IMBIBE: Simple Summah Cocktails

It’s so easy to overdo it. Like when you offer to host a summer barbeque and realize this also means you should have drinks; after creating your bbq sauce from scratch you find yourself muddling mint for 40 drinks … by hand … for two hours.

I may have done something like this in the past. Now when I think of summer cocktails, I think of leaving it simple if I’m making them at home. Keep it simple, stupid — yes, KISS cocktails.

Here are a few ideas of easy cocktails. Like five or fewer ingredients without the need for belabored concocting … not a lot of muddling, scraping, pounding, boiling, etc., unless you want to make it more complicated, in which case you can only blame yourself.

What: Tequila Spritz

Why: We’ve all heard of white wine spritzers and skinny margaritas. I’ve been making and ordering this as an alternative to overly sweet margaritas and yawningly boring vodka clubs. 

Go Get:

1.5 oz Silver Tequila (Espolon or Milagro on my budget, but use whatever you like)

6-8 oz club soda

½ a lime, sliced and squeezed

1-2 slices of orange or tangerine

Make: Put ice then the lime slices and lime juice in a highball, pour in the rest of the ingredients and float the slices of orange or tangerine.

What: The Classic from Douro

Why: This classic beverage hails from Portugal for cooling off on hot summer days.

Got Get:

2 oz White Port

4 oz  club soda

slice of lime

Make: Pour over ice in a highball and garnish with the slice of lime.

What: Bubble Me Up

Why: A take on the super easy and classic champagne cocktail. I like this lots on summer evenings … or mornings. Ahem.

Go Get:

4 oz Bubbly*

1 ripe strawberry, mashed or sliced up

Orange bitters

Mint leaf

Optional: ½ oz Hendrick’s or the Botanist Gin

Make: Put the strawberry in the bottom of a flute and soak it with the orange bitters (say around five dashes). Add the gin if you’re feeling boozy. Top with chilled bubbly of your choice and garnish with a mint leaf.

*Go for a dry style – Brut, and do try a less expensive bubbly like a Cava, Blanquette de Limoux or Bulles.

Now, go kiss off already.