Fresh Summer Cocktails!

Who’s a pretty cocktail? Our summer cocktails are so pretty and tasty that they just can’t get enough of themselves. Talk about vain cocktails!

Recipes+food+styling by Janine Kalesis Styling+photography by Paul Lowe

Cherry Chocolate Bourbon: SERVES 1

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

½ cup mint tea

1 tablespoon hibiscus syrup

6 dashes chocolate bitters+more for topping

¼ cup bourbon

¼ cup black cherry soda+more for topping

mint leaves for garnish

1. Stir lime juice, mint tea, hibiscus syrup, and chocolate bitters into a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and shake well.3. Stir in ¼ cup black cherry soda. 4. Strain into a chilled glass and top with more black cherry soda and 2 dashes of bitters. 5. Garnish with hibiscus flower and lime.

Ginny Fiz: SERVES 1

½ cup English cucumber slices+more for garnish

1 tablespoon vanilla infused turbinado sugar

3 large basil leaves

6 large mint leaves

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons club soda

¼ cup cucumber gin

1. In a cocktail shaker muddle cucumber, sugar, basil, mint, lemon juice, and a splash of soda. 2. Add ice and shake until incorporated.3. Strain over fresh ice and top with club soda.4. Garnish with cucumber slices.

Vamos a La Playa: SERVES 4

1 cup fresh pineapple, diced & firmly packed

¼ cup pineapple juice

4 tablespoons unsweetened Thai coconut milk

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, firmly packed

15 mint leaves

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

½ cup spiced rum

toasted coconut shavings for garnish

1. Add all of the ingredients to a blender with ice and mix until incorporated. 2. Garnish with toasted coconut shavings.

Sandia de Tequila: SERVES 4

6 cup watermelon, diced

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 cup silver tequila

1. Combine watermelon and tequila, place in the freezer for 2 hours. 2. Remove from the freezer and blend in a blender until smooth. 3. While the motor is running, add lime juice and continue blending another minute. 4. Garnish with a smile!

Kiwi Berry Trifle: SERVES 1

1 cup strawberries, diced+slices for garnish

1 kiwi, diced+slices for garnish

3 teaspoons honey

3 teaspoons strawberry schnapps

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, plus lemon peel for garnish

¼ cup light rum

1. Muddle 1 cup strawberries, 1 kiwi, honey, schnapps, and lemon juice. 2. Add rum and ice. Shake well. 3. Layer glass with crushed ice, strawberry slices, ice, kiwi slices, ice, strawberry, and ice again. 4. Pour strained muddled mixture into prepared glass. 5. Top with a lemon peel.

Blackberry Lemongrass Elixir: SERVES 1

6 blackberries+more for garnish

3 stalks lemongrass, chopped+more for garnish

¼ teaspoon freshly grated ginger, packed+more for garnish

3 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

¼ cup vodka

1/3 cup seltzer

1. Muddle lemongrass, blackberries, sugar, and lemon juice. 2. Add vodka and ice, stir until well chilled.3. Strain over fresh ice, add seltzer, and stir. 4. Garnish with blackberries and lemongrass stalks.