Can’t go on vacation this summer? Mix yourself up a mini holiday in a glass.
Are all your friends packing up their bathing suits and headed somewhere fun for summer? Don’t sit at hom and wallow in self-pity! It’s time to turn that frown upside-down and mix up a summery cocktail. Besides, sandy beaches are overrated. (They’re not, but let’s just say they are to make ourselves feel better.)
Here are 10 cool, fruity drinks that can help you pretend you’re on vacay.
1. Pink Squirrel Cocktail
Can’t decide between a milkshake and a cocktail? Well, this one’s for you, as it combines almond and cocoa liqueurs with ice cream for a creamy delight.
Ingredients
- 1 part creme de noyaux (sometimes called creme de almond)
- 1 part white creme de cacao
- 2 parts vanilla ice cream
- blender
Directions
- 1Add ingredients to blender.
- 2Process until smooth.
- 3Pour into glasses.
Blood Red Sangria Cocktail
This sangria-inspired martini may require a bit of work, but the spicy, citrusy end product will be well worth it.
Ingredients
- SANGRIA SIMPLE SYRUP
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup red wine, such as Merlot or Zinfandel
- 1 cup dark sweet cherries, stemmed, pitted and halved
- 1 stick cinnamon
- Strips of orange peel from 1 medium orange (orange part only)
- SANGRIA MARTINI COCKTAIL
- Ice cubes
- 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 oz) citron (citrus) vodka
- 2 tablespoons (1 oz) clear orange-flavored liqueur
- 2 tablespoons (1 oz) sangria simple syrup, chilled (above)
- 1 dark sweet cherry on a cocktail pick
Directions
- 1To make simple syrup, in 1 1/2-quart saucepan, mix sangria simple syrup ingredients. Heat to boiling over medium heat. Simmer 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; let cool 30 minutes. Strain mixture through fine mesh strainer; discard solids. Cover and chill sangria syrup until ready to use. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
- 2To make cocktail, fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka and orange liqueur to cocktail shaker; cover and shake. Strain into martini glass. Drizzle sangria syrup into cocktail in glass. Garnish with cherry.
3. Sunrise Mimosas
Ah, yes, the mimosa, it’s the perfect excuse to drinkat breakfast. This version is amped up with frozen strawberries and tangerine juice.
Ingredients
- 1 (10-oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed, undrained
- 3 cups tangerine juice (made from frozen concentrate)
- 2 (750 ml) bottles champagne
- 6 strawberries with stems, halved, if desired
Directions
- 1In blender container, puree strawberries.
- 2In nonmetal bowl or pitcher, combine strawberry puree, tangerine juice and champagne; mix gently. Serve over ice in stemmed goblets. Garnish each glass with strawberry half.
4. Coconut Blue Hawaiian
If you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain, then try this awesome frozen drink, so good it’ll make you insane.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) light rum, if desired
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) blue curaçao
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) cream of coconut (not coconut milk)
- 10 to 12 ice cubes
- Fresh cherries or maraschino cherries with stems, if desired
Directions
- 1Chill martini glasses in freezer several hours before serving.
- 2Place all ingredients except cherries in blender. Cover and blend on high speed about 45 seconds or until smooth.
- 3Pour pineapple mixture into glasses. Garnish with cherry.
5. Pear Cosmo Cocktail
The classic cosmopolitan has gotten a bit played out â thanks a lot, Sex and the City â so try this version made with pear and white cranberry juice for a refreshing spin.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces pear flavored vodka
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
- 1/4 ounce fresh lime juice (about 1/8 of a small lime)
- 1 ounce white cranberry juice cocktail
- 6 ice cubes
- 1 slice fresh pear, for garnish (if desired)
Directions
- 1Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- 2Shake vigorously.
- 3Pour into a martini glass.
- 4Garnish with a slice of fresh pear, if desired.
6. Orange-Dragonfruit Cocktail
The dragonfruit is quite possibly the most exotic-sounding fruit around. So channel your inner Khaleesi (Game of Thrones, anyone?) and mix up this fruity cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 Dragonfruit
- 1/4 Cup Orange Juice (fresh squeezed or store bought)
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- 6 oz Rum
Directions
- 1Cut dragonfruit in half and scoop out the edible insides.
- 2In a blender, blend until smooth the dragonfruit, orange juice, and honey.
- 3Fill a shaker and 4 glasses with ice. Use a 1.5 oz shot glass to measure 1 part rum and 3 parts of the dragonfruit puree per cocktail. Shake well and pour over ice.
7. Push Pop Cocktail
If one of your fave summertime childhood memories is of buying push-pops from the ice cream truck, it may be time to get a little nostalgic with an adult twist by making these orange-vanilla cocktails.
Ingredients
- 2 oz mandarin vodka
- 1 tsp vanilla syrup
- 4 oz orange soda
- ice
Directions
- 1Pour vodka and vanilla syrup in serving glass. Stir.
- 2Add ice to the glass.
- 3Top with the orange soda.
8. Paradise Cocktail
It’s all in the name of the drink, folks. This fruity gin and brandy cocktail will take your mind on a mini holiday.
9. Watermelon Gin Cocktail
Nothing says summertime quite like watermelon â unless, of course, you’re combining the fruit with booze. This drink is actually pretty fancy, too, as it’s pumped up with fresh tarragon and elderflower liqueur.
10. Flirtini Cocktail
Heading out with the ladies on a warm summer night? Have a couple of these champagne and pineapple drinks before going dancing, and you may even forget that you’re not on vacation.
From: Tablespoon.com
