HOW TO MAKE OUR FAVORITE SUMMER COCKTAILS
Inspired by refreshing cocktails for the season, the editors at SLHLifestyle share their favorite recipes for pouring the perfect summer cocktail when entertaining.
WATERMELON-GRAPEFRUIT PALOMAS
Ingredients
3 oz silver tequila | 2 teaspoons agave nectar | 1 cup watermelon juice | ¼ cup grapefruit juice | 1 tablespoon lime juice | 1/2 cup cubed watermelon | Club soda as desired | Garnish/mint sprig, watermelon wedge
How to
Using a shaker, combined silver tequila, grapefruit juice, watermelon, and agave. Mash the watermelon with a muddler along with the rest of the ingredients, add ice, and shake. Strain and pour the mixture over ice. Top with club soda and a garnish of mint or watermelon. For a mocktail: eliminate the tequila.
GINGER-MINT LEMONADE
Ingredients
2 ounces gin or citrus vodka | ¾ ounce ginger syrup | ¾ ounce lemon juice | 1 ½ ounces water | 8 mint leaves | Garnish/mint sprig
How to
Using a shaker, muddle mint leaves with ginger syrup, add vodka or gin, lemon juice, water, and ice shake until chilled. Fill your Collins glass with ice and strain. Top it off with a garnish of mint sprig. For a mocktail: eliminate the gin or vodka.
GINGER SYRUP
Ingredients
½ cup ginger juice | 1 cup superfine sugar
How to
Using a saucepan, heat the juice over low heat until warm. Add the sugar and blend with a whisk. Let the mixture cool and then transfer into a glass container with a lid and refrigerate.
CUCUMBER-INFUSED TOM COLLINS
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz vodka of choice or cucumber infusion | 3 cucumber slices | ¼ oz lemon juice | 1/2 oz of simple syrup | 4 oz soda water | Garnish/mint sprig
How to
Using a shaker, muddle cucumber slices. Add vodka or cumber infusion, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice shake until chilled and pour into a Collins glass. Top it off with a garnish of mint sprig, lemon, or cucumber slice. For a mocktail: eliminate the gin or vodka.
CUCUMBER INFUSION
Ingredients
1 cucumber, peeled & sliced | 750 ml vodka of choice
How to
Start by prepping the cucumber, peel, and slice taking care to remove the seeds. Then add the cucumber into a glass container and fill it with vodka. Let the infusion sit for 1 to 2 days. Strain when the infusion when it reaches the desired flavor. The infusion is best over ice or mixed with sparkling water or freshly squeezed lemonade.
