This post has nothing to do with lint licking, I swear.
Ok, happy Friday guys! I am happily relaxing/cleaning at home with little bear and brain storming about drinks to serve at this summers get togethers. I like to have a specialty drink when we got a lot of people together. The main reason is because it's usually less expensive to have one specialty drink, and one type of beer than to get mixers, wine, liquor, this kind of beer for people on a diet, and this kind of beer, and whathaveyou. Plus it simplifies my lists and I feel more organized. So here are the top eight specialty drinks I will be making this summer (recipes included).
Top 8 Summertime Specialty Drinks
Ingredients- Yields 1
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) citrus-flavored vodka
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) raspberry-flavored vodka
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Chambord
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon Simple Syrup Simple Syrup
- 2 tablespoons cranberry juice
- Raspberries, for garnish
Directions
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add vodkas, Chambord, lime juice, simple syrup, and cranberry juice. Shake or stir until well chilled. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with raspberries; serve.
Ingredients- Yields 1
- Ice cubes
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) pear vodka
- 3/4 ounce (4 1/2 teaspoons) Lemon Verbena Simple Syrup
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice
- Champagne, for topping off (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 fresh lemon verbena leaf, for garnish
Directions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, syrup, and lemon juice. Shake, and then strain into a glass. Top off with Champagne. Garnish with lemon verbena.
Ingredients- Yields 8
- 1 1/2 pints fresh raspberries (about 4 cups)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
- 6 large sprigs (about 2 ounces) fresh mint, basil, or both, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 cup vodka
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 bottle (750 mL) Prosecco or Lambrusco
Directions
- Reserve 16 berries. Mash the remaining berries, the sugar, and herbs in a large glass bowl. Stir in vodka, lemon juice, and Prosecco. Pour mixture through a sieve into a pitcher, pressing through; discard solids. Serve over ice. Squeeze 2 berries into each drink. Garnish with herb sprigs.
Ingredients- Yields 6
- Small ice cubes
- 3 cups cola
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark rum
- 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 orange wedges or 4 sliced kumquats
Directions
- For each drink, fill a glass 3/4 full with ice. Add 1/2 cup cola, 3 tablespoons rum, and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla. Squeeze orange or kumquats into drink, and stir.
Ingredients- Yields 4
- 2 cups fresh or canned pineapple juice
- 3/4 cup cream of coconut, such as Coco Lopez
- 1 cup light rum
- 3 cups crushed ice
- 4 fresh pineapple spears, for garnish
Directions
- Combine all ingredients except garnish in a blender. Pour into tumblers, garnish with pineapple spears, and serve immediately
**Personal FAVORITE**Ingredients- Yields one
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 3/4 ounce white rum
- 3/4 ounce vodka
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce blue Curacao
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Cherry and a pineapple wedge (for serving)
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine pineapple juice, rum, vodka, lemon juice, blue Curacao, and simple syrup. Shake and strain over ice. Serve with a cherry and a pineapple wedge
Ingredients- Yields 2
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, plus 2 tablespoons for glasses (about 5 limes)
- 3/4 cup Coco Lopez or cream of coconut
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons tequila
- 1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss coconut with the salt. Spread on sheet; toast in oven, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then crush with your hands until crumbly.
Ingredients- Yields 1
- 1/2 lime juiced, rind reserved, plus wedge for garnish
- 2 teaspoons turbinado (raw cane) sugar
- 1/4 cup cachaca
Directions
- Place lime rind in a heavy 12-ounce rocks glass; sprinkle with sugar. Add lime juice and cachaca; let stand 5 minutes. Fill glass with ice and stir until well combined. Garnish with a lime wedge; serve immediately.
