I always look forward to Memorial Day for what it represents: the beginning of summer. I’m a tremendous fan of all things outdoors, so the day signifies a return to summer picnics, backyard barbecues and afternoon beach trips. It also means it’s time for summer cocktails.
Summer cocktails are the best cocktails in my opinion. They often include fresh fruit, lighter flavors, and creativity that you just don’t see in many of their winter counterparts. Rather than slow sipping a glass of single-malt by the fire, you can have elaborate vodka lemonades in the sun, or rum-based tiki drinks at the beach.
As you’re gearing up for your own Memorial Day weekend, here are a few summer cocktails to try:
Blueberry Salute
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz IZZE Sparkling Juice Blueberry
¾ oz coconut milk
½ oz blueberry schnapps
1 oz rye whiskey
Fresh blueberries
Directions: Add all ingredients to shaker except IZZE® Sparkling Juice – Blueberry, lemon wheel, and fresh blueberries. Shake and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with IZZE® Sparkling Juice – Blueberry. Garnish with blueberries.
Stoli “Strawberry Crushed”
Ingredients:
2 to 3 strawberries
2 to 3 basil leaves, plus more for garnish
1 oz/ Stoli Strawberry Vodka
Fresh lemonade
Directions: Crush strawberries in a glass. Add basil leaves and gently bruise. Add vodka and lemonade, stir, add ice, and garnish with basil.
Watermelon Rum Smash
Courtesy of Mia Mastroianni, Bat Rescue, DoHo House
Ingredients:
2 ½ ounces TROPICANA® Watermelon Drink
4 fresh basil leaves
¼ ounce lime juice
1 ½ ounces rum
Directions: In a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle the basil. Add lime juice, rum, and Tropicana Watermelon Drink. Add ice and shake well. Pour into a highball or Collins glass. Garnish with a watermelon slice and a sprig of fresh basil.
Hinterland Punch
Created by Josh Mazza, Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
12 oz Jägermeister
5 oz Grenadine
10 oz Ruby Red Grapefruit
20 oz Roobis tea
1 Bottle (26oz) Sparkling Rosé
8oz raspberries
8oz strawberries
Directions: Add edible flowers to tea and freeze in a bread pan. Combine other ingredients in a punch bowl. Add frozen tea/flowers. Cut berries and add into punch.
Sgroppino
Ingredients:
1 ½ parts elit Vodka
1 scoop of Lemon Sorbet or another different flavor
3 parts Prosecco
Directions: Blend all ingredients in a blender with a bit of crushed ice. Pour into a coupette and garnish with fresh lemon zest.
Clase Azul American Hero
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Clase Azul Plata
1 oz La Pinta Pomegranate Liqueur
2 oz Cranberry Juice
1/2 Lime
.5 oz Simple Syrup
Directions: Shake and strain all ingredients into a cocktail glass and garnish with lime.
Best Damn Porch Sipper
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. Spiced Rum
¾ oz. Crème de Peche
¾ oz. Lemon Juice
2 Dashes Allspice Dram
2 oz. Best Damn Cream Soda
Garnish: Orange Slice
Directions: Combine Rum, Crème de Peche, lemon juice, and dashes of allspiced dram in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a large old fashioned glass. Top with Best Damn Cream Soda and garnish with an orange slice.
Red, White & Blue Boozy Slush
Courtesy of Taylor Bradford, Pink Heels Pink Truck
Ingredients: (serves 4)
Blue Slush Layer:
2 cups ice
2 oz. Blue Curacao
1 cup homemade lemonade
White Slush Layer:
2 cups ice
2 oz. SMIRNOFF Red, White & Berry vodka
1 cup homemade lemonade
Red Slush Layer:
1 ¼ cups strawberries, quartered
2 oz. SMIRNOFF Red, White & Berry vodka
¼ cup of homemade lemonade
Directions: Blend each layer separately until smooth. Store in freezer until ready to build your cocktail. Pour each layer into a highball glass and serve immediately.
Strawberry-Sweet Tea Cocktail
Ingredients:
2 parts Pinnacle® Original Vodka
3 parts fresh lemonade
3 parts fresh-brewed iced tea
3 strawberries
Preparation: Pour into a highball glass over ice. Garnish with fresh, sliced strawberries.
Summer Garden Breeze
Ingredients:
5 mint leaves
2 lime wedges
½ fl oz Belvoir Organic Elderflower Lemonade
1.5 fl oz white rum
1.5 fl oz organic apple juice
Directions: Mix in a highball glass with cubed ice, garnishing with a mint sprig.