Keeping your feet cool in the pool or lounging back in a nearby chair, you can’t go wrong with relaxing on a good summer evening. What is even better is to have a nice, refreshing cocktail by your side to sip away. Add a bit of fruit to your drink and you can’t feel guilty about it, right? These cocktails will be perfect for the summertime and enjoyed with a few friends.
Alcoholic Summer Cocktail
Cucumber Sangria
Ingredients
1 small honeydew melon
1 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
1/4 cup lime juice
12 fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup honey
1 750 milliliter bottle Sauvignon blanc or other semi-dry white wine, chilled
1 1 liter bottle carbonated water, chilled
Fresh mint sprigs and/or leaves (optional)
Directions
Cut the melon in half; remove and discard seeds and rind.
Cut melon into thin slices. In a large pitcher combine lime slices, melon, the 12 mint leaves and cucumber. In a small bowl stir together honey and lime juice until combined; pour over melon mixture. Add wine, stirring gently. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
To serve, stir in carbonated water. Ladle or pour into glasses. If desired, garnish with additional mint.
Watermelon Coolers
Ingredients
4 cups watermelon, seeded and cubed
10 pineapple mint leaves for syrup, more for garnish
8 ounces silver tequila or vodka
1/4 cup lime juice
1 cup pineapple mint-infused simple syrup (recipe below)
Lime wheels for garnish
Directions
For pineapple mint-infused simple syrup: Combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 cup pineapple mint leaves. Let steep for 20 minutes. Strain mint leaves and let cool completely. The syrup will keep, refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to one week.
Puree the watermelon in a blender.
Strain through a fine sieve. In a small pitcher, pour the tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice and simple syrup. Mix well.
Pour into glasses and garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.
Non-Alcoholic Summer Cocktail
June Bug
Ingredients
3 cups ginger ale
4 tablespoons grenadine
4 tablespoons orange juice
3 scoops orange sherbet
Directions
Blend together sherbet, ginger ale, orange juice and grenadine. Pour into ice-filled cocktail glasses.
Cantaloupe Cooler
Ingredients
8 cups (1/2-inch) cantaloupe cubes
1 1/2 cups ginger ale
1/3 cup water
1 (6-oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
Directions
Place cantaloupe cubes in an extra-large zip-top plastic freezer bag, and freeze 8 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes.
Blend together half each of cantaloupe, ginger ale, water, limeade concentrate, and ginger until smooth; pour mixture into a pitcher. Repeat procedure with remaining half of ingredients; stir into pitcher, and serve immediately.
Do you enjoy cocktails during the summer?
Photo Credit: Thinkstock
