Summer Cocktails

With summer now in full swing, here’s our pick for the perfect cocktails to enjoy during the summer sunshine.
*Ingredients in bold are available at Bartell’s. Stock varies per store location.

Cocktails

White Sangria

1 bottle dry, crisp white wine (try Chateau Ste Michelle Pinot Gris)
1/4 cup E&J Vs Brandy
1/4 cup sugar
Sparkling water (try different flavors from La Croix!)
1/2 medium green apple (cored, skin on, chopped into small pieces)
1 medium ripe peach or nectarine (thinly sliced)
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 medium lime (thinly sliced into rounds)
1 medium lemon (thinly sliced into rounds)

Add lime, lemon, and sugar to a large pitcher and muddle or gently crush with a wooden spoon. Add brandy and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add fruit and wine, stir to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed. For best results, allow to sit in fridge for at least 3 hours for fruit to release flavors. When ready to serve, pour into glasses and top off with sparkling water. Ice optional. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours, though best when enjoyed within the first 1-2 days.

*Modified from https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-traditional-white-sangria/

Citrus Champagne Punch

Grapefruit juice
Nantucket Nectars orange juice
1 Tbsp simple syrup
1 bottle Sparkling Wine or Prosecco (try La Marca or Domaine Ste Michelle Brut)
Grenadine

Pour a splash each of grapefruit juice and orange juice into a champagne glass. Add simple syrup and stir to combine. Top with sparkling wine nearly to the top of the glass. Tilt glass at an angle and drop a small amount of grenadine down the side of the glass to allow for the grenadine to sink to the bottom and create a layered look. (Otherwise, if you want it mixed together, add before the sparkling wine – stirring sparkling wine will reduce the bubbles.)

*Modified from https://pizzazzerie.com/recipes/citrus-champagne-punch/

Chili Mango Margarita

1 ½ oz Jose Cuervo or El Jimador Tequila
1/2 oz Cointreau
1 lime
4-5 oz Mango Juice
1 jalapeño
Tajin (or your favorite chili salt blend for the rim)

Rim a cocktail glass with lime juice and dip in Tajin seasoning, add ice and set aside. In a cocktail shaker, add a few slices of jalapeño (remove seeds for less spice) and muddle slightly. Add in tequila, Cointreau, a squeeze of lime juice, mango juice, and ice – shake vigorously for about 30s. Strain and pour into cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and slice of jalapeño.

*Modified from https://www.freutcake.com/in-the-kitchen/drinks-anyone/spicy-mango-jalapeno-margarita/

Strawberry Basil Smash Cocktail

1 ½ oz Tito’s Vodka
Fresh strawberries, chopped small, save a few big pieces for garnish
1 lime
1 can of Squirt
Fresh basil leaves
Simple syrup (optional – to taste)

Smash strawberries with a fork for a muddled version or put into a blender for a puree. Rim cocktail glasses with sugar (optional). Spoon 1 Tbsp of smashed strawberries into the bottom of glass. Add Vodka to a cocktail shaker with another Tbsp of smashed strawberries, lime juice, simple syrup (if using), and ice. Shake mixer to combine. Pour contents of the cocktail shaker into glass. Top up the glass with cold Squirt soda and garnish with two basil leaves and a sliced strawberry.

*Modified from https://food52.com/recipes/81480-strawberry-basil-smash-cocktail

Traditional Mai Tai

2 oz Bacardi White Rum
1 oz Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
1 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
1/2 cup fresh pineapple juice
1/4 cup Nantucket Nectars orange juice
1 lime
Grenadine
Maraschino cherries
1 orange, sliced into wheels

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the pineapple juice, orange juice, light rum, dark rum, triple sec, lime juice, and grenadine and shake for 20 seconds. Strain drinks into 2 ice-filled glasses and garnish with maraschino cherries and an orange wheel.

*Modified from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/ginas-mai-tai-recipe-1924000

Mermaid Lemonade

1 ½ oz Bacardi White Rum
½ oz Blue Curaçao
Nantucket Nectars Lemonade
1 lemon, sliced into wheels
Maraschino cherries

Fill a cocktail glass half with ice. Add rum and blue curacao to glass. Top with lemonade, then add a few maraschino cherries and a lemon wheel on the edge of the glass. Top with a drink umbrella (because why not!)

*Modified from https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a53044/mermaid-lemonade-recipe/

Blackberry Mojito

1 ½ oz Bacardi White Rum
Fresh blackberries
Fresh mint leaves
1 lime
1 tsp. sugar
La Croix Sparkling Water (try different flavors!)

In a cocktail glass, muddle a handful of blackberries, sugar, and a few sprigs of mint together. Add rum and a squeeze of lime and stir. Fill glass with ice and top with sparkling water. Add a few whole blackberries and 1 or 2 sprigs of mint for garnish.
*Modified from https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a3830/mojito-drink-recipes/

Mocktails

Tropical Sunset Mocktail Nantucket Nectars Orange Juice Dole Pineapple Juice Grenadine 1 orange, sliced into wheels Maraschino cherries Add equal amounts orange juice and pineapple juice to a champagne flute. Gently pour in the grenadine and garnish with a cherry and orange slice. *Modified from https://mindfulmocktail.com/sunrise-mocktail-recipe/

Cherry Pineapple Float 50 mL Dole Pineapple Juice 1 12 oz. can DRY Botanical Bubbly Rainier Cherry(Local!) 1 – 2 scoops Thrifty Vanilla Ice Cream In a tall glass, add pineapple juice and pour in DRY Rainier Cherry sparkling beverage leaving about an inch from the top. Add a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Cheers, everyone!

Check out our favorite summer cocktails for 2021 here!