Summer’s unofficial kickoff weekend is finally here! Whether you’re taking a staycation to veg out at home this Memorial Day weekend or you’re hopping on the beach bum bandwagon, celebrating summer always tastes better with a cocktail. Not just fru-fru drinks for the ladies, this summer’s cocktail menu includes some flavors for the fellas. Shaken or stirred, these drinks are worth your sip.
For the girls:
Riesling Strawberry Slushies
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups hulled strawberries
- 1 bottle (750ml) dry Riesling
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 ½ tbsp sugar
Directions
Reserve one cup of Riesling, cover and place in fridge to chill. In a food processor, puree strawberries with the remaining wine, lime juice and sugar. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. When you’re ready to serve, puree the ice cubes with the remaining wine in your blender! Sip and savor!
Spike Blueberry Lemonade
Yields: 8 cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 6 cups water
- ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1-2 cups citron flavored vodka
Directions
Pour all ingredients in a pitcher and stir until sugar dissolves. Muddle the blueberries using the back of a wooden spoon to release their juices and color. Taste and adjust sugar if needed, then serve chilled and enjoy!
For the boys:
Summer Cherry Sours
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Cherry Citrus-Ade (recipe below)
- 2 ounces brandy
- 2 ounces whiskey
- 4 8-ounce mason jar glasses
- Cocktail shaker
Directions
Pour the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously for a few seconds and pour over ice into four eight ounce mason jar glasses.
Cherry Citrus-Ade
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cherries, pitted
- 2 ounces simple syrup
- 2 ounces lemon juice
- 2 ounces lime juice
- ½ cup grapefruit juice
- 1 quart pitcher
- Muddler
- Citrus reamer
- Paring knife
Directions
Add the cherries and the simple syrup to the pitcher. Muddle the cherries until they are broken apart. Add the lemon juice, lime juice and grapefruit juice. Mix well. Serve over ice (with above cocktail mix) or on its own.
Snakebite
Serves: 1
Ingredients
8 oz. hard cider
8 oz. stout beer
Directions
Pour cider into pint glass. Very slowly pour the stout over the back of a wide bar spoon, so that the beer sits on top of the cider.
Cheers!



