Nothing says summer like cocktails by the pool, beer and barbecue, or a nightcap under the stars. If you’re throwing a party, planning an intimate get-together, or just looking to relax with a drink this summer, check out these summer cocktail ideas.
Easy Summer Alcohol Drinks: Open and Pour
Smirnoff Ice. I have to lead off with Smirnoff Ice because it’s my favorite summertime drink- it hits the spot like nothing else! I prefer the red label Smirnoff Ice (not the raspberry, the original red label). I’ve tried some of the others flavors and frankly, I don’t care for any of them. The red label goes over really well at a party, especially with women.
Mike’s Hard Lemonade. This is my second favorite summer drink, and a fine alternative to Smirnoff Ice. Mike’s Hard Lemonade is especially good on a super hot day on the golf course. The nice thing about it is that it comes in a plastic bottle so it doesn’t make that clink-clink-clink sound in the golf cart. At summer parties it really quenches your thirst, and seems to be equally popular with men and women.
Blackberry Merlot. Don’t worry if you don’t like Merlot or have never had Merlot. Blackberry Merlot is very sweet with just a hint of smooth Merlot warmth. It’s recommended that you serve it chilled, and makes a very nice compliment to a summer barbecue. I like the Wild Vines brand, and at $3.99 a bottle I like the price, too!
Wine Coolers. Wine coolers are just as popular now as they were when they first came out in the ’80’s. I think the reason for this is because they’re so easy to serve, relatively inexpensive, and delicious. There’s such a variety of flavors available- from mixed berry to Long Island ice tea- it makes it easy to please everyone.
Summer Cocktails: Mixed Drinks
Vodka and lemonade. I guess this is self-explanatory. I would use one shot (or jigger) of vodka with ice and lemonade in a 12 oz glass. The nice thing about mixed drinks is that you can make them as weak or as strong as you’d like, so ‘mix to taste’ on this one!
Gin and tonic. The thing about mixed drinks is that the name of them is usually also the recipe, so I think you can guess the ingredients on this one. Use one ounce of gin in a glass with ice and tonic water and squeeze a lime wedge into it. You can also substitute vodka for gin, if you prefer. Either way- a gin and tonic or a vodka tonic- it’s a refreshing summer cocktail that’s not sweet.
Vodka Wedge. This is an oldie but a goodie. It’s simply a mix of one ounce of vodka with half orange juice and half grapefruit juice over ice. The grapefruit juice makes it refreshing for the summer and the orange juice cuts the bitterness of the grapefruit juice. You can substitute grapefruit flavored soda pop for grapefruit juice and gin for vodka, if you’d like.
Summer Cocktails: Blender Drinks
Pina Coladas. If you’ve never had one, a pina colada is like a coconut, pineapple juice, and rum smoothie. (And they’re delicious!) Most bars in the US use a mix for pina coladas, and I recommend that you do, too. All you’ll need to do is add ice and rum (to taste) to the mix, blend it up, put it in a glass, and enjoy! You’ll feel like you’re on a tropical vacation even if you’re only in your own backyard!
Strawberry Daiquiris. Another huge hit, the strawberry daiquiri is much like the pina colada, but features strawberries instead of coconut and pineapple. Again, it’s easiest to use a mix and add rum- you could even throw a few fresh strawberries into the blender if you want. Make a slit halfway through a strawberry and stick it on the rim of the glass for garnish for a fancy presentation.
Margarita. When making a margarita, first run a lime around the rim of the empty glass, then invert the glass on a saucer of course salt. A margarita uses tequila and triple sec, although some people skip the triple sec. It really doesn’t make a big difference, except that two liquors usually means a drink that’s twice a strong. To keep things easy, use a ready-made margarita mix, blend it or shake it, and pour it in a salted glass.
You don’t have to limit yourself to just one of these summer cocktail ideas. Take your time and go through them all before you decide on a favorite!
