By Valerie Franklin (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: May 21, 2014
Are you graduating? Going on vacation? Just glad summer is here? Whatever your reason, there’s something to celebrate, so here are some of our favourite mixed drinks for the hot months. Readers under 19, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered with virgin alternatives. As always, drink responsibly.
Strawberry daiquiri
The ultimate “I’m on vacation, dammit” drink. Sweet, summery, and smooth, this one is worth having to clean the blender afterwards. Makes four to six servings.
Ingredients:
6 oz. rum
3 cups strawberries, cored (fresh or frozen)
1 cup 7 Up or Sprite
¼ cup lime juice
½ cup lemon juice
4 cups ice
Directions:
Blend all ingredients into a slushy. Pour into
tall glasses, decorate with a twist of lime, and
try to remember to share.
Make it virgin:
Replace the rum with more soda.
Mint julep
The mint julep is an icon of the sweltering southern states for a reason — it’s refreshing and gets you drunk! This International Bartenders Association-approved recipe is best served on the front porch on a sweaty summer afternoon. Makes one serving.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. bourbon
4 mint leaves
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp water
Directions:
Muddle the mint, sugar, and water in the bot
tom of a highball glass. Fill the glass about
two thirds of the way with crushed ice. Pour
in the bourbon and stir. Top it off with more
ice and garnish with — what else? — a sprig
of mint.
Make it virgin:
Replace the bourbon, sugar, and water with
ginger ale or iced tea.
Bellini
This simple recipe is from the Italian bar that originally created the famous Bellini — not the artificially-flavoured slushy Milestones serves, but a bubbly cocktail with the juicy sweetness of real peaches. Adds a touch of boozy elegance to any brunch.
Ingredients:
1 part fresh peach purée
3 parts Prosecco or other dry sparkling wine,
chilled
Directions:
Spoon the peach purée into a champagne
flute. Pour the Prosecco over top and stir, but
gently — you want to preserve the bubbles.
If you feel like playing Martha Stewart, gar
nish by dropping a couple of fresh blueber
ries into the drink. Cheers!
Make it virgin:
Replace the Prosecco with a not-too-sweet
citrus soda like San Pellegrino’s Limonata.
