Summer Week! Summer Cocktails

I thought I'd top of Summer Week with a nice refreshing cocktail, or two. I wanted to include some old faves as well as some new additions. I think I've got a drink for the main liquors, so there should be something for everyone. Enjoy! Click the links to see the sources & recipes.

Planter's Punch

• 3 ounces dark rum
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce grenadine
• 1/4 teaspoon superfine sugar

Directions:

Stir well with cracked ice, then strain into a Collins glass full of cracked ice.

Whiskey Peach Spiked Iced tea

• 1 quart cold water
• 6 black tea bags
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 cups peach nectar
• Your favorite whiskey
• Fresh peach slices, for garnish
• Mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions:

Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan; remove from the heat, add tea bags, and let steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in sugar until dissolved. Transfer to a pitcher, add peach nectar, and stir to combine. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Fill tall glasses with ice and then pour peach tea over, leaving some room at the top for the whiskey. Stir in 1 shot of whiskey to each glass and garnish with a peach slice and fresh mint sprig.

Watermelon Margarita

4 cups cubed watermelon

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 limes, 2 juiced and 1 cut into wedges for garnish
• 8 ounces tequila
• 5 ounces Triple Sec, divided
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt (optional, for rim)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional, for rim)

Directions:

In a blender, puree the watermelon and sugar until smooth. Pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer. Transfer the liquid to a pitcher and add the lime juice, tequila and 4 ounces of the Triple Sec. Stir to combine.

In a shallow dish, combine the kosher salt with the chili powder. In a second small plate, add the remaining 1-ounce of Triple Sec. Dip the rims of 4 margarita glasses in the Triple Sec, then coat them in the salt and chili mixture. Divide the margarita among the 4 glasses and garnish each with a lime wedge.

Vodka Lemonade

Vodka Lemonade Laced with Basil and Mint
Sugar Syrup

Lemonade:
½ cup vodka (use lemon-flavored vodka if you're feeling extra-lemony)


Cubed ice, for serving
Lemons, mint leaves, for garnish

Directions:

Add vodka and simple syrup to the lemonade. Use a clean wooden spoon to stir and taste – add more vodka or syrup, if needed. Place the pitcher in the fridge and allow to cool for 1 hour.

Serve in tumblers over cubed ice and garnish with a mint leaf and a slice of lemon.

Summer Beer

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 12 fluid ounces water
• 12 fluid ounces vodka
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer

Directions:

Place lemonade concentrate in a gallon pitcher. Measure water and vodka in the 12 ounce lemonade can and add to the pitcher. Pour in the beer, mix well and serve over ice.

PS--Wanna see MORE drinks? CLICK HERE for past drink recipes.