Summer Cocktails!

Once the nice weather hits, everyone is looking for something they can enjoy while sitting on their deck/patio/stoop.  Something that helps you beat the heat, that’s light and refreshing, and in my case, something that has a reasonable amount of alcohol so you can sip all day.

This is why drinks like the Pimms Cup and the mojito (via http://intoxicologist.wordpress.com who, by the way, makes great cocktails and has a great site) have become summer staples.  They fit all of the above criteria.  Following the lead of these summertime cocktails, when the warm weather arrives I leave the bourbon on the shelf and reach for the white rums, gins, and silver tequilas.  That’s just how I roll.

So, you ask, what should I drink? Good question.  Let’s dig right in.  Summer cocktail iterations are endless, so I’ll just get you started with two cocktail recipes that you’re certain to enjoy.

Painkiller – A classic summertime/island time cocktail, this drink just screams summer.

2 oz white rum (try Dogfish Head or Rogue rums for a nice alternative to the big guys)

1 oz pineapple juice

1 oz cream of coconut

0.75 oz orange juice (fresh squeezed, please)

I like to shake this drink and then serve it over ice.  Getting the coconut cream to co-mingle with the other ingredients is important.

 

Swiss Mistress – A spin on the classic French 75, a brilliant summertime sparkling cocktail

1 oz gin

0.5 oz St. Germain

0.5 oz lemon juice

3 oz sparkling wine

Shake the gin, St. Germain, and lemon in a stainless shaker. Strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine.  Garnish with a nice, long lemon twist.  In case you haven’t tried St. Germain, it’s a vibrant brandy based elderflower liqueur from France.

Here is another great reference on summer cocktails from liquor.com, a ridiculously wonderful site chock full of everything cocktail related you could ever need.