NINE COCKTAIL RECIPES TO ENJOY AL FRESCO
sips to savor
FIND YOUR SUMMER MOOD
Looking to elevate your next outdoor affair with a cocktail or two? Whether it’s afternoon aperitifs or a post-dinner nightcap, you’ll want to keep these nine drink recipes on hand for occasions to come.
Find a recipe that fits your style? Up the ante with outdoor pieces that match the mood—whether it’s an organic oasis or a Nantucket-inspired retreat. Soak up the season (cocktail in hand, of course) in comfort with everything you need for an outdoor occasion to remember.
Jalapeño Cucumber Margaritas
Spicy, refreshing, and a bit herbaceous, these jalapeño cucumber margaritas are the perfect summer cocktails for a summer afternoon alfresco.
Spice things up
Yields 6 drinks (1½ cups each)
Ingredients
- 1 pound Persian cucumbers (about 7 cucumbers), roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
- 4 tablespoons spicy honey
- 1½ teaspoons finely grated fresh lime zest plus ¼ cup lime juice (from about 3-4 limes)
- 2 teaspoons minced jalapeño, plus more diagonal slices for garnish
- Sea salt, to taste
- 6 to 8 ounces blanco tequila, depending on preferred strength
- Ice, as needed
- Tajín, for rimming
Directions
In a blender, blend the cucumbers, cilantro, spicy honey, lime zest, lime juice, and minced jalapeño until foamy.
Pour mixture into a fine-mesh sieve set over a large measuring cup and strain liquid from solids. Discard the solids. Reserve strained cucumber liquid until ready to serve.
When ready to serve, rim your glasses with hot honey and Tajín. Moisten the rim of a glass with honey. Sprinkle Tajín in a shallow rimmed plate, and dip the moistened rim of each glass into the seasoning to coat. Fill glasses with ice.
Working in batches, shake cucumber liquid and tequila in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Divide among prepared rocks glasses. Set a slice or two of jalapeño directly on top of the ice in each glass as desired and serve immediately.
MATCH THE MOOD
Strawberry & Peach Sangria
Like patios and cocktails, peaches and berries are a match made in heaven.
A Spanish Staple
Yields 8 cocktails
Ingredients
- 1 pt. fresh strawberries, stemmed and quartered
- 3 peaches, unpeeled, pitted, and sliced
- 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
- 1/3 cup orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
- 1 bottle dry rosé
- 2 cups sparkling water
Directions
Stir together strawberries, peaches, mint leaves, orange liqueur, and wine in a large pitcher.
Cover and refrigerate for 3-12 hours to allow flavors to blend.
When ready to serve, add sparkling water and stir to combine.
Serve over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint.
MATCH THE MOOD
French 75
Treat yourself to an elegant favorite.
POP THE BUBBLY
Yields 1 French 75
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces gin
- 2 ounces of champagne
- 1/2 ounce of simple syrup
- Lemon rind twist, for garnish
Directions
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
Shake until chilled and strain into a champagne flute.
Top with champagne and garnish with a twist of lemon.
MATCH THE MOOD
Espresso Caratini
A Mexican-inspired take on a caffeinated classic.
ESPRESSO YOURSELF
Yields 1 Caratini
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3/4 ounce Licor 43
- 1 ounce freshly brewed espresso (cooled)
- 1 egg white (optional for foam)
- 1 pinch of salt (optional)
- Coffee Beans, for garnish
Directions
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, then add vodka, Licor 43, espresso, simple syrup, plus your egg white and salt if you choose to use them.
Shake vigorously for a full minute and strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with coffee beans.
MATCH THE MOOD
Ginger Whiskey Sour
Homemade ginger syrup adds an invigorating flavor to a classic cocktail.
SUMMER SPICE
Yields 1 cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz. bourbon
- 1 cucumber
- Juice of 1 lime
- Cut ginger, to taste
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
Directions
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, water, and ginger. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil for six minutes, then remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain, using a small spatula to squeeze and press against ginger solids. Discard ginger. Dice 1/4 cucumber and muddle with lime juice in the bottom of your shaker Add ice to your cocktail shaker, along with bourbon and ginger syrup. Shake until well chilled. Rim a glass with cut ginger. Strain mixture into glass and garnish with a slice of cucumber.
MATCH THE MOOD
Classic Aperol Spritz
This Italian aperitif is the quintessential al fresco summer beverage.
FROM ITALY, WITH LOVE
Yields 1 Spritz
Ingredients
- Ice
- 3 ounces Aperol
- 3 ounces dry Prosecco
- 1 ounce (a splash) club soda or unflavored sparkling water
- Fresh orange slice, for garnish
- Fresh rosemary sprig, for garnish
- 1/3 cup orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
Directions
Add ice to a wine glass until it is nearly full.
Pour in the Aperol and Prosecco.
Top with a splash of club soda, and add the orange slice and rosemary. Enjoy!
MATCH THE MOOD
Homemade Limoncello
Bursting with bright lemon flavor, limoncello is the perfect digestif liqueur.
SEASONAL CITRUS
Yields 6 ¼ cups
Ingredients
- 8 large unwaxed lemons
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups vodka
Directions
Add sugar and water to a saucepan and bring to a boil until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Turn off the heat and set aside. Peel the lemon skin with a vegetable peeler, making sure you don’t remove the white pith, (This will make the limoncello bitter.)
Juice the 8 lemons through a sieve. Pour the sugar syrup, lemon juice, and vodka into bowl and stir to combine.
Add the lemon peel to a large pitcher (or 2 smaller ones) and pour in the limoncello mixture.
Place the limoncello in the fridge until extra cold, then serve. The limoncello will get better the longer it sits.
MATCH THE MOOD
French Cucumber Mojito
French rum and fresh cucumber add a little je ne said quoi to the classic mojito.
FRENCH-INSPIRED FRESHNESS
Yields 1 cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz. French Rum
- 2 tbsps turbinado sugar
- 1 cucumber
- 10 mint leaves
- 1/2 lime
- Sparkling water
- Ice
Directions
Start by peeling and juicing the cucumber. (Use 2 oz. of juice per serving.)
In a highball glass, Add mint leaves, lime, and sugar to a highball glass.
Muddle gently with a pestle. Add the French Rum and cucumber juice. Fill the glass with ice and top with sparkling water.
Garnish with fresh mint and enjoy with a reusable straw.
Serving tip: Thinly slice a mini cucumber and place inside the glass before adding the ice and sparkling water
MATCH THE MOOD
Poolside Peppermint Collins
Fresh peppermint adds a refreshing zing to the classic British Tom Collins cocktail.
MINT TO BE
Yields 1 Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz. gin
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 oz. lemon juice
- Fresh peppermint (or mint leaves)
- Club soda
Directions
Add three fresh mint leaves and two lemon slices to a shaker and muddle to release flavors and aroma.
Add ice, lemon juice, and gin.
Strain over ice into a tall glass and top with club soda.
Garnish with fresh mint leaves and a lemon slice.
MATCH THE MOOD
REFRESH YOURSELF WITH THESE SUMMER COCKTAILS
Savor the summer alfresco with these recipes for summer cocktails. From refreshing spritzes to moody martinis, you’ll want to save these summer drink recipes for seasons to come. Find a recipe that fits your style? Up the ante with outdoor pieces that match the mood—whether it’s an organic oasis or a Nantucket-inspired retreat. Our favorite summer drink recipes put a fresh spin on classic summer cocktails.