Summer Cocktail Fun, Pt. 1

I still drink plenty of bourbon, beer and wine in the summertime, but I like to mix it up too. I just got a motorized citrus juicer and I’ve been giving it a workout making light, refreshing drinks for my friends and myself. Here are some of this summer’s most popular.

 

 

Cape Codder

1 1/2 oz vodka (fruit flavored is ok if you’re into that sort of thing)

1/2 oz lime juice (fresh squeezed is best)

4 oz cranberry juice cocktail

2-4 dashes orange bitters (or to taste)

Add ingredients  into an ice-filled rocks or highball glass and stir thoroughly.

Lazy’s Man’s Tequila Sunrise

1-1 1/2 oz Silver/Blanco Tequila (1800 Silver, 100 proof)

4 oz Orange juice (fresh squeezed is best)

1 oz Pomegranate Juice

2-4 dashes orange bitters (or to taste)

Add ingredients  into an ice-filled rocks or highball glass and stir thoroughly.

Old Fashioned

1 tsp sugar syrup

4-6 dashes Angostura bitters

1 1/2 oz Whiskey (Bourbon,rye, Canadian, or in Wisconsin, brandy)

club soda

Pour the syrup into a rocks glass. Add the bitters and stir until the bitters are dissolved. Add the whiskey and stir. Fill the glass with ice. Top off with club soda to taste. Garnish with a cherry.

Gin & Tonic

Really? You need me to spell this out for you?

Tom Collins

1 1/2 oz gin

1 1/2 oz lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best)

1 tsp sugar syrup

Club soda

Pour the gin & lemon juice into an empty highball glass. Stir to combine. Fill the glass with ice. Fill with club soda to taste. Stir lightly. Garnish with a cherry and/or an orange slice. Ingredients can also be shaken together in a cocktail shaker over ice, then poured into an ice-filled highball glass, topped off with club soda and stirred.

Mojito

Leaves from 1-2 sprigs spearmint

1 tsp granulated sugar

1/2 oz lime juice (fresh squeezed is best)

1 1/2 White rum

Club soda

Place the mint leaves into an empty rocks glass. Pour the sugar in on top of them and muddle until a pasty mush is formed. Add lime juice and stir to dissolve sugar. Add rum and stir. Fill glass with ice and stir. Top off with club soda to taste. Garnish with another mint sprig (also works as a stirrer).

Mint Julep

Leaves from 1-2 sprigs spearmint

1 tsp granulated sugar

2-4 oz bourbon (I recommend Buffalo Trace or Old Forester)

Crushed ice

Place the mint leaves into mixing  glass. Pour the sugar in on top of them and muddle until a pasty mush is formed. Add bourbon and stir to dissolve sugar. Pour into stainless steel or silver julep cup (or rocks glass) filled with crushed ice. Stir vigorously. Garnish with a mint sprig and drink promptly.

Negroni

1 1/2 oz Gin (I prefer Ransom Old Tom for this)

1 1/2 oz Campari

1 1/2 oz Red/Sweet Vermouth (Cinzano or Dolin work well)

1-2 dashes orange or lemon bitters (optional)

Pour ingredients into a mixing glass or shaker filled with ice. Stir or shake to combine. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass.