large container stir together the raspberries, beer, lemonade concentrate, and vodka. Serve over ice. Garnish with raspberries.
7. Watermelon Martini
- 3 cups seedless watermelon
- 2 ounces Absolut Citron
- 1 ounce Midori Melon liqueur
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 lime wedges
Dice one cup of watermelon into small cubes. Puree remaining 2 cups of watermelon in a blender and add vodka, liqueur, lime juice, ice, and blend well. Pour the contents from the blender into each martini glass, add about ¼ cup of the diced watermelon into each glass, and garnish lime slices. Makes 4 servings
8. Cherry Punch
- 1 ounce cherry vodka
- 1 ounce triple sec
- Splash of Grenadine
- Splash of cranberry juice
- Ice cubes
Shake together the first four ingredients. Pour into glass, add ice, and top with cranberry juice. Garnish with a fresh cherry.
9. Blushing Mimosa
- 2 cups orange juice (not from concentrate)
- 1 cup pineapple juice, chilled
- 2 tablespoons grenadine
- 1 (750ml) bottle Champagne
Stir together the first 3 ingredients. Pour equal parts mixture and Champagne into flutes.
10. Tom Collins
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 ounce club soda
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 1 slice orange
- Ice cubes
In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the gin, lemon juice, and sugar and shake well. Strain into a tall glass almost filled with ice cubes. Add the club soda, stir, and garnish with the cherry and the orange slice.
