Hello sweet sweet summer…. Not sure about you but I want summer to slow down. I love the laid back nights and relaxing in the summer air. The sounds, the smells and the laid back attitude. I also love to entertain outside here at the lake and I wanted to share some beautiful cocktail ideas that you can create for your summer entertaining. These 5 delicious and pretty summer cocktails are refreshing and just say “happy Summer”. Also, I’m joining some super talented ladies who are also sharing some fabulous summer recipes. I’ll link their accounts at the end and make sure you stop by!

All of these drinks are so refreshing and can be made without the alcohol. What adds to the “prettiness” are the garnishes. Have fun thinking of pretty ways to dress up your drinks for a summertime presentation.

 

Cucumber Kiwi Gimlet

 

 

Recipe

• 2 oz gin
• 1/2 sliced cucumber
• 1 lime juiced
• 2 oz kiwi simple syrup(recipe below)
• 1 cup ice to shake with

Syrup- 1 cup of sugar and 4 sliced kiwis peel removed.

In a cocktail shaker add in all the ingredients, gently muddle the cucumber. Fill the shaker with ice and shake really well at least 35 seconds. 

 

 

Blackberry, Cucumber & Mint Gin Cooler

 

 

Recipe

*Makes one drink

• 1/4 cup blackberries
• 5-6 teaspoons cucumber mint simple syrup
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 oz gin
• ice
• 3 ounces soda water
• Muddler

 

 

Place the blackberries and lemon juice in a cup and muddle until berries are squished up. mix in about 5 t of the simple syrup (recipe below)

Next mix in the gin and fill the glass with ice and top with the soda water. The berries will sink to the bottom and the soda will create a lighter surface. This makes the drink so beautiful 

 

 

Cucumber & mint Simple Syrup

Yields about 3/4 cup

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 cucumber slices, 1/2 inch thick with skin removed
• 2 large mint sprigs

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and set to medium high heat. Once mixture comes to a boil, and the sugar is dissolved remove from the heat. Add the cucumber and mint and let steep for about 30 minutes. Strain syrup through a fine sieve into a sealable container

Stores in the refrigerator up to two weeks.

 

Pineapple Mojito

 

 

Recipe

• honey
• toasted coconut
• 8 fresh mint leave
• 1 lime wedge
• 1 cup ice
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup white rum
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice

 

 

First, rim the lip of the glass with honey and press into the toasted coconut

Add mint leaves and lime wedge into the glass use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the oils and juice

Then, fill the glass almost to the top wit ice. put the lime juice and rum over the ice. Top it off with the coconut juice, then stir (this one is my personal favorite!)

 

Honey Strawberry Mint Refresher

 

 

 

Recipe

• 1/4 cup Strawberries
• 2 Tbsp Mint leaves
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1.5 oz vodka
• crushed Ice
• Sprite or Topo Chico

Muddle the strawberries,  mint and honey in a large glass, Add the vodka. Then add 1/2 crushed ice and top of the glass with the soda.

Stir and enjoy!

 

 

Aperol Spritz

 

 

Recipe(this one is easy but so pretty!)

• Aperol- (Italian bitter with a vibrant orange hue)
• Prosecco
• club soda
• slice of orange

Start by filling a wine glass with ice then add Aperol, Prosecco, club soda and slice of orange

 

 

 

Aren’t all those summer pops of color just so cheerful? They are so festive and so refreshing. I definitely found good use for all the mint growing in my garden. I can’t really decide which is my favorite but if I had to pick it would be the pineapple mojito.  Maybe because it has a tropical flair to it which is classic summertime love! Love these beautiful cocktail ideas

 

 

I hope you loved all these recipes and will try a few out. Have a fun get together with a few friends and create a simple summer themed party. Have the various ingredients and set up a summer cocktail bar. Put the recipes on a card and let your guests make their favorite. Such a fun way to celebrate summer.

Thanks for following along and let me know if you have any questions. Make sure you subscribe so you won’t miss a post. You will also get access to my free printable page with lots of labels and tags that I’ve designed. Enjoy your summer friends.

 

Want more Summer recipe Ideas? Visit my friends and check our what they are sharing:

Meeghan is sharing a Grilled Corn Summer Salad with Pickled Blueberries……..https://www.caligirlinasouthernworld.com/the-blog/

Bethany is sharing  An Oatmeal Summer Kazookie………https://shiplapaddict.blog/

Jen is sharing one of her favorite summer side dishes Summer Corn & Heirloom Tomato Salad ……https://alittledoseofjen.com/blog/

 

Happy Summer Entertaining | Beautiful Cocktail Ideas