Long summer nights are perfect for making some refreshing cocktails and kicking back on the patio. While there are a lot of options out there, the cocktails below find some interesting ways of bringing in summer flavours without being too complicated.
Take these five for a spin, and I’m sure your guests will think you’ve pulled out all the stops.
Summer Fizz
Summer cocktails should be all about fruit and refreshment. This summer fizz brings both to the table without skimping on the rum.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz 7 year rum
- 0.5 oz ginger syrup
- 0.5 oz peach purée
- 0.5 oz lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- Soda top
Method: Dry shake rum, ginger syrup, peach puree, lemon juice and egg white. Re-shake with ice, and strain into a collins glass. Top with soda and garnish with fresh ginger and lemon peel.
Blackberry Mint Julep
This twist on the original mint julep brings some summer sweetness with the addition of the muddles blackberries.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
- 0.5 oz Chambord
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz turbinado syrup (aka. golden sugar simple syrup)
- 5 muddled blackberries
- 6 mint leaves
Method: Pour all ingredients in a shaker and mix well. Pour over crushed ice and garnish with a sprig of mint and a blackberry.
Divorce Papers
Despite the name, this is a perfect summer cocktail and one that will lead to many a good nights.
Ingredients:
- 0.5 oz Tropical Passion Fruit Syrup
- 1.5 oz gin
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- 0.5 oz Aperol
- barspoon honey syrup
Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake hard for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Fresa Fitz
If tequila is your drink of choice, this unique cocktail will add a whole new way of enjoying your spirit.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Strawberry tequila
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Club soda
Method: Add tequila, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain, and remove ice from cocktail shaker. Pour contents back into shaker and add egg white; shake again for a dry shake. Double strain into a collins glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a whole strawberry.
Pink Lady
Not as sweet as it appears, this cocktail is tart, fairly dry and seriously strong. A great alternative to a gin sour.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz gin
- 0.5 oz applejack
- 0.75 oz lemon juice
- 0.25 oz grenadine
- 1 egg white
Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake well without ice. Add ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
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