Summer Drink Ideas

[Juliana]

My mom is visiting this week, and since the weather is supposed to be beautiful, I'd like to have some fun summery drinks to serve while we sit on the deck and talk and just make everything a little festive- when your mom can only visit 1-2 times a year, it is a special occaison!! :D We usually do margaritas, but I was looking for something new.

Anyone have any suggestions or recipes for something fun and fruity?

Thanks so much!

[Katy]

I have two suggestions...

1) I just saw yesterday on Ming (or whatever it's called on Fine Living) that traditionally, they don't do margaritas in Mexico. Instead they drink tequila with Squirt (they make diet) and a splash of lime. Might be fun to try (and super easy and much more low cal :D)

2) sangria. I just love sangria and have been dying to try one of the white sangrias with peaches. Yum.

Hope that helped some...

[amew]

This is one of my family's favorites: Take a can of Minute Maid frozen lemonade concentrate, add vodka to taste (I think we usually add about one lemonade can's worth) and a bunch of ice, and blend it to make frozen spiked lemonade. You can also use the orange juice concentrate to make frozen screwdrivers. So easy and refreshing in the summer. Mojitos are another one of our faves.

[boilermaker]

Also, if you are in the mood for margarita's but looking for something a little different, add some fruit juice. I personally love cranberry margaritas. Raspberry ones are really good too!

[smiles33]

I love lemon drops in a martini glass with a sugared rim in the summer! DH is an expert at making them (fresh squeezed lemons and he also chills the vodka in the freezer beforehand!). But amew's recipe sounds so easy that I could make it and without too much of a difference in taste!

[1MegMeg]

How about homemade (i.e. not from the bottled mix) daiquiris? They aren't that hard to make at all. Just a couple of weeks ago I made some yummy strawberry kiwi daiquiris. :)

Another one of my favorite summer drinks is what I like to call an "adult frappachino". Blend equal parts cold coffee, bailey's, and kahlua (I usually do a 1/2 cup of each for 2 drinks) with ice. Yum!

[ktsb]

We made Mango Martini's this weekend. Real light and summer refreshing and looks good too.

It was concentrated mango juice. (1/2 cup)
Rum (1 shot)
Sweet and Sour. (1 shot)
Fresh squeezed lime. (half a lime)
In a martini glass.

[Missy2U]

This is one of my family's favorites: Take a can of Minute Maid frozen lemonade concentrate, add vodka to taste (I think we usually add about one lemonade can's worth) and a bunch of ice, and blend it to make frozen spiked lemonade. You can also use the orange juice concentrate to make frozen screwdrivers. So easy and refreshing in the summer. Mojitos are another one of our faves.

This sounds SO GOOD - soon as I get my next paycheck, I'm hitting the liquor store!! :D

[Sposa06]

A couple of my favorite summertime drinks:

Key Lime Martini
2 parts vanilla vodka
1 part Rose's lime juice
1 part half-and-half

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and then strain it into a chilled cocktail glass. SO good!

Jamaican Screw
Equal parts Malibu rum and orange juice, served on the rocks

A great variation on the screwdriver!

Electric Smurf
1 part Malibu rum
1 part Blue Curacao
2 parts pineapple juice
2 parts Sprite

Pour the pineapple juice and sprite into a hurricane glass with ice, then top with the Malibu and Blue Curacao.

Tastes great, and I drop a couple maraschino cherries in sometimes, too!

[mom_to_zoe]

I like Kirs. A splash of Cassis liquer with white wine in a glass. Very refreshing and no work. Also, I've gotten kind of into beer drinks lately, like a lager with lime (a shot of Rose's Lime Juice and a lager) or a snakebite (half lager, half hard cider).

[hockeybrat]

Does anybody have a recipe for Sangria (with red wine)?

[princesse]

OK I see the wine, I see the beer....does anyone else love the other stuff? I had a party last weekend and I swear the "other" category was what people were interested in. What do you like to drink other than wine and beer? My current fave is the TGIFriday's ready to drink Pina Colada. It is SO good! Not too sweet but not too weak either.

[princesse]

Other favorites:
Smirnoff Ice
MOJITO's!!!!!!!!

[andrew&shannah]

Vodka and Diet Coke
Sangria (YUMMY in the summer!)
cosmos

[ignutzz]

Cuba Libres (rum, coke/pepsi, lemon/lime)
Pink Elephant Ears (vodka, pink lemonade, lime slices)
Margarita (this is year round and at least once a month, usually more)
Pomagranitas (margarita with Pom juice instead of simple syrup)
Pom cosmos

[Adaya]

I like a lot of the ones already posted. But here are 2 of my favs:

Goombay Smash:

Ingredients:
1 oz Light rum
1 oz Dark rum
1 oz Coconut rum
4 oz Pineapple juice

Mixing instructions:
fill tall glass with ice, add all ingredients and shake well.

Leg Spreader

Ingredients:
1 oz Light rum
1 oz Dark rum
1 oz Coconut rum
4 oz Pineapple juice

Mixing instructions:
fill tall glass with ice, add all ingredients and shake well.

[sublime311]

I love the "other" category, too!

Vodka Collins (my old standby)
Malibu and pineapple juice
Bahama Mamas
Pina Coladas (I'll have to try the TGIF brand)
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Martini

Pineapple seems to be my flavor of choice!

[Jennifer]

While I drink a lot of wine (and love a POMBelini in the summer)...I've got some other favorites too!

Frozen cosmos
margaritas (especially peach!)
Angel's kisses (coconut rum, cranberry and pineapple juices).

Mmmm...fruity drinks by the pool/beach/lake in the sun sounds like heaven! :-)

[TaterBaby]

Oh, I need to get out of here. This pregnant lady's mouth is watering!

[tenofcups]

We tend towards frozen strawberry dacquiris in the summer (and sometimes in the winter too!). We just buy a mix at the supermarket (not sure of the brand) and add in the vokda and ice.

I've definitely been in a mojito mood this past year or so too. And I can always appreciate a good pina colada (I like the mix that comes in the can, but I can't remember that name either!).

In our house, we call them "frou frou" drinks :) and it always amuses me that DH, who usually prefers beer or good Scotch, is the first to suggest one.

[moderngal]

We just bought (and drank) some of the margarita mixes from Williams- Sonoma. The passion fruit one is my fave, but I like them all. ;)

Other than margaritas, our summer drink of choice is mojitos!!

[Amuse Bouche]

Gin and Tonics, Margaritas, Mojitos are pretty standard. I also like a good Pimms Cup, or a Juniper Breeze.

Juniper Breeze
1 1/2 oz Plymouth Gin
1/2 oz Belvoir Elderflower Cordial
1 1/2 oz Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 oz Cranberry
splash fresh lime juice
Build over ice in a double rocks glass, roll.
garnish with a slice of starfruit when in season, otherwise, an orange twist

Story: Julie Reiner of the Flatiron Lounge in NYC (37 West 19th Street) recently created this very popular cocktail.

[princesse]

By far the best mojitos I have ever had are at the Cheesecake factory. I am forever tainted by their wonderfulness and have not come close to their savory goodness. What are your fave recipes?

By the by I am still LOL at the Leg Spreader drink and am going to make it just for the name!!!!!:eek:

[KarenS]

Frozen whiskey sours
Mojitos
Margaritas (I have a killer recipe for margaritas that a friend gave me - labor intensive, but the best you'll ever taste)

Karen

[Brady]

Margaritas (I have a killer recipe for margaritas that a friend gave me - labor intensive, but the best you'll ever taste)

Karen

Oh- please share!! I am obsessed with margaritas when the temp hits over 70° :p

My favorite pina colada recipe is made with coco lopez.. soo good.

-add 3/4 full ice to the blender
- 4 oz coco lopez
-4 oz rum
- 4 oz pineapple juice.

Blend and Liquify- SO GOOD.

[katmg]

I haven't had one in years but if anyone has ever been to Trudy's in Austin, they have the best Mexican Martinis...and I just happen to have the recipe. :D

Trudy's Mexican Martini
1 1/2 oz. GOOD tequila
1 1/2 oz. grand marnier
1 oz. Rose's lime juice
1 oz. fresh orange juice
1 oz. sweet and sour mix

Garnish with lime wedges and olives.

Drink one for me this summer - I can't have any being pg. :D

[KarenS]

Ok, here's the recipe. Don't say I didn't warn you. :D However, this is the party version and you can use as many limes and lemons as you want, depending on the size of your party.

50 limes
50 lemons
~ 1 cup sugar (to taste)
tequila
triple sec
ice

Zest the limes and lemons and reserve the zest. Juice the limes and lemons (you should come up with ~6 cups of each kind of juice). Mix together the zests and the juices and refrigerate overnight. The next day, strain the juice, pressing the zest to get all the flavor out. You can throw away the zest. Add sugar to the juice to sweeten to taste. I like very tart margaritas, so I add a little less than a cup. Some people like them sweeter. This is your margarita mixer and what you use to make the individual drinks (or a pitcher at a time).

Measure out equal parts of the juice mix, tequila, triple sec, and ice and mix in a glass (or pitcher). No garnish required, but you can buy an extra lime to slice for decoration. :)

If you want a slushier margarita, mix a pitcher including the alcohol and ice and put in the freezer for a couple of hours.

ETA, the juice will keep in the fridge in a covered container for a couple of weeks.

Karen

[Adaya]

By far the best mojitos I have ever had are at the Cheesecake factory. I am forever tainted by their wonderfulness and have not come close to their savory goodness. What are your fave recipes?

By the by I am still LOL at the Leg Spreader drink and am going to make it just for the name!!!!!:eek:

I guess I've gotta try the mojitos at Cheesecake Factory....your rave reviews make me wanna go there now!!

And the Leg Spreaders are divine. But be careful...one too many may get you in trouble. Hint Hint. ;)

[moderngal]

actually I think the mojitos at Cheesecake Factory are really too sweet. I think they use Sprite, which IMO is no good.

My fave recipe for a mojito:
2 ounces simple syrup
1/2 lime
10 fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup fresh ice
splash of bitters
1 1/2 ounce Rum
2 ounces club soda
1 sprig of mint for garnish
1 lime wedge for garnish

Juice the 1/2 lime into a tall glass. Cut the remain lime into quarters and add them to the glass. Stir and blend the mint leaves with the lime and syrup (or sugar) crushing the leaves to extract their flavor. Add the crushed itce, rum, and club soda and stir well to blend. Garnish with the lime wedge and mint sprig.

[am_81]

I am queen of the mixed drinks. I dont drink beer and only recently started drinking wine (but red only), so I spent many years only drinking liquor.

Vodka tonics are my old standby, never can go wrong with one of those. Also frequently mixed is Parrots Bay (coconut rum) with pineapple juice. I lovelovelove pina coladas and blue hawaians (sp?); when we go on vacation, thats practically all I drink. Honestly though, depending on what kind of mood I'm in, I'll drink anything from a whiskey sour to a margarita to a Smirnoff Twist. Recently I've gotten into martinis and cant get enough the sour apple or raspberry ones.

No no no . . . . I'm not a lush, where'd you get that idea? :p

[Adaya]

Had a cosmo at dinner tonight in honor of this thread...:D

[mili04]

My absolute favorite mixed drink is a Sea Breeze. It's made of vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice. Yummy!

[Nanner]

For summertime, definitely Sangria. Not a "mixed drink," per se, since it's made from wine, but I love it.

But my favorite all-around mixed drink is a Moscow Mule.

Moscow Mule

Fill a lowball glass with ice. Add:

1 shot vodka
1/2 oz. lime juice (about a quarter of a large lime)
4 oz. ginger ale

SO good and fresh tasting. Not too sweet!

[Rosebud]

I fell in love with the Lava Flow in Hawaii. They are so yummy, fruity and delicious. They're sort of like a mix of a strawberry margarita and a pina colada.

http://www.waimeabrewing.com/images/menu/menu-drink-lava-flow.jpg

Lava Flow

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz. light rum
1 oz. Malibu® coconut rum
2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries
1 small banana
2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
2 oz. coconut cream

PREPARATION:

Blend the 2 rums and the strawberries in a blender to form a smooth paste. Pour this mixture into a tall (Collins or Hurricane) glass. Rinse the blender. Blend the banana, the coconut cream, and the pineapple juice in blender with crushed ice until smooth. Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums very slowly and watch as the strawberry mixture oozes its way to the top along the sides of the glass creating the flowing lava effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella.

[katmg]

For summertime, definitely Sangria. Not a "mixed drink," per se, since it's made from wine, but I love it.

- You should go to Otila's on Longpoint at Wirt(?). They have awesome Sangria and great interior-Mexico Mexican food. I don't even like Sangria and I think their's is good stuff!

[princesse]

It is not even noon yet and it is rainy and chilly. But this post is making me want to go mix something up. Is that a bad sign?????

[SpanishRose]

Rosebud....that drink looks yummy. I will definitely have to make.

[jennylou]

Like, rosebud I love lava flows. Yummy.

[Nanner]

- You should go to Otila's on Longpoint at Wirt(?). They have awesome Sangria and great interior-Mexico Mexican food. I don't even like Sangria and I think their's is good stuff!

I've heard that is a great restaurant, but have never been. Now I have more of a reason to visit! Thanks for the info!

[ladyjusticemoni]

My best friend made me a Venetian Sunset last week. It's comprised of champagne, orange juice (or berry juice) and grenadine (which you can buy at BEVMO or any liquor store). YUMMY!! Also, the kerns Guava juice with champagne is super duper good!! I call it a guava mimosa!!

[berry]

bumping this up

I'm having folks over for the 4th. I'd like to make virgin strawberry daiquiris that I can add a shot too (for those who are drinking). Anyone have a good recipe for this summer drink?

Thanks in advance!

[bookworm]

I used to buy the Bacardi mix from the freezer section (with "frozen orange juice")...not a recipe, but they were pre-slushed ;).

[Rosebud]

Summer always makes me think of mojitos!

Mojito

Ice
6 ounces light rum
12 mint sprigs, or spearmint, 8 roughly broken apart
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 tablespoons sugar
Club soda
4 slices lime

Place ice in beverage shaker then add in the rum, 8 broken up mint sprigs, lime juice and sugar. Shake well and serve over ice in a high ball glass. Top off each glass with a splash of club soda.

Garnish each with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k284/rosebud03_2006/Misc/mojito.jpg

[snowzilla]

Virgin Strawberry Daquiris....

INGREDIENTS

* 2 large strawberries, hulled
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 3/4 cup chilled lemon-lime soda
* 4 cubes ice

In the container of a blender, combine the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and lemon-lime soda. Add the ice and blend until smooth.

Although, personally, I'd add rum. ;)

[katmg]

For a cheater-mojito that still tastes darn good, buy Bacardi's frozen mojito mix, stir together with rum and club soda. Add mint leaves if you want people to think you made them yourself. ;)

[1MegMeg]

Summer for me equals Caipirinhas Mmm! It is a very popular Brazlian drink.... like a mojito without the mint (I also love mojitos).

1⅔ fl oz Cachaça or Rum
½ Fresh Lime cut into 4 wedges
2 teaspoons sugar

Preparation: Place lime and sugar into old fashioned glass and muddle (mash the two ingredients together using a muddler or a wooden spoon). Fill the glass with crushed ice and add the Cachaça or Rum.

[Rosebud]

Blue Hawaiian

1 oz light rum
1 cherry
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1 oz cream of coconut
1 slice pineapple

Blend light rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut with one cup ice in an electric blender at high speed. Pour contents into a highball glass. Decorate with the slice of pineapple and a cherry.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k284/rosebud03_2006/Misc/bluehawaiian.jpg

[Adaya]

Summer for me equals Caipirinhas Mmm! It is a very popular Brazlian drink.... like a mojito without the mint (I also love mojitos).

1⅔ fl oz Cachaça or Rum
½ Fresh Lime cut into 4 wedges
2 teaspoons sugar

Preparation: Place lime and sugar into old fashioned glass and muddle (mash the two ingredients together using a muddler or a wooden spoon). Fill the glass with crushed ice and add the Cachaça or Rum.

Thanks for sharing that recipe. I'll be trying it real soon.

[Rosebud]

Some yummy, non-alcoholic iced tea recipes:

Mint n' Lime Iced Tea

A rejuvenating drink for your mind, body, and soul. Serves 4.

4 teaspoons of bold black tea
4 cups of fresh water
1 3/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lime juice

Bring water almost to a boil. Mix tea leaves, mint and sugar in hot water, and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the tea leaves and mint leaves. Chill and add lime juice before serving.

Peachy Green Iced Tea

A yummy cold drink for a picnic in the park. Serves 6.

6 teaspoons of green tea
6 cups of cold water
2 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
Maple syrup or honey to sweeten (optional)

Place the tea leaves in a large teapot or a pitcher. Put the sliced peaches in a saucepan, add the 6 cups of cold water, and heat until almost boiling. Pour the hot water and peaches over the tea leaves. Steep for about 5 or 6 minutes, and add sweetener if needed (maple syrup or honey are recommended). Allow the tea to cool, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Include a few peach slices in each glass and serve with a spoon, garnished with a sprig of mint, if you like.

Apple Honey Iced Tea

A healthy sweet treat even the kids will love. Serves 4.

4 teaspoons of mild tea
1/3 cup of honey
4 cups of fresh water
3 cups of apple juice

Bring water almost to a boil. Steep tea leaves in hot water for 5 minutes. Strain out tea leaves, and stir in honey and apple juice. Mix until all the honey is completely dissolved. Chill and serve over ice.

[Standrea]

OOOh...Thanks for the blue hawaiin recipe Rosebud!
I think I'll make those for girls night on friday!!

[Standrea]

I just had this the other day and it was amazing!

Grape Martini (ala Ruby Tuesdays)

Ciroc vodka
white grape juice
frozen grapes