Summer is a thirsty time of year. If you're hanging out by the pool, in the backyard, or (like me) just in your tiny apartment kitchen and it's sweltering hot outside (and, like me, you don't have any air conditioning), there's probably nothing in the world that tastes as good as a cold cocktail. Sure alcohol is actually dehydrating and it'd probably be better all-around to just grab a glass of water. But where's the fun in that? At least with cocktails, even if you don't cool down you can drink enough to forget how annoying it is to be hot.
Having a summer party or inviting that hottie you met on an internet dating site over for drinks? Make 'em something fun and summery and wonderful. Want to try something new? Read on for my favorite summer cocktails, and how to make them
Cocktail 1: The Martini McDreamy
Yes, this cocktail is named for the character in Grey's Anatomy, and yes, it tastes just as good as you imagine he might taste (if your tastes swing that way, that is!). Kind of like a very adult, very strong orange creamsicle. But be careful. You almost can't taste the vodka but there's a lot of it in this drink!
Ingredients:
1 part Cointreau
2 parts Vanilla Vodka
4 parts Orange Juice
Combine in a shaker filled with ice. Mix well. Strain into martini glasses.
Cocktail 2: Perfect-Every-Time Mai Tais
Nothing says summer like a Mai Tai. The recipe below serves about 8, and makes perfect Mai Tais every time. No grenadine or sickly sweet stuff. Just a bit of juice and a lot of alcohol. Watch out!
Ingredients:
3/4 C. light rum
1/4 C. dark rum
1/4 C. orange curaçao
1/4 C. almond flavored syrup or Amaretto
1/4 C. simple syrup
2-1/2 limes, juiced
2 C. freshly squeezed orange juice
In a large pitcher, mix together the rums, orange curaçao, almond syrup or amaretto, simple syrup, and lime. Stir in orange juice. Pour each serving over ice and garnish with a cute little umbrella.
Cocktail 3: Watermelon Daiquiri Recipe
Nothing embodies the taste of summer quite like watermelon. This cocktail is refreshing, sweet, summery, and wonderfully frosty.
Ingredients:
4 C. seeded, cubed watermelon
1 C. light rum
1/4 C. freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 C. Cointreau
1-2 C. ice cubes
Freeze your watermelon cubes in a single layer (a baking dish works well for this) 6 hours, or until completely frozen. Toss your watermelon in a blender along with the rum, lime, and Cointreau. Blend until smooth. Add ice cubes as desired to make about 5 servings.
Cocktail 4: Banana Margaritas
Tequila, banana, and the tang of lime: be careful, these cocktails are utterly addictive. To make for an even prettier presentation, rim the edges of your margarita glasses in coarse sugar. Tastes good that way, too!
Ingredients:
1 1/4 C. tequila
8 oz. frozen limeade concentrate
3/4 C. Cointreau or triple sec
9 C. ice
3 bananas, peeled and halved
In a large blender, blend together the tequila, limeade concentrate, Cointreau, and ice until smooth and free of ice chunks. Add bananas and re-blend. Serve immediately.
Cocktail 5: Refreshing Summer Sangria
I can drink buckets and buckets of this wonderful summery drink. Literally. Then, of course, I tend to pass out on the floor-- this stuff is dangerously strong. Make it a few hours ahead of time to allow the flavors to develop.
Ingredients:
1/2 C. brandy
1/2 C. Cointreau or triple sec
1/3 C. fresh lemon juice
1/3 C. fresh orange juice
1/4-1/3 cup white sugar (to taste)
1 (750 ml) bottle red Spanish wine
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lime, sliced into rounds
2 cinnamon sticks
Club soda (optional)
In the bottom of a large pitcher, combine the brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice, orange juice, and sugar. Stir until sugar is mostly dissolved. Stir in the wine. Add the fruit and cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, at least 2 hours before serving. Some people like to top individual servings off with tonic or club soda, but those people are wimps: I like mine straight.
Enjoy!
