23 May 2023
If you are a non-alcoholic person, this is not the article for you. Here are some cocktails that are especially nice in the warm weather. They feature tequila, vodka, rum, rye, and gin, separately, of course.
Paloma (Spanish for Dove)
This is a Mexican drink that includes one of the country’s soft drinks, Jarritos brand. If you can’t find grapefruit flavored soft drinks, you can use grapefruit juice but add some club soda or sparkling water for the fizz. Some people like seasoned salt on the rim.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces tequila
- ½ ounce lime juice
- grapefruit soft drink
- lime wheel or wedge for garnish
- salt for glass rim
Directions:
- Coat rim of a highball glass with lime juice; then dip it in a saucer of salt (or sugar)
- Combine tequila and lime juice; add ice
- Top off with grapefruit soft drink
- Garnish with lime wheel or wedge
Cucumber Basil Lime Gimlet
Using cucumber from your own garden makes this even more appealing. Actually, the cuke contains antioxidants, Vitamin K, magnesium, and potassium, so you are drinking healthily.
Ingredients:
- cucumber cut into ¼ inch slices
- 2 small leaves fresh basil
- 1 ½ ounces vodka
- 1 ounce lemonade
- ¼ ounce lime juice
- basil leaf for garnish
- ice
Directions:
- Put cucumber and basil in a shaker and muddle
- Add lemonade, vodka, and lime juice
- Add ice and shake until chilled
- Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice
- Garnish with basil leaf.
Dark ‘n Stormy
This drink was originated just after World War I and came to us via Bermuda. It is just like a Moscow mule, except that it uses rum in lieu of vodka.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces dark run
- 3 ounces ginger beer
- Ice cubes
- Lime for garnish
Directions:
- Fill a highball glass with ice
- Pour in ginger beer
- Add rum
- Garnish with lime wedge on the side of the glass
Ginger Ale Highball
This one is pretty easy to understand. It gets its name from the glass it is served in and the mix. Acceptable variations include your choice of alcohol, although most suggest rye, and the amount of soft drink to dilute it.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces whiskey
- Generous splash of ginger ale or lemon-lime soft drink
Directions:
- Gather the ingredients and fill a highball glass with ice
- Add whiskey
- Splash of ginger ale or soft drink
- Stir gently
Bramble
With all the fresh berries throughout the summer, you can easily substitute whatever is in season, but you might want to consider varying the liquor to enhance the particular fruit. It is a crowd pleaser because of its ombre (gradation of color) from clear at the top to deep purple at the bottom.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- ½ ounce Creme de Mure
- lemon for garnish
- fresh berries for garnish
- mint for garnish, optional
Directions:
- Place gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker
- Shake well until everything is very cold
- Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass
- Trickle Creme de Mure over the top
- Garnish with fresh berries, lemon, and mint
