Summer Cocktail Recipes

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While it’s true I am by nature a wine lover, there is no denying that a refreshing cocktail hits the spot in the summertime. They take a bit more effort and can be full of refined sugar but I have been experimenting with ways to reduce the amount of sugar in my favourite cocktails without sacrificing the taste. So far, I find the extra effort refreshingly worth it!

Here are 5 Delicious Cocktail Recipes that make an appearance on our deck every summer…a couple with a bit of a Lazy Spoon twist!

Classic Lime Margarita on the Rocks

This is definitely a favourite summer cocktail at our house. My husband claims mine are one of the best margaritas he’s ever had. Personally, I think he just says that so that I’m the one who has to make them! We like our margaritas a bit sweet but with the Triple Sec being quite high in sugar content already, I’ve started making the simple syrup with honey instead.

Ingredients

• serves 2
• Kosher salt
• 1.5 limes
• Ice
• 3 oz Silver Tequila
• 1.5 oz Triple Sec
• 2 oz Simple Syrup
• 2 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice

*when we don’t have simple syrup I use 1/2 cup Mott’s Margarita mix instead.

Preparation

Pour salt on a plate or Bar Glass Rimmer and zest one lime into the salt (use this lime to make the freshly squeezed lime juice). Cut 2 small lime wedges from the other lime and rub each rim of your cocktail glasses with the lime wedge. Rim the glasses with salt. Pour tequila, triple sec, simple syrup and lime juice into a Cocktail Shaker and then add ice. Shake until shaker frosts up. Pour evenly into each glass to about 3 quarters full. Add ice (apparently, if you add the ice first it waters down your drink and robs you of the frothy head. Huh!). Garnish with the lime wedge.

Sugar-Free Simple Syrup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup water

Preparation

In a saucepan over medium heat dissolve 1/2 cup honey in 1 cup water. Whisk until the honey has completely dissolved and the liquid comes to a slow rolling boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Spicy Pink Paloma

Margaritas aren’t the only favourite tequila cocktail of Mexico. These pretty pink cocktails are light and citrusy with a bit of fizz. Plus, they are so dang pretty and pink! The Tajin Classic Seasoning salt rim gives it a slightly spicy twist but it’s the perfect touch for this summer cocktail. Shout out to my sister-in-law who introduced me to this awesome cocktail and the suggestion to add tajin seasoning to the salt. You can add tajin to your margarita salt rim also.

Ingredients

• serves 2
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp Tajin Classic Seasoning
• 2 Grapefruit wedges
• 2 oz fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
• 4 oz Silver Tequila
• 2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• 2 oz grapefruit lime simple syrup

Preparation

Mix sugar, salt, and tajin on a plate or Bar Glass Rimmer . Rub the rim of 2 cocktail glasses with a grapefruit wedge and then rim with the sugar and salt mixture. Pour grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice, and syrup into a Cocktail Shaker and then fill with ice. Shake until shaker frosts up. Pour into the rimmed cocktail glass until each glass is about 3 quarters full. Add ice and garnish with the grapefruit wedge.

Grapefruit Lime Simple Syrup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup honey

Preparation

In a saucepan over medium heat dissolve grapefruit juice, lime juice, water, and honey. Whisk until the honey has completely dissolved and the liquid comes to a slow rolling boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Hugo Cocktail

This might actually be my favourite summer cocktail. I have this ongoing love affair with Prosecco so I guess that would explain why. I first discovered this cocktail at the German Pavilion of a Cultural Festival held in Regina each year and have been trying to perfect it ever since.

Ingredients

• serves 1
• Ice
• Mint
• 3-parts Prosecco
• 1-part Elderflower syrup
• Splash of club soda
• Lime or Lemon

Preparation

Fill a wine glass with ice and tear in a couple of mint leaves. The amount of elderflower and prosecco will depend on the size of your wine glass but you’ll want to add 1-part elderflower mead and then 3-parts prosecco. Top with a splash of club soda and a twist of lime or lemon. Drop the lime/lemon wedge in for garnish.

Fermented Moscow Mule

Don’t let the fermented part scare you! I feel like I would love Moscow Mules but can’t stomach the ginger beer. One hot summer day at the lake my girlfriend and I were experimenting with cocktail recipes but also trying to keep the sugar at bay. That’s when we discovered our version of a Moscow mule, Kombucha style!

Ingredients

• serves 1
• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz lime juice
• Ice
• 1/2 cup Ginger Kombucha
• Twist of lime

Preparation

Pour vodka and lime juice into a mug (a classic Moscow Mule is served in a copper mug). Add ice and ginger kombucha. Squeeze in a twist of lime and then drop the lime wedge into the drink for garnish. Easy! It’s not going to be as gingery as when you use the ginger beer but that’s why I like this variation.

The Gimlet

My husband recently had a tour of Black Fox Farm & Distillery which is a local distillery in Saskatchewan. He brought home some of their Cucumber Gin for us to try and we found it made for a perfect Gimlet. This is a delightfully light and refreshing cocktail for a summer happy hour.

Ingredients

• serves 2
• 4 oz Cucumber Gin
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1 oz Simple Syrup (see my Sugar Free Simple Syrup recipe above)
• Splash Club Soda
• Cucumber wheel or lime wedge for garnish

Preparation

Fill a Cocktail Shaker with ice and then add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. Stir with a long cocktail spoon until it’s very cold. Strain over a cocktail glass filled with ice. Add a splash of club soda and garnish with a cucumber wheel on the side of the glass or add a twist of lime and drop into the drink.

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I hope your summer evenings are filled with family, friends, and fireflies. And wherever you are and whoever you’re enjoying a cocktail with, please drink responsibly.

Cheers!