Summer Cocktails: Easy and Fresh

Celebrating the last of summer by featuring a few of our favorite cocktail recipes that we enjoyed during our favorite season in Maine! We love a drink recipe that is easy to make with simple ingredients. So many of our clients love to host, especially right after their kitchen is finished, and these are tested and approved drinks to have when showing off and enjoying your new space. Truthfully, any time of the year!

Strawberry-Basil Smash

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup sugar

• 12 ounce strawberries, hulled (2 1/4 cups)

• 1 cup fresh lemon juice

• ½ cup packed fresh basil leaves

• Gin, vodka, silver tequila, or white rum

• Sparkling water, chilled

Directions:

1. In a pitcher combine 4 cups water and the sugar. Stir until dissolved.

2. Add strawberries, lemon juice, and basil. Using an immersion blender, blend 2 minutes or until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids. Skim off and discard any foam. Chill, covered, up to 24 hours.

3. For each drink, pour about 3/4 cup strawberry mixture into a highball glass filled with ice. Stir in 1 to 2 ounces desired alcohol. Top with a splash of sparkling water. If desired, garnish with sliced strawberries and additional basil leaves. Serves 6 to 8.

*Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens

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Paloma

Ingredients:

• Grapefruit Wedge

• 2 oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice (1/4 cup)

• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice (1 Tbsp)

• 1 tsp Sugar

• 2 oz Mezcal or Tequila (1/4 cup)

• 2 oz Club Soda (1/4 cup)

• kosher salt

Directions:

Pour some kosher salt on a plate. Rub half of rim of a highball glass with grapefruit wedge; dip rim of glass in salt. Combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sugar in glass; stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in mezcal, add ice, and top off with club soda. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

*Recipe From Bon Appetit

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The Classic Pimm’s Cup Recipe

Ingredients:

• Pimm’s No. 1

• Sparkiling Lemonade

• Lemon Juice

• Garnishes: Strawberries, Lemons, Cucumbers, Basil! Go crazy!

Directions:

1. Squeeze half a cup of lemon juice. This takes about 3-4 lemons, depending on how juicy they are.

2. Pour the lemon juice into a large pitcher along with your Pimm’s No. 1 and sparkling lemonade.

3. Add some of your fresh basil leaves, strawberries and cucumber slices to the pitcher, and let it infuse for ten minutes.

4. Fill everyone’s glasses with lots of ice, and pour everyone a Pimm’s Cup. Garnish like crazy. Toast to the host(ess) with the most!

Recipe from The Modern Proper

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