Summer is finally here, and if the weather reports are to be believed, we’re finally heading for a heatwave! And what better way to enjoy the sunshine than with a delicious cocktail?
Five perfect cocktail recipes that are perfect for a hot summer’s day. From Passionfruit Margarita’s to Cacao Negroni’s, if you’re looking to impress the guests at your summer BBQs this year, you need to try out these recipes.
Passionfruit Margarita
This passion fruit margarita puts an aromatically fruity, yet sophisticated, twist on the classic cocktail. It’s easy to make using fresh fruit and is perfect served over ice on a warm day.
Ingredients:
- Martini Glass
- 22.5ml Simple Syrup
- 45ml Passionfruit Puree
- 60ml Tequila
- 22.5ml Cointreau (or Triple Sec)
- 22.5ml Lime Juice
- Plenty of Ice
- 1 Slice of lime for garnish
- Sea salt flakes for the rim of the glass
Instructions:
- To make a simple syrup, add equal parts of sugar and water to a pan on a medium heat. Stir frequently until the sugar is completely dissolved and remove it from the heat. Allow to cool completely before use.
- Add the passionfruit puree to a blender or food processor with the tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and simple syrup. Add 8-10 ice cubes and blend until smooth.
- Cut a slice of lime and press it into the rim of a martini glass. Run the lime all the way around the rim, squeezing gently. Once the whole rim is rubbed with lime juice, save the slice of lime to use as a garnish.
- Turn your glass over and dip the lime juice rim into a shallow dish of sea salt flakes.
- Pour your blended mixture into the salt-rimmed glass, garnish with a slice of lime and serve.
Pomegranate Mojito
This the perfect alternative to a classic mojito and the tasty twist of pomegranate makes it an amazing refreshment on a hot summers’ day. Make sure to serve it with lots of ice for that extra cooling sensation.
Ingredients
- Highball Glass
- 10-12 Fresh Mint Leaves
- 1 tbsp Caster Sugar
- 30ml Lime Juice
- 45ml White Rum
- 45ml Pomegranate Juice
- Plenty of Ice
- Pomegranate seeds for garnish
- Dash of Soda Water
Instructions
- Muddle the mint leaves with sugar in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
- Add the lime juice, rum, and pomegranate juice to the shaker. Half fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Using a cocktail strainer (Hawthorn strainer), pour into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with a few pomegranate seeds.
- Add a dash of soda water and serve.
Cacao Negroni
If you’re looking for something extra unique to try, this Cacao Negroni is the one for you. Whilst containing only a limited amount of ingredients, this cocktail is guaranteed to impress your guests with its amazing taste, beautiful garnishes and attractive colouring.
Ingredients
- Old Fashioned Glass
- 30ml Cacao Infused Gin
- 30ml Campari
- 30ml Sweet Vermouth
- Plenty of Ice
- Orange Peel for garnish
Instructions
- To infuse your gin, add 1 tbsp of cacao nibs to a mason jar with 250ml of gin. Set aside and allow to infuse for 12-24 hours and then strain through a fine sieve or muslin cloth and discard the cacao nibs. Store in an airtight container or bottle.
- Add your Campari, sweet vermouth, and cacao infused gin to a mixing glass with 8-10 ice cubes.
- Mix with a bar spoon for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
- Fill an old fashioned glass with ice and pour your stirred negroni over the top.
- Peel a 3 inch strip of orange zest with a potato peeler and twist it over the glass to release the oils in the skin.
- Garnish with the orange peel and serve.
Mango Julep
What better way is there to quench your thirst than with a Mango based cocktail? Following just four simple steps, you will be left feeling both satisfied and summery.
Ingredients
- Coupe Glass
- 8-10 Fresh Mint Leaves
- Half a Mango Cubed
- 1 tbsp Caster Sugar
- 60ml Kentucky Bourbon
- 4 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 25ml Lime Juice
- Plenty of Ice
- Dash of Soda Water
- Fresh Mint Leaves to garnish
- Lime Slice to garnish
Instructions
- In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the cubes of mango and the sugar until the mango forms a puree.
- Add the Kentucky bourbon, Angostura bitters, and lime juice with 8-10 ice cubes and shake vigorously for 45 seconds.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a coupe glass and top up your glass with a dash of soda water.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of lime. Serve.
Raspberry Mule
From raspberries to ginger, this eclectic cocktail is perfect for an enjoyable day in the sun. Consider using a copper mug and practicing your garnish skills to make the most out of this beautiful looking beverage.
Ingredients
- Copper Mug
- 10-12 Fresh Raspberries
- 2 inch Piece of Ginger
- 60ml Vodka
- 15ml Lemon Juice
- 10ml Honey
- Plenty of Ice
- Ginger Ale to top
- Sprig of Basil to garnish
Instructions
- Muddle the raspberries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
- Using a potato peeler, peel off a couple of fine slices of ginger.
- Add the vodka, lemon juice, and honey to the shaker with 8-10 ice cubes.
- Shake vigorously for 20 seconds, and then stain through a fine mesh sieve into a copper mug filled with ice.
- Top up the glass with ginger ale, and garnish with a sprig of basil and your thin slices of ginger. Serve.