Summer Drinks!

Is Friday!

I can’t believe the week flew by so quit…

Well, since that is Friday I want to share some of my favorites drinks I made early this week during the 4th of July celebration. Your family and friends will enjoy these refreshing drinks.

1. Watermelon cooler
Ingredients

·4 cups 2-inch cubes watermelon

·1 cup vodka, chilled

·2 tablespoons honey (see note)

·Garnish: small watermelon wedges with rind (optional)

Directions

Freeze the watermelon chunks in a zip-top plastic bag until just frozen, about 1 hour. Remove from the freezer and add to a blender. Pour in the vodka and honey. Process until blended and pour into frosted cocktail or jelly glasses. Garnish, if desired.

2. Kiwi kiss

Ingredients

·1 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

·3/4 ounce lemongrass syrup

·1/2 ounce soju

·6 ounces dry sparkling sake, such as Zipang

·1 thick slice of kiwi, cut into a square, for garnish

·6-inch section of fresh lemongrass, cleaned and peeled, for garnish

Directions

Add the peeled kiwi slices to a rocks glass along with the lemongrass syrup and soju. Using a muddler, mash the kiwi. Fill the glass three-quarters full with ice. Top with the sparkling sake. Use a metal cocktail pick to make a hole through the square slice of kiwi. Thread the kiwi slice onto the lemongrass “spear” as a garnish.

3. Blush punch

Ingredients

·One 12-ounce container frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed

·4 cups cranberry juice cocktail

·4 cups club soda, chilled

·Garnish: lemon curls (optional)

Directions
Combine the pink lemonade concentrate and cranberry juice cocktail in a large pitcher or container. Stir in the club soda just before serving. Pour into champagne flutes. Garnish, if desired.

Muddle the mint and blackberries in a cocktail shaker. Add the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ½ cup ginger ale. Add ice and mix with bar spoon (don’t shake—remember there’s ginger ale in there). Pour into wide-mouth or tall cocktail glasses filled with ice. Top off with extra ginger ale to taste. Garnish, if desired.

Everyone have a great weekend!