Summer time cocktails

[r3nts]

Don't let the post count fool you, I've been lurking PH forums for a while. Especially the food forums for those sweet sweet dirty takeaway pictures.
Anyway summer time is quickly approaching, and the majority of us enjoy any glimmer of sunshine. Sitting in the garden with a drink and any other vice in hand: dog, cig, ecig, wife or microfiber cloth.
What I want to know is what are your favorite summertime mixed drinks. Personally I cannot say no to a nice margarita in the late afternoon followed by a white russian in the evening when the sun has gone down.
Makes a change from the whiskey and ale threads.

[woody2846]

Im quite partial to a Tom Collins with plenty of crushed ice. Ahh bks looks like I know what I will be drinking in about an hours time!

[condor]

For summer, you can't really do better than a Pimms

Known, understood and appreciated by most folk

[twing]

condor said:

For summer, you can't really do better than a Pimms

Known, understood and appreciated by most folk

Don't forget a pinch of rosemary ;0

[condor]

Not heard of Rosemary to accompany, but mint, cucumber and a veritable fruit salad is usually par for the course.

[Mobile Chicane]

For those who find Pimm's (especially with lemonade) far too sweet, try this in a tumbler with ice:

2 measures gin
1 measure red vermouth
1/2 measure orange liqueur

Top up with fizzy water or soda, with slices of cucumber, orange and a sprig of mint.

Gert lush.

[Wadeski]

Its not a cocktail per se, but in the summer I like to make a big batch of ginger syrup (just make a standard sugar syrup of 2 cups water to 1 cup sugar, simmered gently for 15 minutes, but ad a handful of finely chopped ginger - let it cool a bit before straining as sugar burns are nasty).

Ginger syrup is a great base for summer cocktails with gin, whisky, vodka....whatever really. I use 1 part ginger syrup, 1 part lemon juice, a double shot of spirit and a little mint shaken and topped with soda as a long summer cooler.

[V41LEY]

Frozen Margaritas

Margarita pre-mix x 3 (cups)
Gold tequila x 1 cup
Cointreau x 1/2 cup
I can of that frozen concentrated lime juice
Crushed rock salt for the glass rim (optional)

Blend with crushed iced until get the consistency of a slush puppy
(Needs more ice than you would imagine)

Hot day + BBQ

[Bill]

Mojito
Rhubarb vodka and ginger beer
Rhubarb vodka martini (I use 2 parts vod to 1 vermouth, and a slice of stem ginger on a cocktail stick )

[Pooky67]

I'd never had a Bloody Mary until just recently, but will be enjoying many more from now on! Very fresh and spicy offset by the crunchy celery!

[Mobile Chicane]

Try it with beetroot juice. Scrumptious.

[J8 SVG]

Anything with rum. Favourite at the moment is Cranberry & Raspberry juice, loads of fresh lime, ice and a decent spiced rum

[GT03ROB]

V41LEY said:

Frozen Margaritas

Margarita pre-mix x 3 (cups)
Gold tequila x 1 cup
Cointreau x 1/2 cup
I can of that frozen concentrated lime juice
Crushed rock salt for the glass rim (optional)

Blend with crushed iced until get the consistency of a slush puppy
(Needs more ice than you would imagine)

Hot day + BBQ

Oh yes!!!

[Wadeski]

nice those pre-mixes are full of awful artificial stuff.

All you need for a cracking margarita is:

A lime
some light-colored agave nectar (look in the health foods section of your supermarket or a health food store. if they have multiple kinds, get the lightest colored one)
good quality 100% agave silver tequila. I like Tequila Ocho.

start with 2oz (50ml) of tequila in a cocktail shaker
add 3/4oz of agave nectar
add 1oz of lime juice
fill the shaker with ice and shake hard.

Strain into a tumbler filled with fresh ice. I like a bit of salt on the rim of the glass too.

Perfect marg!

[homerdog]

Wadeski said:

Perfect marg!

Couldn't agree more!

Americano is nice and refreshing, especially if you like the bitter taste of Campari.

Aperol spritz is also very refreshing, but much less bitter - it's also popular made with prosecco in place of wine.

My favourite though, is a Daiquiri, marginally ahead of the Margarita, but basically very similar, made with rum instead of tequila.

[Puggit]

Slojito - essentially a mojito but with sloe gin and basil instead of rum and mint: http://www.gordons-gin.co.uk/cocktails/slojito

Rum and ginger beer