7 Delicious Summer Cocktails

Summer has arrived in Calgary! Normally, I expect June in Calgary to be not very warm and very rainy. This year it has been the opposite. It’s been hot, hot, hot….in fact we set a temperature record in Calgary on last Sunday.

The sunny and dry weather isn’t that great for my yard but it is PERFECT for a patio party. Nothing says fun, summer party on the patio like cocktails. Here are some great cocktail recipes that your guests will love.

Frozen Margaritas

Dewey is the king of frozen margaritas. Yep, I said it. He makes amazing margaritas that I could drink all day on the patio. Well, I could IF I had nothing else to do and didn’t need to actually function. If you don’t have a margarita machine, you can use a high quality blender. Be careful, though, once you make these for friends you will be asked to make them again and again.

Caesar (aka The Bloody Caesar)

The Caesar is a drink that I had to learn to love. When I first tried it, I thought “Yuck!” I couldn’t get past the fact that it uses Clamato juice. Then I tried them again and loved them. It’s like a spicy Bloody Mary but less thick. I prefer mine extra spicy. Just talking about drinking a Caesar is making my mouth water. Make sure you buy a LOT of Caesar fixings because once you start making them you will be making them all night.

Blackcurrant Drop and Aquavit Sparkler

Jo-Anna over at A Pretty Life came up with this lovely cocktail that is perfect for a sunny summer afternoon. She features a liqueur and a spirit from one of my favorite distillers, Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. I got to meet the family behind the company when I attended ROAM in Kelowna. If you ever visit, you MUST visit!

Mojitos

Mmmm….mint….mmmm…..lime. Bring those two yummy flavors together and you have a mojito. One of my favorite summer drinks which requires me to actually grow mint in my garden. YUM!

Strawberry Gin and Tonic

Heather at Home to Heather came up with this delicious twist on a traditional gin and tonic. Strawberries are just starting to hit the markets so I see one of these in my future. Yum!

White Wine Sangria

Sangria is the perfect drink for when you have a group of friends over. It is easy to make it by the pitcher so that you are not stuck mixing cocktails for hours on end. Make a pitcher, pour a glass and enjoy chatting with your guests.

Sweet Tea Vodka Cocktails

Sweet tea vodka is a bit like southern iced tea with a kick. Brew up a jar and keep it to mix with lemonade, lemon san pellogrino or anything you might drink with iced tea. Just be careful and don’t let the tea steep in the vodka too long because it can get a bit bitter if you don’t watch it.

What is your signature summer cocktail?