Summer is here, and we are ready! Here are a few cocktails we’ll be sipping this summer:
Cucumber Cocktails
So refreshing and cooling – we’ll be making lots of cucumber drinks this year. Here are two of our favorites – one is rustic (chunky), and one is not, but both are delicious and versatile. Bonus: you can use our vodka, either of our gins, or our aquavit in either of these recipes and it will be delicious!
Midsommar Magic
2 oz North Shore Aquavit – Private Reserve (or NS Vodka, or Gin 6 or 11)
½ oz Plain Simple
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
2-3 slices English cucumber or fresh garden cuke, quartered
Sprig of Dill (or Basil or Mint or Rosemary)
Muddle the cucumber, dill and simple. Add aquavit and lime, then shake with ice. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass, or into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cucumber slice.
Cucumber Caipiroska
1½ oz North Shore Vodka (or NS Gin 6 or 11, or Aquavit)3 slices of English Cucumber (or fresh garden cucumber), cut into wedges
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
½ oz Plain Simple
Muddle cucumber, lime and simple in a mixing tin. Add vodka, fill shaker halfway with ice, then shake well and pour entire contents of shaker into a rocks glass. Garnish with a fresh slice of cucumber or a ribbon of cucumber inside the glass.
Optional: Add a couple of slices of hot pepper or radish, or a sprig of herbs if desired.
Fresh Berry Cocktails
We also love using fresh berries from our garden or the farmers market in cocktails. Here are a couple of our current favorites:
Roseberry’s Baby
2 oz North Shore Gin No. 6 (or Vodka)
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2-3/4 oz Rosemary Simple (or Mint or Basil or Thyme)
1 large Strawberry, cut up (or 2 medium-sized, or 10 raspberries or 12 blueberries)
Muddle berries with rosemary simple. Add gin and lime, then shake with ice. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or additional berry on rim.
Note: color will vary depending on type of berries used.
Berry Lemon Drop
2 oz Twisted Citrus Vodka
¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
¾ oz Plain Simple
1 Strawberry, Quartered
4-5 Blueberries
Muddle the strawberry, blueberries & simple together. Add lemon juice & Twisted Citrus Vodka, then shake with ice. Fine-strain cocktail into a rocks glass filled with ice, then garnish with a lemon twist.
More Summer Flavors
Love peach, but not waiting for fresh peaches to be perfectly ripe? We’ve got a cocktail for you. And of course, we had to throw in at least one classic tropical drink – here’s one of our favorites. Lots of ingredients, and lots of flavors – intriguingly delicious!
Summer Falcon
2 oz NSD American Single Malt Whisky
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Peach Hibiscus Simple (made with Tiesta Tea’s Peach Party tea)
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
1 oz Egg White (optional)
If using egg white, shake without ice briefly first. Add ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. If using egg white, garnish with a few drops of Peychaud’s bitters on the top, drawn into a pattern. If not, garnish with a lemon twist.
South Seas
1½ oz Third Coast Rum
1/2 oz Sirène Absinthe Verte
1/2 oz Pineapple Liqueur (we’re using Giffard)
1¼ oz Fresh Lime Juice
3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
3/4 oz Coconut Syrup (we’re using Giffard)
Shake ingredients with ice, then pour entire contents of shaker into a hurricane or lantern glass. Garnish with a lime wedge & a cocktail umbrella, and an edible orchid if you have one!
