With summer just around the corner, it's time to break out the deck chairs, fancy glasses and sunscreen, because your garden is the perfect place to beat the heat in style! Whether you’re relaxing in your summerhouse, or hosting a summer blowout from behind your garden bar, what would the summer be without a refreshing cocktail in hand while you catch some rays?
To help you prepare, we’ve made a list of cocktails to compliment a heatwave you and your guests will remember (or not).
Mojito
A Havana classic with so many different flavours, this cocktail is assured to be the ideal summer choice! From pineapple, to mango, to strawberry, this drink is perfect for complementing any guest, and for guests to complement your mixing skills.
Ingredients
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- small handful mint leaves, plus extra sprig to serve
- 60ml white rum
- soda water, to taste
- (optional) fruit of choice
Method
- Muddle the lime juice, fruit of choice, sugar and leaves of mint in a small jug, crushing the mint as you go. Pour into a tall glass and add a handful of ice.
- Pour over the rum and stir with a long spoon. Top up with your soda water, garnish with mint and serve.
Mai Tai
A famous Tiki cocktail, with freshly squeezed orange and lime juice to complement the boozy flavours of rum, this cocktail will transform your garden bar into a Hawaiian dream. Accompanied perfectly with fresh fruit, this refreshing drink will have you and your guests reaching for the grass skirts in no time.
Ingredients
- 25ml golden rum
- 1 tbsp orange curacao
- 2 tsp orgeat syrup
- 25ml lime juice
- 2 tsp sugar syrup
- ice cubes
- crushed ice
- 25ml dark rum
Method
- Pour the rum, curacao, orgeat syrup, lime juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with some ice cubes. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels really cold.
- Fill a tumbler with crushed ice, then strain the cocktail over it. pour the dark rum slowly over the top of the drink til the surface is golden.
- Garnish with a fruit of your choice.
Tequila Sunrise
Nothing says summer like the colours of a Tequila Sunrise! This colourful concoction is surprisingly easy to make, and make many you will! You and your guests are sure to love this iconic summer drink without the need for a mixologist on standby.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp grenadine ice
- 50ml tequila
- 1 tbsp triple sec
- 1 large orange, or 2 small ones, juiced
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 cocktail cherry
Method
- Pour the grenadine into the base of a tall glass and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the tequila, triple sec and fruit juices. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels cold.
- Add a few ice cubes to the serving glass then carefully double strain the cocktail into it, trying not to disturb the grenadine layer too much. Add more ice if needed to fill the glass then garnish with a cherry on a stick or cocktail umbrella.
Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri
Fancy a thicker drink while lounging in your garden? The Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri is our go to! This refreshing, ice cold and slushy cocktail is perfect for beating the heat. Serve this one up from a large pitcher and enjoy the fruity flavours in the sun.
Ingredients
- 500g strawberries, hulled
- 200g ice
- 100ml rum
- juice 1/2 lime
- 1-2 tbsp sugar syrup, optional
- 2 slices of limes
- 1 strawberry, halved
- 2 cocktail sticks
Method
- Blend the strawberries then push through a sieve to remove some of the seeds. Tip the sieved puree into the blender again and add the ice, rum, 1-2 tbsp sugar syrup depending on how sweet you like your drinks and lime juice. Blend again and divide the mixture between 2 Martini glasses.
- Thread the lime slices and strawberry halves onto the cocktail sticks and place onto the edge of the glass, serve immediately.
Piña Colada
The iconic Piña Colada is a Spanish staple of summer fun. This creamy and coconutty cocktail is guaranteed to impress. While being another super simple mix, There’s a reason why this drink is a favourite in beach bars across the world! (Serving in a coconut is optional but recommended!)
Ingredients
- 120ml pineapple juice
- 60ml white rum
- 60ml coconut cream
- wedge of pineapple, to garnish (optional)
Method
- Place all the ingredients and some ice in a blender until smooth. Pour into a tall glass (or coconut) and garnish as you like.
Dark n’ Stormy
Straight from Bermuda, this mysterious yet delicious drink will transport your garden to the Caribbean coast! Made with ginger beer and dark rum, this sweet yet spicy mix is a legendary choice for sitting in the sun.
Ingredients
- 50ml dark rum
- 25ml fresh lime juice, plus a wedge to serve
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 5ml sugar syrup (optional)
- 100ml chilled ginger beer (a good fiery variety)
Method
- Put all the ingredients in a Highball glass over lots of ice, stir and garnish with a wedge of lime.
How are you using your garden bar or summerhouse this summer? Let us know on our Facebook page.
All recipes courtesy of bbcgoodfood.com
