Summer cocktails

It’s no secret that I love cocktails. I enjoy crafting and experimenting as much as I do drinking them. It’s fun to try and perfect a classic cocktail as well as trying my hand at some obscurer speciality drinks. Here are some recipes that you can try to kick you next summer cocktail hour up a notch.

Aviation Cocktail

This is one of my all-time favorite classic cocktails. When I had my birthday in 2020 and couldn’t celebrate in person with a lot of friends and families my sisters organized a zoom party for me. They sent everyone the recipe so we could all share the same cocktail. I’m obsessed with Empress 1908 gin. It is dark purple in color but changes based on the ingredients you mix it with. If you prefer clear gin in your cocktails some of my other favorites are Bombay Saphire and Dorothy Parker.

Adapted from Kitchen Swagger

1 1/2 oz of Empress 1908 Gin

1/2 oz of fresh lemon juice

3/4 oz of maraschino cherry liquor

1/4 oz of creme de violetette

Stir ingredients in a shaker over ice and pour into a coupe glass. Add a maraschino or morello cherry for garnish.

City Slicker’s Ranch Water

This cocktail is perfect for the dog days of summer because you can go heavier on the club soda to make it less boozy. After a bad experience with tequila in college, I stirred away from it for a long time. In recent years I’ve learned that quality tequila is key and it’s become one of my favorite spirits. My partner introduced me to Hiatus Tequila a couple of years ago and it’s become my favorite.

Adapted from Mom’s Dinner

3 oz of Hiatus Tequila Blanco

1.5 oz of fresh lime juice

3 dashes of cucumber bitters

Stir ingredients in a shaker over ice. Pour into mason jars rimmed with mint sugar. Top with club soda and garnish with lime slices.

I love the ruby color of the Empress’s Italian Hiatus.

Empress’s Italian Hiatus

This was an original cocktail I came up with. The color evokes a Campari and Soda which is one of my favorite classic summer cocktails.

1 oz Empress 1908 Gin

1.5 oz Hiatus Tequila Blanco

2 oz of Pomegranate Soda

Mix the gin and tequila in a shaker over ice. Pour into a coupe glass and stir in soda.

Palomas for Four

I love a paloma. I’d rather have a paloma than a mimosa or bloody mary with brunch. They are equilally delightful in the evening with tacos.

Adapted from A Blonde Vintage

8 oz of Hiatus Tequlia Blanco

1/3 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice

A bottle of Fever Tree Pink Grapefruit Soda (16.9 oz) chilled

Stir ingredients together in a pitcher of ice. Serve in glasses rimmed with pink sea salt and garnish with a slice of lime and a stig of rosemary.