Drinks

5 Easy Summer Drinks You Can Make at Home

by Michael Satterfield

Summer is here and that means entertaining and long evenings on the porch with friends discussing the latest news over a cool drink. Since so many bars and restaurants have yet to reopen due to COVID-19 and other events, making your favorite drink at home for many is the only option.

I have been fortunate to travel to some amazing bars over the years and have become friends with some of the best bartenders in the country. Some have shared their recipes with me, others I have worked out based on watching them, or taking their mixology class. Each of these drinks is a classic, easy to make at home, and perfect for summer.

The spirits in the recipes below are some of my favorites but feel free to substitute your favorite gin, rum, or tequila.


Drink: Bee's Knees
Bar: Dichotomy, Waco, Texas
What you'll need:
2.0 oz. Hardshore Gin
.75 oz. Lemon Juice
.75 oz. Honey Syrup
Lemon to garnish.

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into an 8 oz. cocktail glass. Garnish with a wedge of lemon or lemon skin.



Drink: Mojito
Bar: Mulate’s Cajun Restaurant, New Orleans, Louisiana
What You Need:
1.5 oz. Bogart's Rum
1.5 oz. sweet & sour mix
3 lime wedges
Half handful mint
Simple syrup
Club soda

Place two lime wedges and mint in a glass or mug. Put just enough simple syrup to cover, and muddle. Add rum and sweet & sour mix, stir and add ice. Fill glass with club soda and serve with a sprig of mint and another lime wedge on the rim.



Drink: Mai Tai
What You Need:
1.5 oz. Coconut Flavoring Syrup
1 teaspoon grenadine syrup
3 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. orange juice

Place all ingredients shaker except the rum with ice. Strain into glass over ice and float the rum onto the top. Garnish with lime, pineapple spear, cherry, or all three. Serve with a straw.



Drink: Greyhound
Bar: Cafe van Kleef, Oakland, California
What You Need:
2 oz. Nemiroff Vodka
4 oz Grapefruit juice
Lime wedge for garnish

Add Vodka and Grapefruit juice over ice, stir and garnish with a lime wedge.



Drink: Frozen Margarita
Bar: Refresca Tequila Bar, at Pueblo Bonito. Los Cabos, Mexico
What You Need:
8 oz. Dano's Tequila
8 oz. lime juice
2 tablespoons agave syrup
6 cups of ice
Rimming Salt
   
Place all ingredients into a large blender, and blend until desired consistency is reached. Salt rims of glasses and pour the mix into glasses. Makes four large margaritas.
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