It’s crazy to think that the last time I made a cocktail post, it was at the very beginning of the pandemic. I know so many people are ready to jump fully into fall, but there are still parts of me that want to hold on to summer a little bit longer. My tone about summer ending usually changes by the hour, so why not enjoy an end-of-summer happy hour?! Here are 4 cocktails I’ve been enjoying the last few weeks of summer.
Spiked Arnold Palmer
Probably the easiest drink to make on this list! I love Deep Eddy’s vodka and have been looking for some fun and easy drinks to mix it in. This drink reminds me of a John Daly but is a little different so I’m going to refer to it as a Spiked Arnold Palmer, even though it’s not exact.
What you need:
- 8oz Sweet Tea (you can make your own, but I just got a jug from Trader Joe’s)
- Ice
- 2 oz Deep Eddy’s Lemon Vodka
- 1 Lemon
Directions: Fill a mason jar halfway with ice and then pour in the sweet tea. Add 2 shots lemon vodka to the glass. I threw two slices into the drink and one on top for garnish. You can squeeze some additional lemon juice in the mason jar to make it taste more like an Arnold Palmer. Also, the mason jar is not mandatory but definitely fits the vibe.
Bourbon Peach Smash
This has been me go-to drink lately! I drank this while watching the Kentucky Derby and when I made this peach and goat cheese crostini. So you can tell I’m a big peaches person. Here’s the recipe I found on Pinterest that inspired what I made.
What You Need:
- 2 oz Bourbon
- Ginger Ale
- 1 oz Simple Syrup
- 1/2 Ripe Peach, diced
- 4 Mint leaves
- 1-2 slices for garnish
Directions: In a cocktail mixer, throw in diced peaches, mint and simple syrup and stark shaking. Put ice in a glass and add in the bourbon. Strain the peach/mint mix into the glass. Fill the rest of the glass with ginger ale and stir. Throw another mint leaf or peach slice on top and enjoy!
Blueberry and Mint Gin Fizz
I was so pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this drink. I’m not normally a gin person but I think now I totally could be! I got the idea after finding this link on Pinterest. It was very refreshing but not too sweet.
What You Need:
- 2 oz Gin (I used Bombay Sapphire)
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/4 oz Simple Syrup
- 1/4 cup Blueberries
- 1/2 tsp Thyme leaves
- Seltzer
- Lemon slices
Directions: In a cocktail shaker, muddle the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, blueberries and thyme leaves together. I would recommend smashing the blueberries a little extra before. Strain over a glass filled with ice and top it off with seltzer and a thyme sprig. You can also add blueberries and lemon slices for garnish.
Espresso Martini
I have to give credit to my friends Amanda and Alison for inspiring this one. Amanda sent me the original recipe because they have been enjoying these a ton while at the beach. But I added my own spin to it, to make it dairy free and based on what I had in the house. I drank a few of these at our last book club a few weeks ago and it was so delicious I just had to share.
What You Need:
- 2 oz of Espresso Patron
- 1 oz Kahula or Bailey’s
- 2 oz half and half (I used oat milk instead, but you can use whatever creamer you prefer)
- 1 oz espresso or cold brew concentrate
Directions: Extremely simple! Add all ingredients into a cocktail mixer and add ice. Shake together then strain into a martini glass.
What is your go-to cocktail right now? Comment below!
Thanks for reading! xx