Learn / 12 Summer Cocktails To Enjoy in the Shade
July 7th, 2023
In the heart of the sultry summer, under the golden tapestry of the sun, there's a timeless symphony that sings of refreshing cocktails. They are the glistening dew on a balmy afternoon, the jubilant laughter on a long summer night, and the quintessence of a season that blooms in warmth and vibrancy.
Come, wander with us through this realm of flavors, where every sip is a story and every garnish a whisper of nostalgia. We begin our journey with the timeless classics — cocktails that have stood the test of time, with their roots buried deep in the archives of mixology.
What renders a cocktail classic, you might wonder? Is it the splash of tequila that sparks memories of sun-kissed beaches and salt-rimmed glasses? Or the effervescence of a bubbly Prosecco that paints a picture of Italian summers and leisurely brunches? Perhaps it's the swirl of lime juice, the stir of simple syrup, or the blush of rosé that marks a summer cocktail in its traditional garb.
A classic summer cocktail is, after all, a symphony of spirits and mixers, a ballet of flavor notes that pirouettes on your palate, a harmony of liqueur and garnish that narrates tales of long, lazy summer days.
Let's uncover the secrets of these classic cocktails, where every sip is a celebration of summer's bounty and every ingredient is a verse in this season's poem.
A classic summer cocktail is one that keeps our spirits high and our bodies cool, a masterful blend of spirits, mixers, and garnish that provide an escape from the everyday.
Sipped in the shade of a tree or at the edge of summer heat or on a sun-kissed towel as you sprawl out atop the sandy beach, these seven best summer cocktails can amplify the exquisite moments they bring to life, one tangy, tantalizing sip at a time.
1. Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita
This pineapple jalapeño margarita recipe dances between the lines of sweetness and spice, making it the perfect companion for a fiery summer afternoon. The warmth of the jalapeño is balanced by the cool pineapple juice, resulting in a complex but refreshing summer cocktail.
Ingredients:
Muddle a few slices of jalapeño at the bottom of a shaker. Then, add the tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice, and pineapple juice. Shake until well combined and strain into a salt-rimmed glass over ice.
2. Strawberry Daiquiri
A Strawberry daiquiri, with its sweet strawberries and tart lime juice, evokes the lushness of summer in every sip. Its bright red hue and fruity flavor make it an irresistible summer drink.
Ingredients:
Muddle the strawberries in a shaker. Add the rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Then, shake well and strain into a glass over ice.
3. Watermelon Mojito
A watermelon mojito, with its blend of fresh mint, lime, and watermelon juice, offers a refreshing twist to the classic mojito, making it a perfect thirst quencher for hot summer days.
Ingredients:
Muddle mint leaves and sugar in a glass. Add rum, lime juice, and watermelon juice.
Stir well, add ice, and top with club soda.
4. Sex on the Beach
This provocative cocktail with a mix of fruity flavors like orange, cranberry, and peach is as tantalizing as a summer romance, a delicious ode to the carefree days of the season.
Ingredients:
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a highball glass over ice.
5. Fizzy Peach Sangria
Imagine the bursting flavor of summer fruits mingling with the effervescence of sparkling soda water, all united by the subtle sweetness of white wine. That's the magic of this fizzy peach sangria, a delightful nod to traditional Spanish Sangria with a lively, fizzy twist.
Ingredients:
In a large pitcher, combine the white wine, club soda, and peach vodka. Stir until well mixed.
Add the slices of fresh peach and let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours, allowing the flavors to meld together and the peaches to infuse their sweet essence into the liquid.
Serve in large wine glasses, making sure to distribute the peach slices evenly. Garnish with fresh mint leaves to add a layer of aromatic complexity, and enjoy the sweet symphony of summer flavors.
6. Tequila Sunrise
Like a sun-dappled morning caught in a glass, the tequila sunrise mesmerizes with its radiant hues and enchanting blend of flavors. In every sip, experience the tang of citrus, the warm kiss of tequila, and the sweetness of a summer dawn.
Ingredients:
Fill a highball glass with ice, then pour in the tequila, followed by the fresh orange juice, and gently stir. Next, slowly pour the grenadine into the glass. It will sink to the bottom, creating a beautiful gradient of color resembling a sunrise.
Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Relish in the vibrant taste and the serene beauty this classic cocktail offers.
7. Summer Vermouth Spritzer
The summer vermouth spritzer is a light and effervescent concoction, an embodiment of summer's playful and rejuvenating spirit. The distinct aromatics of vermouth seamlessly meld with the brightness of lemon and the light kiss of bubbles, creating an ethereal and invigorating drinking experience.
Ingredients:
In a glass filled with ice, combine the dry vermouth and fresh lemon juice. Top up the glass with club soda, adding a refreshing effervescence to the blend.
Next, garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of fresh mint. Take a moment to appreciate the crispness of the drink, a refreshing respite from the summer heat.
In the ebb and flow of life, there's a thirst for transcendence, for moments savored without the sting of tomorrow's regret. Enter Aplós, a reimagining of how we engage with our senses, a thoughtful pause in a world often moving too quickly.
Choosing non-alcoholic cocktails does not mean sacrificing depth or complexity. Aplós' Calme and Arise, with their botanical infusions, offer experiences unique in their sphere. Calme soothes with a blend of citrus and herbal notes infused with CBD-rich broad-spectrum hemp extract, while Arise enlivens with earthy, herbal, and citrusy notes bolstered by adaptogens.
These spirits deliver their respective calming and exciting effects, all while avoiding the negative impacts of alcohol, proving that pleasure need not be paid for in tomorrow's discomfort. Discover a new way to experience summer’s softest moments with these five non-alcoholic drink recipes.
1. After the Beach
Like the lingering satisfaction of a day spent on the sandy shore, this cocktail captures the essence of sea, sun, and sand in a glass, creating a soothing contrast to the scorching summer day.
Ingredients:
Add all ingredients, except soda water, to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a sprinkle of pink salt on the rim.
2. Aplós Negroni
Prolong the enjoyment of your long weekend with this twist on the classic Negroni, swapping the bitterness of Campari for the earthy notes of Aplós Arise, enhanced with a splash of blood orange bitters.
Ingredients:
Pour all ingredients into a glass over a large ice cube. Stir gently and garnish with a slice of fresh orange.
3. Summer in the Garden
Evoke the tranquility of a summer garden at dusk with this refreshing cocktail, featuring soothing Aplós Calme complemented by the tangy freshness of grapefruit and the calming notes of lavender.
Ingredients:
In a shaker, combine Aplós Calme, grapefruit juice, and lavender syrup. Shake and strain into a coupe or flute filled with ice. Add sparkling water and garnish with flower sprigs.
4. Aplós Mojito
Extend the joy of a long weekend with this reimagined mojito, swapping rum for Aplós Arise for a sophisticated, elevated twist on the classic.
Ingredients:
In a shaker, combine Aplós Arise, sugar, and lime juice. Shake and strain into a highball glass over ice. Add soda water and garnish with fresh mint leaves and flower sprigs if you have them handy.
5. Nowhere To Go, Nothing To Do
Toast to unexpected free time with this delightful concoction, a tribute to the joy of the unexpected and the freedom of having no particular place to be. Unwind with the smoothness of Aplós Calme, a soothing partner to the crisp watermelon and tangy lemon, marking a moment stolen from time.
Ingredients:
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake until well blended. Strain into a coupe glass or flute. Garnish with a slice of watermelon or a curl of lemon peel, and relish the liberation of time that belongs solely to you.
As summer unfurls its golden rays and the heat dances in mirage-like waves over sun-dappled landscapes, our desires shift to seek respite, rejuvenation, and a certain liberation from life's constants. The sweet nectar of a well-crafted cocktail can effortlessly evoke this sense of summertime splendor, capturing the essence of golden afternoons and sultry nights within a vessel.
Whether it's the smoky undercurrent of a classic margarita, the tropical melody of a Mai Tai, or the invigorating refreshment of an Aplós Mojito, each sip is a sensorial journey that mirrors the expansiveness of the season.
Each Aplós-inspired creation serves not merely as a refreshing beverage but as a philosophical moment in a glass, a celebration of the present, unfettered by the looming specter of tomorrow's hangover.
So, as we bask in the languid flow of summertime, let's raise a glass to the luxury of choice, the pleasure of conscious consumption, and the wondrous possibility of discovery.
Sources:
Cannabidiol use and effectiveness: real-world evidence from a Canadian medical cannabis clinic | PMC
No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health | World Health Organization