This summer has been hot hot hot! And what better way to fight off the heat than some refreshing summer cocktails by the pool, at a picnic, with friends or straight out the blender from the comfort of your couch (no shame)!
Here are some summer cocktail recipes you have to try!
- Pimm’s Cup
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A Pimm’s cup is made in a pitcher or a jug so it’s perfect for large parties or sundowners with friends. Pimm’s is a gin-based liqueur that is used in the cocktail, hence the name. You can add more Pimm’s if you like a stronger cocktail.
Method:
Place ice in ¼ of the jug you’ll be using, followed by a selection of cut up fruit. I usually use oranges, a few slices of lemon, sliced cucumber and halved
strawberries. Then pour in 1 cup of Pimm’s and 2 cups of Sprite or lemonade. Generously top it off with a few sprigs of mint and stir! - Frosé
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This summer cocktail is by far the most exciting. I love wine and this cocktail takes it to the NEXT level! This frosé is essentially frozen Rosé- A pink adult slush puppy! This recipe uses frozen Rosé blended with frozen strawberries. However, it could also be substituted with a Sauvignon Blanc (white wine). If you’re on a budget, sweet Rosé box wine is perfect for this! Method: Take your Rosé and decant it in a freezer safe container, or if its box wine you can freeze it in the bag. Wait until frozen- This will normally take 6 hours, so best to freeze your Rosé and fruit the night before. Then blend your frozen Rosé and frozen strawberries in a blender with a few cubes of ice. You may want to add sugar if your wine is not very sweet.
- Blueberry G&T
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This is a twist on the classic gin and tonic using a blueberry syrup. The blueberries give this cocktail a vibrant purple colour. Pair it with a slice of lemon, cucumber and a sprig of mint is perfect for those golden hour Insta snaps.
Method:
For the syrup, place two cups of blueberries, 4 spoons of sugar, ¾ cup of water and a sprig of mint in a saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes stirring continuously. Place more water in as needed. Let the mixture cool down. Then place your simple syrup in gin glass (judge by your preferred sweetness). Add gin and ice. Pour over soda water or tonic, squeeze in a slice of lemon then place in the glass with slices of cucumber and garnish with sprigs of mint.
Tip: If the syrup is too sweet, use soda water instead of tonic, or put in one-part tonic and one-part soda water depending on your preferred sweetness. The blueberries can be replaced by any other seasonal fruit such as strawberries with black pepper, peaches or mangos with thyme. I really like to have fun with this recipe and try out different flavour combinations.
These cocktails are perfect for any occasion and best served chilled! Let us know how they turned out by sharing them to your Instagram story and tagging @hercampusuct. So let’s get making!