4 Cocktail recipes for Memorial Day weekend

Who else is ready for summer?! Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to the summer season and we are sharing cocktail recipes that you can enjoy throughout the long weekend. Frozen or on the rocks, summer is perfect for fruity, tropical-flavored cocktails and chilled coffee drinks. Add one or all of these recipes to your Memorial Day Weekend line up and summer rotation!

Aviation American Gin
For those unfamiliar with Aviation American Gin, it is the gin company co-owned by Ryan Reynolds. According to their website, the gin is created with a “precise blend of botanicals – cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel.” While I haven’t personally tried this gin, many online reviews note that it’s smooth and enjoyable. We are sharing a recipe for the Hot Fun in the Summertime cocktail. Everything about this recipe, from the summer-themed title to the citrus and lavender ingredients just screams summer!

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Aviation American Gin
1 oz Freshly pressed lemon juice
1 heaping tsp Orange marmalade
1/2 oz Egg white
3 dashes Scrappy’s Lavender Bitters
1 1/2 oz Soda water

Preparation
In a pint glass, add spirits & mixers (through Scrappy’s Lavender Bitters)
Shake without ice
Fill with ice & shake vigorously for 30 seconds
Fine strain into a small juice glass
Top with soda water
Garnish with a fresh lavender flower

Make one of these cocktails for your Memorial Day Weekend celebrations!

Frangelico
Frangelico is a hazelnut-flavored Italian liqueur. Many people drink Frangelico on its own or pour a splash in a cup of coffee. The Franny & Joe uses cold brew coffee, a summer drink staple.  If you prefer espresso martinis, which also use Frangelico, Hazelnut Espresso kits are available through Cocktail Courier until June 10th.

Franny & Joe
Recipe by Otis Florence

Ingredients
1 ½ Parts Frangelico
1 ½ Parts Cold Brew Coffee
½ Parts Simple Syrup
2 Dashes of Bitters

Method:
Add all ingredients to stirring glass. Stir. Pour contents into a coupe glass. Garnish with an expressed orange peel OR add all ingredients to stirring glass. Stir. Pour contents over ice in stemless wine glass. Add creamer as desired.

Hendrick’s Gin
Introduced in 1999, Hendrick’s Gin is produced in Scotland. The gin is infused with cucumber and rose. While the gin & tonic is a classic cocktail, we are sharing the Yuzu Unusual. Yuzu is an Asian citrus fruit which pairs well with the gin for a more modern drink. Fever Tree makes a sparkling lime and yuzu soda mixer that will work really well in this cocktail.

Yuzu Unusual
Created by Erik Andersson, Hendrick’s Gin East Coast Ambassador

Ingredients:
1.5 parts Hendrick’s Gin
.5 parts Aperol
Top with Yuzu Soda
1 tiny pinch of sea salt
Cucumber & Lime wheels to garnish

Method:
Combine ingredients in a highball glass filled with cubed ice and lightly stir. Garnish with a cucumber & lime wheels and serve.

Saint Teresa 1796
Saint Teresa 1796 is a Venezuelan, Spanish-style rum. It was created in 1996 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Hacienda Santa Teresa Distillery. According to their website, this rum has a “unique taste of nuts, leather, vanilla, cinnamon, dark chocolate, prunes, hints of honey and pepper.” It can be enjoyed neat but also mixes well in cocktails, like this Spicy Mango Daiquiri.

Spicy Mango Daiquiri
1.5 oz Santa Teresa 1796
1 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Monin Mango Syrup
1-2 dash Scrappy’s Hellfire Bitters

Method:
Combine all in tin. Add ice. Shake. Fine strain in chilled glass.
Glassware – Coupe
Ice – None
Garnish – Tajin Rim & Lime Wheel

Guilty Eaters, how are you celebrating Memorial Day Weekend? Which of these cocktails will you be making?