As we slide into the last month of summer, it’s not to late to take advantage of the season and make these best summer cocktails.
So I’m the first to admit that I’m not a huge fan of “clips” episodes – you know, those annoying t.v. episodes that just round up all the various events that happened over a season. I ran across one the other day in the most unexpected t.v. show – the 1990s and early 2000s version of The Outer Limits. It was a clip episode of all the alien encounters on the show – with some loosely affiliated story line surrounding it. We made it half way through before it dawned on me it was a clips episode…so we skipped the rest of it. And yes, it’s that time of year when there’s nothing new on, so we are diving at the bottom of the barrel on Hulu and Netflix trying to find something that has lots of seasons to watch. We’re both sci-fi fans, so The Outer Limits is mostly working.
But frankly, sometimes it’s better with a cocktail in hand. This time of year, it’s just warm and sunny enough, even here on the temperate Southern Oregon coast, to want a light and refreshing drink. These are five of the best summer cocktails on the blog (more or less as determined by statistics – with one or two thrown in because they are just my favorite).
First up is a Thyme Cucumber Martini. This is a great way to make use of both abundant thyme, but also abundant cucumbers. Personally, I’d make this with whatever kind of cucumber I have on hand, but wouldn’t it be adorable with a watermelon cucumber for garnish?
Next is The Storm Cocktail. This one takes advantage of generous usage of blue caracao, which kind of happens to be my favorite summer liqueur. I love Tiki style drinks with paper umbrellas – and even more so of they are served at a swim up bar, say, in Mexico.
As the temperatures sore into the 100s in some parts of the country, you may need a Limoncello Lemon Drop to cool off. Bonus points if you still have homemade limoncello hanging out in your fridge to use on this one.
One of my personal favorites is the Cherry Vanilla Vodka Cola Cocktail. This is a great cocktail for early afternoon imbibing (ok, so I’m old enough to avoid caffeine after sundown).
Last, but not least, whether you live on the coast or just dream about it, it’s always a good time for a Vitamin Sea Martini.
So kick back this weekend, relax, and enjoy one of these best summer cocktails.
