Sip in Style: Top 5 Summer Cocktails

The Best summer cocktails- Top 5

1. Passionfruit martini

Recipe- It says vanilla; however, I wouldn't say I like vanilla, so I use regular vodka and check the syrup, which is not vanilla-flavoured. The all-stock-up cocktail cans were one of the first non-alcopop drinks I had, and they tasted amazing. Maybe because you could not taste the vodka. After five years, I still adore these and go back to them when I have finished a big bottle and need a change or perfect for my alcoholic choice of beverage at Christmas time too. I am not the biggest Prosecco fan you will find. This reminds me of those teen moments when I was unsure what to do with the prosecco slip, tick or down.

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 50ml vanilla vodka
• 15ml sugar syrup 
• One passion fruit, halved and pulp scooped out, plus extra ½ to garnish
• 20ml pineapple juice
• small handful of ice cubes
• 25ml prosecco, chilled

Method

1. Add the vodka, sugar syrup, passion fruit pulp, pineapple juice and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 30 secs. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with half of the passion fruit and serve with prosecco on the side.

How to make sugar syrup: This can be bought ready-made, but you can also make your own. Put 100g caster sugar in a pan with 50ml water. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved, then bring to a boil, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Store in an airtight sterilised* jar or bottle. I will keep it in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/passion-fruit-martini.html 

2. peach bellini

Peach Bellini reminds me of my mum, but it is her cocktail of choice. I had that on our birthday trip to Paris, so the nostalgia is strong with this one. It is perfect for a summer BBQ or picnic and has a non-alcoholic mocktail version for everyone to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces vodka
• 1.5 ounces peach schnapps
• 1.5 ounces of peach nectar
• ice
• wedge of peach
• granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass with peach schnapps, then roll in sugar. 
2. Add ice, vodka, peach schnapps, and peach nectar to a cocktail shaker. 
3. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into the prepared martini glass.

https://www.callmepmc.com/peach-bellini-martini/ 

3. cosmopolitan

Maybe the Cosmo reminds you of the big city or gossip girl ( though they drank martinis-boring). The Cosmo is so easy to prepare. I had this recipe for a cocktail night with friends, and we all brought a cocktail for everyone and shared it around. You do not need a cocktail shaker for this drink; even if you do not like cranberry juice alone, you will love it. And do not worry if you do not have lemon vodka. Add either lemon drink syrup or lemon juice. It does the same thing.

Ingredients

• 45ml lemon vodka
• 15ml triple sec
• 30ml cranberry juice
• 10ml lime juice
• ice

For the garnish

• orange zest, or a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.

Method

• STEP 1
  Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
• STEP 2
  Hold a 3cm round piece of orange zest about 10cm above your Cosmo and carefully wave it over a lit match or lighter flame to make the garnish. Bend the outer edge of the zest in towards the flame so that the orange oils are released, then drop the zest into your drink.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cosmopolitan-cocktail 

4. strawberry daiquiri

The old Strawberry daiquiri gives me memories of sipping away watching the world go by a palm cove in Cairns, Australia, sitting in the surf club with the median age probably 55 years old in the happy hour time slot, watching the wave crash in and hope no crocodiles came to say hi. I have even had a mango daiquiri before. However, I have had daiquiris which. The ice is blended and, therefore, more of a smoothie. Other times, I have had the liquid drink and the ice not blended, so it is up to your preference as this is the perfect summer drink if you do not like Pimms while watching the summer of sport around the world. You can subside the rum for a mocktail version, for sure.

Ingredients

• 500g strawberries, hulled
• 200g ice
• 100ml rum
• juice 1/2 lime
• 1-2 tbsp sugar syrup

Garnish

• Two slices of limes
• One strawberry, halved
• Two cocktail sticks

Method

• STEP 1
  Blend the strawberries, then push the resulting puree through a sieve to remove some seeds. Tip the sieved puree into the blender again and add the ice, rum, 1-2 tbsp sugar syrup depending on how sweet you like your drinks and lime juice. Blend again and divide the mixture between 2 Martini glasses.
• STEP 2
  Thread the lime slices and strawberry halves onto the cocktail sticks and place them onto the edge of the glass; serve immediately.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/frozen-strawberry-daiquiri 

5. sex on the beach

Finally, there is one with a vulgar name. It would only be described as a combo of beach bellini and a cosmo. With this fruit drink, I will remind you of the beach clubs in places like Ibiza or Corfu, or at least it reminds me of “one shot, one drink and one balloon” being bellowed down the Kavos strip in Corfu every bar you went past had the same deal. Do not get my start on the Head fucker. Yes, that's a drink which is illegal in the UK due to having seven different types of alcohol, but it doesn't taste too bad. Anyway, my advice is to drink this drink and not reenact.

Ingredients

• ice
• 50ml vodka
• 25ml peach schnapps
• Two oranges, juiced, plus two slices to garnish
• 50ml cranberry juice
• glacé cherries, to garnish (optional)

Method

• STEP 1
  Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour the vodka, peach schnapps and fruit juices into a large jug and stir.
• STEP 2
  Divide the mixture between the two glasses and stir gently to combine. Garnish with the cocktail cherries and orange slices

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sex-beach-cocktail