Make summer fun with these refreshing cocktails

There’s nothing better than lounging by the pool or on the patio with a refreshing drink in hand while the sun beats down and replenishes lost vitamin D. Before purchasing enough ingredients to stock an entire bar, consider these easy summer cocktail recipes.

Summer vodka and mint lemonade

Ingredients

2 cups vodka,
4 cups lemonade
fresh mint
half cup sliced strawberries
lime
ice

Directions: Combine vodka, lemonade, half of the strawberries and half of the mint leaves in a bowl. Muddle until fruit is slightly mashed. Fill glass with ice and add the remainder of the mint and berries. Pour mixture into class. Garnish with lime slice. Repeat for each person who wants to enjoy this tasty treat with you!

Hawaiian mimosas

Ingredients

coconut rum
cold pineapple juice
cold champagne or prosecco
pineapple slices
cherries for garnish

Directions: For each mimosa, add one-ounce coconut rum and two ounces of pineapple juice to a champagne glass and top with champagne. Garnish with pineapple slice and cherry to really make it feel like a tropical getaway!

Strawberry basil Moscow Mule

Ingredients

four strawberries hulled and quartered, plus some for garnish
4 fresh basil leaves
three ounces of vodka
one lime
crushed ice
ginger beer

Directions: Place strawberries, basil and a splash of ginger beer in a copper mug and muddle. Squeeze half of a lime into the mix. Fill mug almost full with crushed ice and top off with cold ginger beer. Add a strawberry or basil leaf as garnish, stir and enjoy!

Grapefruit salty dog

Ingredients

⅓ cup freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice
vodka
sea salt
grapefruit slice for garnish
crushed ice

Directions: Wet the rim of a glass with water or grapefruit slice. Dip in sea salt. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Combine juice and vodka (amount is up to you), stir to combine. Pour over ice and savor the easiest cocktail ever!

Moscato wine punch

Ingredients

one bottle of Moscato
raspberry lemonade
Sprite
blueberries
raspberries

Directions: Fill a glass with equal parts Moscato, lemonade and Sprite. Add berries for a little something extra special. It doesn’t get more simple than that!

Don’t work harder than you have to this summer by thinking of complicated cocktail recipes. Spend your time relaxing and enjoying company with friends with these delicious and easy drinks on hand!

Recipes provided by Jessica Zen