Whether you’re getting ready for a big party or are just looking to relax by your pool on an exceptionally hot day, having a few fruity cocktail recipes on hand (or in your hand) is never a bad idea. And while there’s nothing wrong with a glass of wine or a martini, experimenting with new ingredients is a fun way to up your barista game (*insert visions of becoming Tom Cruise in Cocktail*). Take advantage of all the fresh produce spring has to offer by adding some fruity touches to your favorite drinks.
Traditional Red Sangria
When it comes to fruity cocktails, sangria reigns king.
Ingredients:
Serves: 5 people
- Apples, oranges, pineapples
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- Cane sugar
- 1/3 cup of brandy or rum
- 1 bottle (750ml) of your favorite bold, red wine
- 5 cups of ice
Directions:
- Peel and chop your fruit into small pieces. Then, add it to a pitcher and muddle it for just under a minute.
- Add orange juice to the pitcher and muddle again for 30 seconds.
- Then, add your chosen liquor, a bottle of wine, and a pinch of sugar. Stir once more.
- Finally, add in ice and stir one last time.
Strawberry and Kiwi Infused Mojito
This summer, take a twist on the traditional “5 ingredient” mojito by adding in some fruity elements.
Ingredients:
Serves: 2 people
- 6 fresh strawberries
- Mint leaves
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 kiwi, juiced
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 3 shots of white rum
- honey
- Lemon-lime soda
Directions:
- Muddle your strawberries, a few mint leaves, and the juice from one full lime in a pitcher.
- Add in rum, honey, sugar, and kiwi juice and mix it well.
- Divide the pitcher into two tall glasses (filled with ice). Fill the rest of the glass with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish your drink with strawberry and mint leaves.
Frozen Mango Martini
When temperatures hit new highs, there are only a few summer vodka drinks that will do the trick, and this is certainly one of them.
Ingredients:
Serves: 4 people
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of water
- 11 inch-long piece of ginger, sliced
- 2 medium sized mangos, peeled and pitted
- 3/4 cup of vodka
- 3 cups of ice
Directions:
- Mix the sugar, 1/2 cup of water, and ginger in a saucepan and stir it over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, then let it steep for 1 hour.
- After an hour, strain the ginger syrup and leave it to cool.
- Place both mangos into a blender and puree them.
- With the mango puree still in the blender, add your ginger syrup, vodka, and ice. Blend all the ingredients until smooth.
Rum Swizzle
Referred to as “Bermuda’s national drink,” a rum swizzle will have you feeling like you’re in paradise…even if you’re really just in your backyard.
Ingredients:
Serves: 4 people
- 1/2 cup of black rum
- 1/2 cup of gold rum
- 1 cup of pineapple juice
- 1 cup of orange juice
- 1/2 shot of grenadine flavoring syrup
Directions:
- Fill a large pitcher a third of the way with crushed or shaved ice.
- Add all the ingredients in and stir it well, or shake each drink in a shaker (this will give you the most authentic results!).
- Strain it into glasses with a few ice cubes.
- Garnish each glass with a pineapple or orange slice.
Melon-ball Wine
Instead of reaching for ice cubes (which we just learned is apparently a big “no-no” in the wine world), let melon balls keep your drink cool while simultaneously giving your wine a fruity kick.
Ingredients:
Serves: 6 people
- 1 large melon
- 1/4 cup of honey
- One bottle (750ml) of your favorite white wine
- 3/4 cup of triple sec
- 1 fresh lemon, juiced
Directions:
- Using a melon baller (or ice cream scooper if you don’t have a melon baller) scoop 12 melon balls. Lay them on a cookie sheet and place them in the freezer.
- In a small pan, dissolve honey in 2 tbsp. of warm water, then refrigerate it.
- Pour your bottle of wine into a pitcher and add the honey mixture, triple sec, and lemon juice.
- Put two melon balls in each glass and pour in your punch.
After a long week of work, you deserve to celebrate a little. Just make sure to drink responsibly
