Deliciously Fresh Summer Cocktails

Summer Cocktails… conjure up sitting by the pool, enjoying the heat of the summer and cooling off with the fresh taste of summer fruits and veggies mixed in a drink.

Think outside the box and travel away from the usual Gin and Tonic. What about a “Smash”? A Smash isn’t really a nicely defined cocktail category, but it generally builds on the Mint Julep structure: herbs, spirits, and sugar muddled together and strained.

Mint is probably the most popular cocktail herb, but other smashes can be made with basil, thyme, sage, etc. Hmmm.. I may have to write a whole series of blog posts just on Smash-es! In the meantime, check out this Raspberry Thyme Smash recipe.

Or how about simply puree-ing fresh tomatoes and Jalapeños for a homemade Bloody Mary. It’s a pleasure to drink these tasty tipples. And, what a bonus that they’re also packed with antioxidants.

And let’s not forget the beloved Mojito! Here’s a quick recipe that will get the party started!

Like a great party, this cool cocktail gets sweeter the longer it lasts

What you’ll need for a refreshing Mojito:
- 2 tsp sugar (white or brown, depending on your preference. Brown tends to work well with darker spirits)
- ½ a fresh lime chopped into quarters
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- Crushed ice (put ice in a tea towel and smash it with a rolling pin)
- 2 measures of rum
- Soda to top

What to do:
First, with a muddler (or handle of a rolling pin) squeeze out the juice of the limes and dissolve the sugar in a Collins glass or a highball. Next, add mint and muddle a little more. Fill the glass with crushed or cracked ice. Add the rum and stir the ingredients to equally distribute flavor. Finally, top with soda and a little more crushed ice to garnish. Source: channel4.com

Please, drink responsibly! Love Summer, don’t you?

Throw your margarita off the deck. Here’s a list of fresh summer cocktails for you to try.
Cranberry Delight
Sangria
Raspberry Thyme Smash
Blueberry Orange Smash

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