07 Oct The A-List: Our Summer Cocktail List
The weather’s getting warmer, and we’re ready to sit back and sip cocktails. Its 5 o’clock somewhere right?
And if you aren’t keen on making your own cocktails, pop down to some of our favourite bars:
- The Lab- We suggest the limited edition Wine Pop made up of yummy peach and vodka in a glass of sparkling wine (what more could you want?)
- Bedford Liquor & Soda- Hawaiian time is our go to here, and not just because it’s pretty
- MR TOMS- Amazing list of cocktails perfect for any occasion
- 46 & York- One word: Delicious
Here’s our list for easy to make summer cocktails:
Raspberry Mojito’s
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup raspberry puree
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 lime, sliced in wedges
- 4 ounces white rum
- 4 ounces chilled club soda
- Raspberry Puree, makes 2 cups
- ½ cup raspberries
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- pinch of salt
- ice cubes
- mint leaves and fresh raspberries for garnish
DIRECTIONS
For the Raspberry Puree:
In a small pan, add the Raspberries, water, sugar and salt. Cook for 3-5 minutes until thickened. Add to the jar of a blender and puree until smooth. Chill. (You can strain the seeds if desired).
For the Mojito:
In the bottom of a heavy drinking glass, combine the mint and lime wedges, using a muddler to smash them all together and release some of the mint. Add ice cubes, the raspberry puree, rum and club soda and stir to combine. Serve immediately.
More info: http://heatherchristo.com/2015/09/09/raspberry-mojitos/
Tequila Sunrise Mimosa
INGREDIENTS
- 30 ml tequila
- Prosecco or champagne, chilled
- Orange juice (I like Simply Orange Mango)
- Splash of grenadine
DIRECTIONS
- For each rink, pour 30ml tequila into a champagne flute.
- Fill flute about halfway with prosecco/champagne.
- Add orange juice, filling the flute until it’s mostly full
- Top with a splash of grenadine.
More info: http://www.justputzing.com/2015/04/tequila-sunrise-mimosas.html
Mango and Blackberry Vodka Cooler
INGREDIENTS
- For the Mango Simple Syrup:
- 3 small ripe mangos, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 8-10 leaves of fresh mint, plus more to use as garnish
- For the Vodka Cooler:
- 4 shots of Vodka
- 8-10 fresh blackberries
- 1 can of sparkling water/club soda
- Crushed ice
DIRECTIONS
- Place the slices of mango in a large glass (or jar). Muddle them until they are thoroughly crushed. Alternatively, you can puree them in a food processor or blender.
- Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until the sugar is dissolved. Off the heat, add in the muddled mango and mint leaves and let the mixture cool for 10-15 minutes. Strain the syrup into a pitcher and discard the solids. Let it cool completely before using.
- Fill four glasses with crushed ice. Divide the mango simple syrup in between glasses. Pour 1 shot of Vodka in each glass. Top them off with club soda. Garnish them with fresh mint leaves and 2-3 blackberries for each glass.
More info: http://www.foolproofliving.com/mango-and-blackberry-vodka-cooler/
Classic Champagne Cocktail
Serves 1
INGREDIENTS
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes of angostura bitters
- 150ml Akarua BRUT NV
- Lemon twist for garnish
DIRECTION
- Place cube of sugar into champagne glass
- Splash a couple of dashes of bitters over the cube
- Fill glass with Akarua BRUT NV
- Garnish with a twist of lemon
Pina Colada Perfection
INGREDIENTS
- 240ml Dark rum
- 240ml Pineapple Juice
- 60ml Fresh orange juice
- 30ml Fresh lime juice
- 1 cup Cubed pineapple
- 240ml Coconut milk
- 120ml Heavy Cream
- 90ml Demerara simple syrup
DIRECTIONS
- Pour all ingredients into a blender jar and blend thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Chill 4 glasses, remove from fridge and fill with crushed ice. Stir cocktail and pour into the glasses.
- Garnish with the cherry, pineapple wedge and lime wedge.
More info: http://www.creative-culinary.com/pina-colada-classic-cocktail/
Cucumber & Lime Margarita
INGREDIENTS
- Cucumber Juice
- 2 cucumbers, peeled, makes roughly 1.5 cups of juice
- Cucumber Lime Margarita
- 50ml ounces silver tequila
- 50ml ounces fresh lime juice (usually half a lime)
- 90ml cucumber juice
- lime and cucumber wedges for garnish
DIRECTIONS
- Cucumber juice: Juice the peeled cucumbers in your juicer or blender. If using a blender, add the cucumber and blend for about 30-45 seconds until it looks like thick juice. Separate the pulp from the juice by setting a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or large measuring cup. Gently push on the pulp using a wooden spoon or spatula. There will be enough cucumber juice to make 4 margaritas.
- Margarita: In an 8 ounce glass filled with ice, add the tequila, lime juice and cucumber juice. Stir to combine. Garnish with a wedge of cucumber and lime.
More info: http://www.tasteslovely.com/refreshing-cucumber-lime-margaritas/
Rebecca Purdy
Posted at 09:26h, 12 OctoberNote