Refreshing Summer Cocktails

Summer is the best time of year for a refreshing cocktail. Whether you are sitting on the deck enjoying the weather, hosting a BBQ, spending a day at the beach….you get the idea 😊…a festive cocktail can really help beat the heat. I’ve compiled a list of 4 of my favorite cocktails. They are fun, bright, and full of flavor.

Blue Hawaiian Cocktail

This cocktail is essentially a blue version of a Pina Colada and promises a little taste of tropical paradise. It’s designed to make you feel like summer no matter how bad the weather is outside. I chose to serve this drink “on the rocks” style by pouring over ice but you can also create a blended version of the cocktail by mixing all the ingredients with ice in a blender. It’s very easy to make – shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, pour over ice, and garnish. You can dress it up with a cocktail umbrella, Hibiscus flower, fruit slices, cherries, etc.

The recipe can be found here.

Rum Punch Cocktail

This cocktail is reminiscent of a Caribbean sunset with it’s citrus flavors and bright colors. It makes you want to lay in a hammock and relax…and watch the previously mentioned sunset 😊 There are many recipes for Rum Punch out there. What’s unique about this version is the use of lime juice and (heavy use) of grenadine syrup. This is also very easy to make – fill a glass with ice, layer ingredients on top, and garnish.

The recipe can be found here.

Bahama Mama Cocktail

This cocktail is a combination of fruit juices, various rums, grenadine, and fruit slices. It’s a summertime drink with a tropical taste and is similar to a Rum Punch, but has slightly different flavors. Again, this is easy to make – fill a glass with ice, layer ingredients on top, and garnish. However, you can turn this into a blended drink by mixing all the ingredients with ice in a blender. I chose the “on the rocks” version but don’t worry, it didn’t last long enough for the ice to melt 😊

The recipe can be found here.

Lava Flow Cocktail

This cocktail is a blended drink that’s (again) similar to a Pina Colada but has the look of flowing lava with the different colors of the drink twisting together. It’s a fun and authentic tropical drink. This cocktail takes a bit more effort to make, but only because there are a few extra steps involved. You puree the strawberries and rum, then liquify the juice with the ice, and pour both into a glass to create the look of “lava” flowing up the sides of the glass.