Even if you’re still spending most of your days at home, summer 2020 is right around the corner. Here are some summer-friendly cocktail recipes, as compiled from top brands and acclaimed mixologists.
The first few months of 2020 have not been easy for most of us, to say the least, as hundreds of millions of us — if not billions of us — are still stuck at home more of the day than not. And when you’re keeping a home-based existence, there ought to be plenty of time and opportunity to utilize that home bar of yours for some top-tier cocktail recipes.
But Summer 2020 is just around the corner, and plenty of celebrating ought to be ahead. In turn, on behalf of Guilty Eats, I have gathered 20 cocktail recipes from a mix of top spirit brands and well-respected American mixologists.
Here are 20 summer-friendly cocktail recipes worth preparing at home:
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Mexican Mule
Espolòn’s award-winning tequilas are made from 100 percent pure Weber Blue Agave. Espolòn crafts three expressions of tequila that are available globally, Espolon Blanco, Espolòn Reposado and Espolòn Añejo. This recipe is a fun take on the classic warm weather favorite, the Moscow Mule.
Ingredients:
- 1½ parts Espolòn Reposado
- ½ part lime juice
- Ginger beer
Method:
- Combine ingredients in a mule cup on the rocks.
- Top with ginger beer..
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Seagram’s Watermelon Twist Gin & Tonic
As at-home bartending continues to rise, Seagram’s Watermelon Twisted Gin aims to give consumers the ability to create their own summer inspired gin cocktails year-round in the comfort of their homes and within budget. Seagram’s Watermelon Twisted Gin can be enjoyed on the rocks, with soda water or tonic, or with a favorite juice or mixer.
Ingredients:
- Seagram’s Watermelon Twisted Gin
- Tonic water
- Watermelon
- Ice
- Lemon (optional)
- Mint (optional)
Method:
- In a glass highball or rocks glass, add ice then a sliced watermelon wedge.
- Combine 1 part Seagram’s Watermelon Twisted Gin, 3 parts tonic water and pour over ice
- Garnish with lemon slices & a sprig of mint
Grilled Grapefruit Paloma
Hornitos was founded in 1950 in honor of Mexican Independence Da in Jalisco, Mexico. Founder Don Francisco helped put the “Reposado” kind of tequila on the map.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Hornitos Plata Tequila
- 1 part fresh lime juice
- ¾ part ginger sage syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Top with grapefruit beer (appx. 1 part)
- Grapefruit
- Sage sprigs
Method:
- Combine equal parts sugar and water with 1 ginger slice and 4 sage sprigs and bring to a boil to create ginger sage syrup.
- Allow the mixture to cool, combine all ingredients except grapefruit beer in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice and top with grapefruit beer.
- Garnish with a grilled grapefruit slice.
Courvoisier Avant-Garde Old Fashioned
Earlier this year, Courvoisier launched Maison Courvoisier in Chicago, an “immersive luxury experience” curated by rapper Pusha T. The brand also announced the release of its new limited-edition Bourbon Cask expression in 2020.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Courvoisier Avant-Garde
- 0.25 parts simple syrup
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
Method:
- Build in glass, add ice, and stir.
- Serve in an Old Fashioned style glass.
- Garnish with orange wwath.
Absolut Juice Pear Spritz
Absolut recently added a new flavor to its Juice lineup, Absolut Juice Pear & Elderflower. The new sip-with-a-spritz blend is made with a fun balance of Absolut Vodka and 5 percent real fruit juice.
Ingredients:
- 1 part Absolut Juice
- 1 part club soda
- 1 part sparkling dry white wine
Method:
- Mix in wine glass over ice.
- Garnish with sliced fruit (optional).
Absolut Juice Shandy
That aforementioned Absolut Juice Pear & Elderflower hit stores on April 1, 2020. At 99 calories per serving, Absolut Juice can be diet-friendly in moderation.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ parts Absolut Juice
- 2 parts lemonade
- 2 parts hard sparkling cider
Method:
- Build in wine glass with ice.
- Garnish with either pear slices or lemon wheels.
Pink Gimlet
For the true gin lover, Beefeater Gin is a true London Dry Gin with big juniper character and strong citrus notes, as still made in tondon. Beefeater Gin Pink is an easy to drink strawberry gin, perfect for concocting delicious, fruity drinks at home.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Beefeater Pink Gin
- ¾ oz. lime juice
- ¾ oz. grenadine
Method:
- Build in tin.
- Add ice.
- Shake the contents.
- Fine strain.
- Garnish with a lime.
The Mango Margarita
No cocktail is more strongly associated with Cinco De Mayo than the Margarita, yet the Margarita can be ideal for any outdoor drinking session.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Cointreau
- 2 oz. mezcal (e.g. Convite)
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 oz. mango juice
Method:
- Add all ingredients to a shake along with 1-2 grinds of black pepper.
- Add ice and shake.
- Fine strain over ice into a chile lime seasoning-salted rocks glass — 1:1 chili lime seasoning to salt (optional)
- Garnish with a lime wheel and/or pineapple frond.
Berry Margarita
As noted above, the Margarita can make for a great multi-purpose beverage. So whether your taste is sweet, smoky, spicy or anywhere in between there is a Margarita recipe for everyone.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Cointreau
- 1.5 oz. blanco tequila (e.g. Patrón)
- 0.75 oz. fresh lime juice
- 4 fresh blackberries
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 blackberry.
The Hemingway Revolution
An alchemy of red fruits with a twist of Grand Absente, this recipe will produce a strong, delicious and memorable cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Grande Absente
- 1 oz. raspberry liqueur
- ½ oz. strawberry liqueur
- ½ oz. crème de cassis
- 1 dash cranberry juice
Method:
- Shake with ice, strain and serve in a martini glass with a sugar rim.
- Strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.
Dawn Of The Islands
With a base of Rhum Barbancourt White, as combined with touches of citrus and red fruits, this cocktail is on the sweet side but still very balanced. This cocktail recipe is one of the most simple ones on the list.
Ingredients:
- 1 ⅓ oz. Rhum Barbancourt White Rhum
- ⅓ oz. tangerine liqueur
- ⅓ oz. raspberry liqueur
Method:
- Pour all ingredients in a mixing glass half-filled with ice.
- Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass, then serve.
Colibrí Rubi Tea
Created by Mixologist Caer Ferguson, the Colibrí Rubi Tea was helmed within Tequila Don Julio’s recent “it’s Cinco somewhere” campaign.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Tequila Don Julio Blanco
- 2 oz. hibiscus tea
- 1/2 oz. lime juice
- 1/4 oz. simple syrup
- Garnish: Strawberry halves
Method:
- Combine Tequila Don Julio Blanco, hibiscus tea, lime juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake gently.
- Strain contents into a Collins glass over fresh ice and garnish with half a strawberry.
Rosa Primavera
Another cocktail helmed as part of Tequila Don Julio’s “it’s Cinco somewhere” campaign, the Rosa Primavera was created by mixologist Fernando Sousa and is endorsed by Erin Andrews.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Tequila Don Julio Reposado
- 1 oz. coconut cream
- 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
- 1 muddled strawberry
- Strawberry for garnish
Method:
- Muddle a strawberry in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
- Add Tequila Don Julio Reposado, coconut cream and fresh lemon juice into the cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain contents into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a strawberry.
Cider & Stormy
As provided to me by Brooklyn Crafted, this recipe is a fun take on the classic Dark & Stormy.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. hard apple cider
- 2 oz. dark rum
- 4 oz. Brooklyn Crafted Extra Spicy Ginger Beer
- 1 lime, halved
Method:
- Combine apple cider, rum, Brooklyn Crafted ginger beer and juice of half of the lime in a cocktail shaker or tall glass and stir until combined.
- Cut the other half of the lime into wedges and serve in a tall glass over ice.
Grey Goose French Passion
With this beverage, exquisite French Grey Goose Vodka meets sunny passion fruit, zesty lime and warm cinnamon for a warm weather retreat for your tastebuds.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 parts Grey Goose Vodka
- 0.25 part passionfruit puree
- 0.25 part cinnamon
- 0.50 part lime
- Garnish: Dehydrated Flower
Method:
- Shaken and served in a rocks glass.
Patrón Tequila Watermelon Basil Margarita
With notes of fresh agave and oak, Patrón Reposado is an ideal tequila for a bountiful fruit and herb-filled margarita. A sweet and savory cocktail recipes.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 parts Patrón Reposado Tequila
- 0.5 part watermelon puree
- 0.5 part basil simple syrup
- 1 part lime juice
- Garnish: Dehydrated lime wheel
Method:
- Shaken and served in a rocks glass.
Santa Teresa 1796 Old Fashioned
For the whiskey drinker looking to change it up and explore a new category, a bottle of barrel-aged Santa Teresa 1796 rum is sure to delight the palate. Dark, dry, and bold, a bottle of Santa Teresa 1796 holds blends aged from 4 to 35 years in bourbon oak barrels for a smooth and balanced finish.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ parts Santa Teresa 1796 Rum
- ¼ part Demerara Syrup (1 part water / 1 part sugar in the raw)
- 4 dashes Angostura bitters
- Glassware: Old-fashioned glass
- Garnish: Orange twist
Method:
- Build all ingredients in a mixing glass.
- Stir 30-40 seconds.
- Pour over ice in a double old-fashioned glass.
The Sparkler
Also notable about Santa Teresa 1796 Rum is that it is a “rum with purpose’.” It is partnered with Project Alcatraz, a program that rehabilitates former gang members in Venezuela through the sport of rugby. Since 2003, the brand has turned warring gangs in Venezuela into colleagues and ultimately friends via this sport.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Santa Teresa 1796 Rum
- 0.25 oz. Genepy le Chamois
- 0.25 oz. Mandarine Napoleon
- 1 spoonful Banana Combier
- 0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
- Sparkling wine for topping
Method:
- Shaken, served in a highball glass with a Collins ice sphere.
- Top drink with sparkling wine.
- Garnish with a single plantain chip and an edible orchid.
Convite Margarita
Named for the Oaxacan gathering of friends and neighbors that followed a bountiful harvest, Convite is rooted in celebration. This artisanal mezcal aims to embody the warmth that comes from sharing our success with those around us.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Convite Mezcal Esencial
- ¾ oz. agave syrup
- ¾ oz. fresh lime juice
Method:
- Combine in an ice filled shaker.
- Shake well and strain into a glass.
- Garnish with your favorite salt and lime.
Brothers & Sisters
Also notable about Convite is that it is produced in small, exclusive lots to create a superb flavor. And while it shares the tradition of Mexico with the world, it also remains anchored in the power of its community. Its planting, harvesting, distilling, and bottling are all completed in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Convite Mezcal Esencial
- 2 oz .passionfruit nectar
- .75 oz. light agave syrup
- 1 dash of green habanero sauce
Method:
- Shake all ingredients with ice.
- Strain into glass over ice.
- Sprinkle ground salt and pepper.
- Garnish with fresh mint.
Frey Ranch Bourbon’s Ranch Hand
The Frey Ranch Distillery’s version of a Gold Rush, the Ranch Hand is rooted in sustainable Nevada-born bourbon.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Frey Ranch Bourbon
- 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz. honey syrup (2:1)
- Dash aromatic bitters
Method:
- Build all ingredients and shake with ice.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass garnished with fresh lemon peel.
- Serve and enjoy.
Which of these summer-themed cocktail recipes will you be making this summer? Are there any cocktail recipes you would love to see on the list?