We may be biased, but can you think of anything more refreshing than a cool cocktail on a hot day? Now that summer is in full swing, the array of fantastic flavors just waiting to be made into something fresh and frosty is practically infinite.
If you're looking to shake things up a bit from typical warm-weather standards like margaritas and mojitos, but aren't sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s look at three unexpected ingredients that will take your summer cocktail creations to the next level and really wow your patrons.
Cool as a Cucumber
Clean, crisp, and refreshing, cucumber cocktails are perfect summer sippers and growing in popularity. Fun fact: cucumbers are about 96% water, which means that for every 100 grams of cucumber there are only about 4 grams of non-water content. No wonder they’re so darn refreshing!
Cucumber’s relatively neutral flavor means it works well with many different spirits and flavor combinations. Whatever direction you go in, here are a few tips to keep your cocktails top-notch:
Know how to pick good cucumbers! They should be firm and blemish-free, without wrinkles or soft spots.
Store cucumbers in the fridge wrapped tightly in plastic. Store them in a plastic bag once cut. Be prepared to re-purchase every week.
Muddle cucumber to release its juices and boost flavor.
Take care not to over-mix if you don’t want a cloudy cocktail.
Serve chilled but be careful not to overdilute! Because cucumbers have such a high water content to begin with, it’s easy to go overboard with the ice.
Consider keeping cucumber-infused spirits on hand in case you run out of fresh cucumbers or don’t have the time to tackle infusing your own spirits. Check out our selection here.
Here are two of our favorite cucumber cocktails to try out:
Cucumber Collins
Lemon, mint, and cucumber blend beautifully in this sparkling gin cocktail (although vodka works great, as well).
Ingredients:
2 ounces gin
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
4 cucumber slices
2 sprigs of mint
Club soda to top
Cucumber slices, for garnish
Lime wedge, for garnish
Instructions:
Muddle the cucumber slices and mint sprigs in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup and fill the shaker with ice.
Shake well and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
Top with club soda and garnish with cucumber slices and a lime wedge.
Sage Lady
Similar to a martini but with an exotic combo of mango, sage, and cucumber — it’s just weird enough to work.
Ingredients:
3 cucumber slices
2 to 3 sage leaves, plus more for garnish
1 oz simple syrup
1 1/2 oz mango vodka
1/2 z triple sec
1 dash of peach bitters
Instructions:
Muddle cucumber, simple syrup, and sage in a cocktail shaker.
Add the mango vodka, triple sec, and bitters. Fill with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled.
Fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Grab a sage leaf, give it a good spank, and garnish.
Melon Magic
For those who don’t like drinking their greens, melon cocktails offer a nice change of pace from the typical fruity fare, bringing a subtle sweetness without the tartness, bitterness, or extra sugar.
Keep in mind that with melons, quality makes all the difference. Here’s what to look for so you can pick yours like a pro:
Color: Ripe melons have a deep, rich color. Pass on anything that is pale or has green spots.
Smell: Melons should have a sweet, fruity smell. Avoid ones that smell bland or sour.
Tone: Tap the melon with your knuckles. Ripe melons have a deep, hollow sound. An unripe melon will sound dull.
Weight: A ripe melon will feel heavy for its size. An unripe melon will feel light.
Look for melons that have a slightly soft spot near the stem. This is a sign that the melon is ripe.
Once you’ve picked some winners—or opted for melon-flavored spirits—here are two recipes to try out:
Melon Sunrise
A tweaked version of the tequila sunrise, this cocktail uses vodka instead of tequila and adds a melon liqueur to boost the sweetness.
Ingredients:
1 oz melon liqueur
1 oz vodka
3 oz orange juice
Splash of Grenadine
Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions:
Add ice to a cocktail shaker and pour over vodka and melon liqueur. Shake to combine.
Fill a serving glass with ice, pour over orange juice and add a splash of grenadine.
Layer melon liqueur and vodka mix on top. Garnish with an orange wheel.
Cantaloupe Ginger Cocktail
Ginger gives this pretty orange drink an unexpectedly delicious kick.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz vodka
1 teaspoon honey (more as desired)
3 oz cantaloupe puree
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon lime juice
Optional: fresh mint leaves, additional for garnish
Cantaloupe balled, for garnish
Instructions:
For the puree: cut the cantaloupe into chunks and blend in a high-speed blender or food processor for 30 seconds until completely smooth. Depending on the size of your cantaloupe, this yields about 16 ounces of puree.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add vodka and honey and stir well until the honey is mostly dissolved. Add cantaloupe puree, ginger, lime juice, and mint, if adding. Muddle the mint with the back of a wooden spoon. Shake vigorously then strain and pour into a chilled glass.
Garnish with sprigs of mint and melon balls if desired.
Herbs for All
If the Sage Lady recipe we mentioned earlier hasn’t already made you an herbal cocktail convert, these next two recipes will with their unmatched sophistication and unique flavors.
Note: Muddling your herbs will give your cocktails the best results, and it goes without saying to use fresh over dried.
Gin Basil Smash
This crisp cocktail is perfect for spirit-forward cocktail lovers. Its’ savory, complex aromas have a natural cooling effect, while the lemon and lime keep things smooth and refreshing.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp lime juice
12 basil leaves
2 oz dry gin
2 tsp sugar
Instructions:
Muddle the basil and sugar in the bottom of the glass.
Add lemon, lime, gin, and ice, and stir.
Optional: add extra sugar and top it off with some sparkling water for a little fizz, but traditionalists prefer it in a short tumbler.
Sparkling Rosemary Greyhound
Rosemary pairs perfectly with tangy grapefruit in this sparkling cocktail ideal for those who like their drinks with less sweetness and more zip.
Ingredients:
1 oz rosemary simple syrup
2 oz vodka
3 oz grapefruit juice (use the real stuff, not sugary grapefruit cocktail)
3 oz sparkling water
Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions:
Shake up the simple syrup, vodka, and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker and pour over ice in a tall cocktail glass.
Top with sparkling water and serve with a fresh sprig of rosemary.
If you want more of a savory flavor, salt the rim of your glass to make a “salty dog” instead of a greyhound.
Whether you ultimately opt to put your own spin on old favorites or create entirely original concoctions, hopefully these ideas will help get you started. When it comes down to it, the key to making great summer cocktails is to aim for light, bright, refreshing, and—most importantly—fun!
