5 Of The Best Cocktails For Summer Sipping

It’s pool season and that means it’s time for cocktails with some refreshing spin – think mixer ingredients such as lime juice, grapefruit soda, and watermelon puree. The best options are easy-to-prepare cocktails, ideally poolside, that deliver on freshness and complexity. If you just don’t want to spend time mixing your own, try the new canned cocktails from Limoncello producer Fabrizia, made with their Limoncello, Sicilian lemon juice and either premium vodka or tequila. Fabrizia gets bonus points for sourcing their lemons from their own grove in Italy and using them as the foundation for all their spirits products.

STK’s Spiced Watermelon Margarita: This juicy cocktail from STK restaurant delivers on sweet and spice, as Genny Gomez , senior VP of guest experience for The ONE Group, explains, “Based on the classic spicy margarita, this recipe proves watermelon and tequila are a match made in heaven.”

• 1.5 oz Patron Silver
• .5 oz St Germain
• .5 oz Watermelon Puree
• .75oz Lime Juice
• .75 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 Watermelon Wedge
• 1 Slice Jalapeno

Method: In a shaker, add all the ingredients. Add ice and shake. Rim half the martini glass with tajin, and strain shaker into glass. Garnish with Watermelon triangle.

Provence Paloma: The natural sweetness of St-Germain elderflower liqueur balances with other ingredients like tequila, rose wine, and grapefruit soda.

• 1 oz St-Germain
• .75 oz Patron SIlver Tequila
• 1.5 oz Rose Wine
• 3.5 oz Grapefruit Soda
• Grapefruit Wedge For Garnish

Method: Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in the St-Germain, tequila, and rose wine. Top the drink with grapefruit soda. Give the drink a gentle stir. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge

Empress 1908 Cucumber Blue: Simple and refreshing, light and herbal, this cooling cocktail might just be your new summer drink.

• 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
• Soda Water
• Cucumber
• Mint
• Basil

Method: Muddle cucumber, basil, and mint in the bottom of a chilled rocks glass. Add ice and Empress 1908. Top with soda water. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon and basil.

Cointreau Matcha Margarita

• 1 oz Cointreau
• 2 oz Blanco Tequila
• 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 0.5 bar spoon Matcha Green Tea Powder

Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime slice

Gran Centenario Tequila Sunshine Spritz:

• 2 oz Gran Centenario Reposado
• 3 oz Fresh Orange Juice
• ½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 2 oz Prosecco
• 1 oz Aperol
• Seltzer Water

Method: In a mixing glass, add the tequila, orange juice, and lime juice and stir to combine. Add ice to a tall chilled glass, such as a highball glass, and pour in the Aperol. Follow with the tequila mixture, and top with the Prosecco and a splash of seltzer. Garnish: Dehydrated Blood Orange Wheel & Organic Rosemary

CAMUS VSOP Intensely Aromatic French 75: This classic invented at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris was born with gin but with Cognac the combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun. This features the same historical recipe invented by the barman Harry MacElhone with the zesty aromas of lemon complementing the intense floral and fruity profile of Cognac.

• 1 oz Camus Cognac VSOP
• ½ oz Fresh lemon juice
• 3 Dashes of Simple Syrup
• 2 oz of Sparkling wine
• Garnished with a lemon spiral
• Served chilled in a champagne flute

Method: Combine Camus Cognac VSOP Intensely Aromatic, simple syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into an iced tumbler glass. Top up with sparkling wine. Stir gently.