The summer season is hardly over. There are weeks ahead of warm weather, opportunities to entertain friends and family, and time to sip delightful cocktails. Whether you are craving a refreshing drink or wishing to pair a cocktail with your meals, we have ten recipes that use top spirits. Try out your mixology skills. We have selections that are easy to mix and some that will be a bit more challenging. If you love these spirits, and we think you will, visit their web sites for additional recipes. Cheers!
Zaya Mojito
Ingredients:
-4-5 mint leaves
-1/2 oz. simple syrup
-3/4 oz. lime juice
1 ½ oz. Zaya Rum
-soda water
-cubed ice
Method: Add mint leaves to a Collins glass. Add lime juice and a dash of soda water. Gently muddle for several seconds. Add simple syrup, rum, and ice. Top with soda water and give the drink a gentle stir. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Website: Zayarum.
Zaya Painless Punch
Ingredients:
-2 oz. Zaya Gran Reserva
-2 oz. Pineapple Juice
-1 oz. Orange Juice
-1 oz. Cream of Coconut
-Ice (for shaking)
-Crushed Ice (for serving)
Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake extremely well with ice. Strain into a Tiki glass. Fill with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig, slice of pineapple, and metal straw. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon.Website: Zayarum.
Frozen Mudslide
Ingredients:
-1 oz. Broken Shed Vodka
-1.5 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
-1 oz. Coffee liqueur
-3 scoops vanilla ice cream
-Garnish: Grated dark chocolate
Method: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a Collins glass, garnish with grated dark chocolate, and serve with an environmentally friendly straw. Website: Vodka of Tomorrow.
Ballotin Caramel Turtle Spiked Tea
Ingredients:
-1 oz. Ballotin Caramel Whiskey
-3 oz. peach infused sweet tea
-Splash of lemon juice
-Peach slice for garnish
Method: Mix all ingredients in a tall Collins glass with ice. Garnish with a peach slice. For more information, go to Ballotin.
Apple Mule
Ingredients:
-1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Sliced Apple
-4 oz. Ginger Beer
-Lemon wedge for garnish
Method: Pour Captain Morgan Sliced Apple and ginger beer into a tumbler glass over ice. Garnish with lemon. Website: Captain Morgan.
Pineapple Rum Rush
Ingredients:
-1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
-3 oz. Pineapple Coconut juice
-½ oz. lime juice
-Top with ginger ale
Method: Add pineapple coconut juice, Original Spiced Rum, and lime juice to a glass. Pour half the pitcher mixture into each glass and top each glass off with half of the ginger ale. Garnish with pineapple wedges, a slice of lime, and a pineapple leaf. Website: Captain Morgan.
Los Arango La Reina
-1½ oz. Los Arango Blanco Tequila
-4 Dashes Pink Peppercorn Tincture
-¼ oz. Sweet Vermouth
-2 Drops Rose Water
-¾ oz. Dry Rosé
Method: Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake well. Rim a Nick n Nora glass with cracked pink/black peppercorn salt. Hawthorne and fine strain the cocktail into your prepped glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist. Garnish with a grapefruit twist and salt cracked pink and peppercorn rim. Website: Los Arango Tequila.
Strawberry Basil Paloma
-2 oz. Los Arango Reposado
-1 oz. grapefruit juice
-½ oz. agave syrup
-2 chopped strawberries
-5 basil leaves
-Soda to top
-Smoked sea salt for rim
Method: Rim your glass with smoked sea salt. Combine all ingredients except soda in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill and combine ingredients. Fine strain into a high-ball glass over fresh ice. Top with soda Garnish & Enjoy! Website: Los Arango Tequila.
Proper Palmer
-2 oz. Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
-2 oz. Lemonade
-2 oz. Iced Tea
Method: Pour Proper No. Twelve over ice. Add lemonade and iced tea. Stir. Garnish with lemon slice. Website: Proper Whiskey.
Red Earl
Ingredients:
-3/4 oz. Pallini Limoncello
-1 1/2 oz. Vodka
-1/4 oz. Fresh lemon juice
-1/4 oz. Simple syrup
-8 Raspberries
-2 Slices fresh ginger
Method: Muddle the ginger and raspberries in a mixing glass then shake all ingredients. Double strain into a coupe glass and serve. Website: Limoncello Pallini.
Top photo: Bigstock
