Summer Cocktails

  • Watermelon Jalapeño Slush

    ByDOTW Staff

    My little jalapeño plant has been producing like a champ, so I’ll be sharing a few jalapeño-inspired cocktails. One of my favorite ingredients to mix with jalapeño is watermelon, and this frozen drink is the perfect thing for warm, later-summer afternoons. And this recipe is super easy, so you won’t have to wait long before you’re in sweet and spicy heaven!

    Ingredients
      1 cup watermelon chunks, frozen 2 oz silver tequila 1 jalapeño, sliced 1
    … Read more

  • Labor Day Lemonade

    Ingredients:
    1 1/4 oz Ketel One Vodka
    1/4 oz Green Chartreuse
    3/4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
    3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
    Dash of grapefruit bitters

    Directions:
    Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

    Courtesy of Ketel One Vodka.… Read more

  • Strawberry Tarragon Cocktail

    Basil and mint are usually my go-to cocktail herbs. Occasionally, I’ll get a little creative with the rosemary. But tarragon is an herb I hadn’t mixed with until recently. And the results were fantastic!

    I was at a dinner party and it was cocktail time. Someone suggested mixing tarragon with the garden-fresh strawberries we had available, and a new, delicious cocktail was born.

     … Read more

  • Low-Calorie H2O Cocktails

    ByDOTW Staff

    The idea behind H2O cocktails is simple: Infuse water with fruit, spices and herbs and mix that infusion with a complimentary spirit. What you get is a light, fresh and low-calorie cocktail. I learned about this intriguing cocktail concept at Tales of the Cocktail from mixology master Tony Abou-Ganim and culinary superstar Kathy Casey. Here’s my favorite concoction from their presentation.

    Mandarin Hibiscus Cocktail

    Created by Tony Abou-Ganim

    Ingredients
      1 oz Purity Vodka
    … Read more

  • Plum Smash

    This week’s drink is my favorite of this summer! Juicy, dark-red plums combine with thyme and bourbon to make a surprisingly complex cocktail. The vanilla notes of the bourbon underscore the tart and sweet flavors to make for a refreshing and fresh tasting drink.… Read more

  • Elderflower Sipper

    Hot summer days call for cool cocktails! This one is light, bubbly and low-octane.

    St. Germain elderflower liqueur has a delicate floral flavor that, when combined with crisp club soda and a little lemon, is perfect for sipping in the sun. For those who want a little more kick, add some gin or vodka to this drink. There’s elderflower syrup out there as a non-alcoholic option as well.

    Ingredients:
    1 1/2 oz St. Germain elderflower … Read more

  • Watermelon Mojito

    It’s summer, and the 4th of July is just around the corner. So what you need is a Watermelon Mojito!

    Try one, and I guarantee you’ll still be drinking them after Independence Day is over. It’s a flexible drink so make it as sweet or as strong as you like by adjusting the amount of simple syrup or rum.… Read more

  • Summer Soiree

    Ingredients:
    1 1/2 oz Zacapa 23 Rum
    1/2 oz ginger liqueur
    4 dashes orange bitters
    2 oz orange-guava juice

    Directions:
    Combine Zacapa 23 Rum, ginger liqueur, orange bitters, and orange-guava juice into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Cover and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into a rocks glass.

    Courtesy of Zacapa Rum.… Read more