5 Summer Cocktail Recipes

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1. Strawberry Basil Margarita

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces tequila
• 1 ounce triple sec
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 3 strawberries, hulled
• 5 basil leaves
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a blender, combine the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, strawberries, and basil. Blend until smooth.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the strawberry basil mixture over the ice.
3. Shake well to combine and chill the mixture.
4. Strain the drink into a salt-rimmed glass, and garnish with a basil leaf and strawberry, if desired.

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2. Raspberry Mojito

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces white rum
• 1/2 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 10 raspberries
• 8 mint leaves
• Club soda
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle the raspberries and mint leaves.
2. Add the rum, lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice.
3. Shake well to combine and chill the mixture.
4. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
5. Top with club soda, and stir gently to combine.
6. Garnish with a mint sprig and raspberries, if desired.

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3. Watermelon Gin Fizz

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 cup cubed watermelon
• Club soda
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a blender, combine the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and watermelon. Blend until smooth.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the watermelon mixture over the ice.
3. Shake well to combine and chill the mixture.
4. Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with ice.
5. Top with club soda, and stir gently to combine.
6. Garnish with a slice of watermelon, if desired.

Photo by Charity Beth Long via Unsplash.com

 

4. Spiked Lemonade

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• Lemon slices
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice.
2. Shake well to combine and chill the mixture.
3. Strain your cocktail into a tall glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a lemon slice, if desired.

Photo by Olivier Guillard via Unsplash.com

5. Frozen Mango Daiquiri

Ingredients

• 2 ounces white rum
• 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a blender, combine the rum, mango, lime juice, and simple syrup. Blend until smooth.
2. If the mixture is too thick to blend, add a splash of water to thin it out.
3. Pour the blended drink into a tall glass.
4. Garnish with a slice of mango or a sprig of mint, if desired.

Cocktail Tools

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• Cocktail Shaker – A cocktail shaker is for mixing and shaking cocktails. It’s important to choose a shaker with a tight-fitting lid to prevent spills.

• Muddler – A muddler is a tool used to crush ingredients, such as fruits and herbs, in the bottom of a glass or shaker. This helps to release their flavors and aromas.

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• Cocktail Jiggers – A jigger is a small measuring tool used to measure out precise amounts of spirits and mixers. This is especially important for ensuring that your cocktails are well-balanced. It also helps with consistency, especially when serving large groups of people.

• Strainer – A strainer is used to remove ice and other unwanted bits from a cocktail as you pour it into a glass. There are several different types of strainers you can add to your cocktail set, including Hawthorne strainers– which have a spring-loaded metal band– and fine-mesh strainers, which are used for double-straining a cocktail with fruit, herbs, or egg whites.

• Blender – While technically not barware, a blender is useful for making frozen cocktails and smoothies. Just be sure to clean it well after each use to avoid any lingering flavors or breakage.

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