There’s nothing quite like a warm, sunny Sunday spent catching up on some laughs with your girlfriends to help you relax and let go of the week’s stresses. It’s the time to kick back out in the back yard with a pitcher of something light and refreshing to drink. You might reach for that spicy Bloody Mary or peach Bellini, but try skipping those traditional flavors for fun cocktails perfect for the warm spring and summer weather. Focus on bright, fresh flavors and that will wow your girlfriend when you hand her a glass.
Watermelon Bellini
Things you’ll need:
Watermelon
Prosecco (Or substitute sparkling lemonade)
Lemon
Sugar
Watermelon makes for a light and versatile flavor for your cocktails. Not only is it sweet and refreshing, its vivid pink color also makes it as pretty as it is tasty. For a perfect mid-afternoon cocktail, combine watermelon and prosecco to make a watermelon Bellini. The original Bellini uses white peaches, but watermelon lightens the drink and gives it a bolder appearance. Puree chunks of seeded watermelon in your blender with a splash of lemon juice to brighten the flavors and a modest quantity of sugar or other sweetener to balance the lemon and bring out the melon’s flavor. Divide the puree into champagne flutes or other tall glasses and fill them up with the rest of your prosecco. For a kid-friendly version, substitute sparkling lemonade or a lemon-lime soda for the wine.
Watermelon Margarita or Mojito
Things you’ll need:
Watermelon
Lemon/lime
Sugar
Tequila and orange liqueur, or rum and mint leaves
If you’d like a little more kick in your cup, trade the bubbly for something with a little more heft. You can turn the same watermelon puree into a margarita or a mojito, whichever you prefer. Add a splash of lemon or lime juice to your blender instead of the sparkling wine and puree it until it’s smooth. Give the drink a West Coast spin by adding tequila and a splash of orange liqueur and calling it a watermelon margarita. Fancy some rum? Muddle some fresh mint leaves and sugar in a tall glass, then add white rum and the watermelon puree to make a mojito.
Strawberry-Lemon Cocktail
Things you’ll need:
Strawberries
Mint
Sugar
Lemonade
Lemon
Vodka or lemon vodka (or substitute sparkling lemonade or lemon-lime soda)
For an elegantly adult take on lemonade, muddle a few ripe strawberries in a shaker with fresh mint leaves and a bit of sugar or other sweetener. Add tart lemonade, vodka or lemon vodka and crushed ice and shake vigorously. Pour the drinks, strawberry pulp and all, into large glasses. Mason drinking jars give the drink an especially appealing appearance. Garnish with a lemon twist or a half-strawberry. Make it for kids or non-drinkers with sparkling lemonade or a lemon-lime soda for an agreeably adult thirst-quencher.
Americano
Things you’ll need:
Campari
Sweet vermouth
Soda water
Orange slice
You might know the “Americano” as an espresso drink at a coffee bar, but it’s also the name of a classic warm weather cocktail. This Americano is made with Campari, and was invented in the 19th century at the Italian bar owned by Gaspare Campari himself. A low-alcohol cocktail with grown-up flavors, this refreshing beverage is perfect while you’re waiting for dinner to finish grilling. The drink is exceptionally easy to mix. Put ice in your glass and pour in equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth. Top it up with soda water and garnish the glass with a slice of orange or blood orange. To make it for a group, pre-measure the vermouth and Campari into a large glass beverage dispenser with the appropriate amount of soda. Place an ice bucket and a bowl of orange slices beside the dispenser, along with a tray of glasses.
Green Tea Mojito
Things you’ll need:
Mint
Lime
Sugar
Chilled green tea
Rum
If you’re partial to green tea, make that a part of your Sunday cocktail. Muddle mint leaves in the bottom of a tall glass with a splash of lime juice and a spoon or two of sugar. Add ice and a shot of rum, then top up the glass with your favorite chilled green tea. Garnish with more mint leaves or a twist of lime.
Sparkling Sangria
OR
Things you’ll need:
Sparkling cava
Diced fruit
Berries
Sangria is a longtime favorite, made with fruit, brandy and Rioja or other red wine. That version is pleasant enough, but you can make it even more summery by substituting a sparkling cava — the Spanish version of Champagne — for the heavier red wine. Sangria is something you make for a crowd, so start by chilling a large, heavy glass pitcher. Fill the bottom of a pitcher with about four cups of berries, halved grapes or diced fruit, whatever’s freshest and most colorful. Pour in a healthy splash of brandy and refrigerate the pitcher for a couple of hours, then top it up with cava or another sparkling wine. Bring the chilled jug to your patio table and set out a tray of glasses.
If you’re craving for another type of cocktail that isn’t fruit-based why not try some oatmeal cookie drinks? There’s actually two recipes there for oatmeal cookie shots, but one which was designed to be a cocktail–perfect for sipping on a relaxing weekend.
Your Turn
What are your favorite fresh and flavorful beverages for a lazy, gotta-work-tomorrow Sunday afternoon? Pull up a chair, put down that paper umbrella, and share one or two of your favorites.
