Fun in the Sun- A Cocktail for Everyone!

“Summertime and the livings easy…” whether you’re a Sublime super fan, or gettin down and dirty to Porgy and Bess is your thang, we can all agree- summertime is our time to reboot and recharge. What better way to relax than some tasty cocktail recipes that are easy to make and taste amazing!

First up is a knock out beverage sure to bewitch your palate and tickle your tastebuds…The Campari Spritz! This is an easy cocktail to prepare and even easier to drink on a hot summer day.

Campari Spritz

For original recipe, click the link.

2 parts (1 1⁄2 oz) Campari

1 part (splash) Soda

3 parts (2 oz) Prosecco

Make it happen:

Pour all ingredients directly into a wine glass.
Garnish with a slice of orange.

Up Next is dashing little gem of a cocktail, and my husband’s personal favorite, The Negroni. Let’s face it- we’re teachers and don’t have the money to be going out buying all sorts of alcohol. The good stuff is expensive, am I right? So, the Campari you used to make that fabulous spritz above, is the same aperitif you use to make this smooth criminal.

Negroni:

For original recipe, click the link.

1 part (1oz) Campari (if you like a sweeter cocktail substitute 1 Part Aperol for the Campari)

1 part (1 oz) Gin

1 part (1 oz) Vermouth (my hubby recommends Carpano Antica Vermouth)

1 slice of orange

Make it happen:

Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake it like a Polaroid picture, and pour directly into a glass filled with ice- or just one of those really cool, crazy large, oversized ice cubes. You’ll look like one Boss babe who knows what she’s doing.
Garnish with an orange slice or if you want to be fancy AF you could use a curly orange peel to garnish.

Last, but definitely not least, is the French 75. With a name like that, you know its bound to be good! The original French 75 uses Cognac, but this is its summer sister, light and refreshing.

French 75

For original recipe, click the link.

1 lemon

3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) gin

1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) simple syrup

1 cup ice cubes

1/4 cup (2 ounces) dry sparkling wine, such as the Prosecco listed above, make sure its chilled

Make it happen:

First, make yourself some simple syrup. It’s really easy. Its equal parts sugar to water. So, one cup of sugar to one cup of water. Cook over medium heat until all of the sugar is dissolved. You can make a batch and store in the fridge for up to four weeks. Friends, you can even make yourself some flavored simple syrup.
Using a vegetable peeler, slice the peel from one lemon into a long, thin spiral. Next, juice that lemon, making sure to not get any seeds into your glass.
In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain the cocktail into a pre-chilled Champagne flute and top with sparkling wine. If you don’t have a champagne flute, (for reals I don’t) any ol’ glass will do.
Curl the lemon peel around your finger to create a twist that even the finest and most veteran bartenders would be jealous over. Garnish your drink with said twist and serve that delicious concoction immediately.

You’re now ready to sit back and relax with a good book while enjoying the summer sun, or throw a swanky soiree. Let us know what you think! Drop a comment below.

Bottoms Up!