Wishing you were sipping something cool on a beach this summer? Have a little fun at home this weekend by getting creative in the kitchen with some seasonal cocktails! We spoke to some of the area’s top bartenders to find out their favorite summer sips. Give ’em a try!
Blueberry Lemonade
From Teresa’s Prime lead bartender Alyssa Zajac
Ingredients
1.5 oz blueberry vodka
2 oz coconut water
1 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz simple syrup
Directions
1. Shake all ingredients.
2. Strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass.
3. Garnish with fresh thyme sprig and
lemon wheel.
Tequila Cucumber Smash
From Justin Quam, Dal Mare
Ingredients
3-4 slices cucumber (leave the skin on if you like)
2-3 slices of lime
1 small bunch thyme
2 oz tequila (you can really use anything, dark or silver, you could even use Mezcal)
1 oz simple syrup (Agave nectar makes it even tastier)
3 oz soda water
Dash of kosher salt
Directions
1. Muddle your cucumber, lime, and thyme with salt in a tall glass.
2. Add ice to fill the glass, add soda water, then add in your tequila and syrup.
3. Garnish with a wheel of cucumber and lime, add a straw, and you’re ready to enjoy.
Not What You Think
Jay Murray, Ellis Square Social
Ingredients
1 quartered strawberry
1 bird’s eye chili
2 oz infused tequila
1 oz lemon juice
1 tbsp simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
1 lemon wheel
Directions
1: Infuse blanco tequila with cucumber, strawberry and Thai bird’s eye chili for about a week.
2. Muddle together strawberry, bird’s eye chili, infused tequila, lemon juice, simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill glass with ice cubes and strain mixture into glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Fresh Watermelon Martini
From Teresa’s Prime lead bartender Alyssa Zajac
Ingredients
8 cubes of fresh watermelon
2 oz of your favorite vodka
1 oz simple syrup
Directions
1. Muddle watermelon in a pint glass.
2. Add ice and shake all ingredients together.
3. Double strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with fresh watermelon triangle.