The Ultimate Summer Sips: Creative Cocktails Using In-Season Fruits and Herbs
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy refreshing cocktails with your friends and family, especially on a hot day. But what could be better than adding a twist of in-season fruits and herbs to your drinks? Not only will these ingredients add flavor to your cocktails, but they will also provide health benefits.
Here are some creative cocktail recipes to try with in-season fruits and herbs:
Watermelon Mojito
What You Need:
- 1/4 lime, cut into small pieces
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- 2-3 small cubes of watermelon
- 1-2 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 oz white rum
- Club soda
Instructions:
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lime, mint leaves, watermelon, and sugar together.
- Add the rum, fill the shaker with ice, and shake well.
- Strain the mixture over ice in a glass.
- Top off with club soda and garnish with a watermelon slice and mint.
Strawberry Basil Margarita
What You Need:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz agave nectar
- 3-4 fresh strawberries
- 2-3 fresh basil leaves
Instructions:
- Combine the tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker.
- Muddle the strawberries and basil leaves together and add them to the shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain the mixture over ice in a salt-rimmed glass.
- Garnish with a strawberry and basil leaf.
Peach and Rose Sangria
What You Need:
- 1 bottle of rosé wine
- 1/2 cup peach schnapps
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup sliced peaches
- 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/4 cup rose water
Instructions:
- In a large pitcher, combine the rosé wine, peach schnapps, orange juice, sliced peaches, sliced strawberries, and rose water.
- Stir well and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- Serve over ice and garnish with additional fruit.
Blackberry Thyme Gin and Tonic
What You Need:
- 2 oz gin
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz thyme simple syrup
- 4 blackberries
- Tonic water
Instructions:
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the gin, lime juice, thyme simple syrup, and blackberries together.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain the mixture over ice in a glass.
- Top off with tonic water and garnish with a sprig of thyme and blackberries.
In conclusion, adding in-season fruits and herbs to your cocktails can add an extra dimension of flavor and bring numerous health benefits. So next time you are planning a summer gathering, impress your guests with these creative cocktails and enjoy the summer sips!