There’s nothing like sipping on a cool cocktail while soaking up rays by the pool or enjoying the company of friends at a backyard barbecue. This summer, try your hand at some signature summer cocktails. Below, we’ve compiled three of the best, complete with ingredients and directions so you can make your own right at home.
1.Margarita
Nothing says summer like an ice-cold margarita. This classic tequila cocktail contains Cointreau, lime juice, and sugar. The salt rim is optional. You can either blend your marg in a blender with ice for a blended cocktail or serve it chilled without the crushed ice.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 1 wedge lime
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) fresh lime juice
- 2 heaping teaspoons superfine sugar
- 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) Cointreau or other triple sec orange liqueur
- 1/4 cup (2 ounces) tequila
- About 2 cups ice cubes
Directions:
For the salt rim (can be omitted): spread salt on a small plate. Rub lime wedge halfway around the rim of a double old-fashioned or other 10-ounce glass. Dip the moistened side of the glass in salt. Set aside.
Stir the lime juice and sugar in a cocktail shaker for about 5 seconds until the sugar partially dissolves. Add the Cointreau, tequila, and a cup of ice cubes. Shake vigorously for 25 seconds, then strain the liquid into the glass. Fill the glass with remaining ice cubes.
2.Strawberry Basil Spritzer
Basil and strawberries are two of the easiest plants to grow in a backyard or urban garden. If you have a plot or are feeling ambitious, use ingredients from your own garden for a nice personal touch (or don’t and say you did. We won’t judge). This is the perfect cocktail for weddings and wedding showers, outdoor dinner parties, and picnics in the park. Courtesy of The Cocktail Project.
Ingredients:
- 1 part Cruzan® Strawberry Rum
- 1 part Cruzan® Aged Light Rum
- 1 half Lime
- 6 basil leaves
- Soda Water
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
Directions:
Muddle lime and basil with sugar in a tumbler. Add rums and ice and shake two times to mix. Pour into a rocks glass and top with soda water.
3.Blueberry Ginger Mojito Pitchers
Mojitos are a quintessential summertime cocktail. They’re just the right amount of sweet with an unbeatably refreshing mint finish. And, like the strawberry basil spritzer, you can integrate ingredients from your own garden if you happen to be growing mint. This recipe for Blueberry Ginger Mojito Pitchers, courtesy of Cooking Channel TV, involves a little more work than some of the cocktails on our list (you can make your own ginger syrup). But we promise it’s well worth it. The ingredients are listed below and the directions can be found here.
Ingredients:
For the Ginger simple syrup:
- 1/4 cup grated fresh ginger
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup cold water
For the Mojito:
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 20 to 24 fresh mint leaves
- 4 ounces ginger simple syrup
- 4 ounces vodka
- 5 ounces club soda
- Ice cubes
- Blueberries, for garnish
- Mint leaves, for garnish
Have you tried one of these drinks, or do you have a favorite summer cocktail we didn’t include? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!