Yummy Summer Cocktails!

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, full of barbecues, beaches and bathing suits! And what's a summer party or BBQ without some yummy cocktails?These are my top four summer cocktails - they are classic yet yummy. Remember to make the right visual impact by serving them in the appropriate glasses and with the right garnishes :-)

• Mojito This recipe serves 1 and the recommended serving glass is a tall, skinny glass.
• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) fresh lime juice
• 2 heaping teaspoons superfine sugar
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 12 fresh mint leaves, plus 5 small sprigs for garnish
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) white rum
• 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) club soda

In 10-ounce glass (such as Collins or highball), stir together lime juice and sugar until sugar dissolves. Add 1/4 cup crushed ice. Rub mint leaves over rim of glass, then tear leaves in half and add to glass. Gently stir for 15 seconds, then add rum, remaining crushed ice, and club soda. Gently stir for 5 seconds, then tuck mint sprigs into top of glass and insert tall straw.

 

White Wine Sangria 

This recipe serves 8 and the recommended serving glass is a lowball or a white wine glass. 

2 bottles of crisp white wine - sauvignon blanc or White Rioja2 ripe local peaches, sliced1 pint raspberries1 Lime sliced

1 Lemon sliced

1 Green Apples, sliced and seeded

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 shots Calvados or other apple liquor
• several sprigs of mint

Combine sugar, Calvados, lime, lemon, peaches and apples in a large pitcher. Cover with 1 bottle of Rioja wine and chill sangria several hours. To serve, spoon fruits into glasses or goblets, adding a few fresh raspberries in each glass, pour wine over top of the fruit. Top glasses of sangria off with a splash of soda water and serve.

In the summertime, it’s also nice to freeze half of the fruit and add right before serving so they act as ice cubes in the Sangria.

Bloody Mary 

This recipe serves 1 and the recommended serving glass is a highball.

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka3 ounces tomato juice1 lemon, juice of1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce3 drops Tabasco saucePepperSalt1/4 teaspoon celery salt1/2 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional)Lime or lemon wedges (optional) or celery (optional) or green onions (optional) or pickled green bean, to garnish (optional)

• Rub lemon or lime around rim of glass and then put the rim in margarita salt, if desired.
• Add ice to glass.
• Mix Vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, salt, Pepper, celery salt and horseradish (if using) and pour in glass.
• Garnish with lemon or lime wedge, celery stalk, green onion or pickled green bean.

Kir/Kir Royale 

This recipe serves 1 and the recommended glass is a champagne flute.

When Creme de Cassis is added to white wine, it's named Kir; when added to sparkling wine, it's Kir Royale. Both are appetite-stimulating and festive before meal drinks.

 

Chardonnay Wine/Champagne

Creme de Cassis

Raspberries/Blackberries for garnish

 

Pour a glass of your favorite chardonnay/champagne and add a 1/4 tsp of Creme de Cassis. Stir. And enjoy!