The Hawaiian Beach Smoothie could become an adult favorite with the addition of some Malibu Coconut Rum.
Summer Cocktail Roundup
Photo: Stewart
Looking for some fresh summer cocktail ideas to ramp up your repertoire this season? I called a few folks from the beverage blogging community to see what they could recommend. The result is a set of affordable drink ideas you can use at cocktail parties throughout the summer.
- Sara Gorelick, an Examiner blogger in NYC, had an interesting summer cocktail using cilantro and beer, as well as a spring to summer transitional drink using vanilla vodka and ginger ale. Both are fresh and unexpected.
- Derrick Schommer, of EveryDayDrinkers.Com, created a fun concoction called the Common Man's Crimson Sky which features a blending of fruity flavors and spirits that look great in a collins glass. Definitely a cost savings from hanging out and drinking a round of them at your favorite beach bar.
- Cheri Loughlin of The Intoxicologist, submitted an interesting cocktail called the Bengali Summer, which uses Rangpur gin. According to Loughlin, Rangpur gin is a great summer thirst quencher with its light juniper tones, hint of bay leaves and addition of ginger. Enhancing this gin with rangpur limes enables the creation of fruitier cocktails with lilt rather than more ‘martini’ like cocktails one might associate with bleu cheese stuffed olives and glasses washed with vermouth. Here's the recipe: 2 ounces Rangpur gin,1-1/2 Fresh Limes – squeezed,1/2 ounce Simple Syrup,club soda. Build over ice in a highball glass. Top with club soda. Stir. Slightly tart with a hint of sweet in the back, this is the cocktail that takes the place of limeade and refreshes for the long haul.
- Lisa Overman, author of Wanderlust and Lipstick's Hammock in Paradise blog, had some great summer cocktail input as well. Her three drinks included this pineapple mojito, a sophisticated summer cooler recipe (using white cranberry juice instead of red) and a non alcoholic Hawaiian beach smoothie that could also be made with spirits if you chose.
In addition to a basic gin and tonic, I also enjoy sangria as an affordable yet elegant way to use boxed wine, watermelon cocktails and alcohol based freezer slushes when I want to stretch the once a month cooking concept into the bar arena. This should be more than enough ideas to at least get your summer cocktail wheels rolling. Feel free to share any great summer drink recipes you have below.
