Hard Lemonade

INGREDIENTS

fresh berries
2 oz vodka
ice
lemonade

Sometimes hard doesn't have to be difficult.  Take this libation for an example.  Add a spoon full of fresh berries to the bottom of a libation glass.  Add vodka and gently muddle.  Fill the glass with ice and top off with lemonade.  The perfect drink for those hard, hot summers.  Enjoy.

Electric Screwdriver

INGREDIENTS

Absolute Mandarin vodka
Sparkling Clementine soda

1.  Fill a libation glass full of ice.  Add two shots vodka, then fill the rest with soda.

Cheers!

Cranberry Crush

INGREDIENTS

ginger ale
2 shots spiced rum
1 shot cranberry juice
lemon and lime wedges to garnish

1.  Fill a libation glass 1/3 full with ginger ale.

2. Add shots, and then fill the rest of the way with crushed ice.  Garnish with lemon and lime wedges.

Raspberry Limoncello Cocktail

INGREDIENTS

1 shot Limoncello
Pomegranate soda
Raspberry lemonade

1.  Fill a libation glass with ice.  Add a shot of Limoncello.  Fill to half way with soda, then top off with lemonade.  Light, refreshing, relaxing.

Caipirissima

INGREDIENTS

4 -5 lime wedges
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 shot fresh lime juice
1.5 shots white rum
crushed ice

1.  Add the lime wedges and sugar to a sturdy libation glass, and gently muddle the limes in order to release the juices and oils into the sugar.

2.  Add the lime juice, rum and crushed ice.  Serve this tarty drink when those long hot humid summer days have worked your last nerve.  Salud!

Prickly-pear Margarita

INGREDIENTS

2 shots tequilla
1 shot orange liquor
1 lime, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon agave nectar
1 shot fresh raw prickly pear juice

1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar

1.  On a small plate mix together the salt and sugar.

2.  Rub the rim of a margarita glass or libation glass with lime.  Dip the rim into the salt sugar mix.  Carefully fill the glass half full with ice.

3.  Fill a shaker half full with ice.  Add the shots, lime juice and nectar.  Shake vigorously for about half a minute.  Pour into libation glass, and enjoy.

Witch Doctor

INGREDIENTS

1 shot limoncello
1 shot coconut rum
club soda
limeade

1.  Fill a libation glass full of ice.

2.  Add the shots, add enough club soda to fill the glass 1/2 way full.  Then fill the rest with limeade.

3.  Repeat as often as necessary.

Mandarin Sunset

INGREDIENTS

1 shot orange flavored vodka
1 shot raspberry liquor
mandarin lime soda

Fill a libation glass full of ice.  Add the liquors, then top off with the soda.  Sip and enjoy life.

Bombay Sapphire Gin and Tonic

INGREDIENTS

Bombay Sapphire gin
Tonic water
limes

1.  Chill a libation glass in the freezer for a few hours ahead of the anticipated cocktail hour.

2.  Fill the libation glass half way with ice cubes.  Add 2 shots of gin.  Fill the rest of the glass with tonic water.  Garnish with a wedge of lime.  Decompress from the day.

The Jaded Lady

INGREDIENTS

Simple Syrup
1 cup water
2 1/4 cups raw sugar
zest and juice of three lemons
1/2 bunch parsley, chopped

Libation
1 oz absinthe
1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz Sauvignon Blanc
1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
3 drops aromatic bitters

Garnish with a twist of lemon.

1.  For the simple syrup, zest the lemons and juice them into a cup.

2.  In a medium sauce pan over medium heat dissolve the sugar into the water.  Add the lemon juice, zest and parsley.  Stir until it begins to bubble.  Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate in an airtight container overnight.  Strain the simple syrup.

3.  For the libation, add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice, shake until cold, serve with a twist of lemon peel.

Mojitos

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup sugar
6 sprigs of mint
12 key limes
4 shots of rum
10 oz club soda

1.  Pour sugar into a small pitcher.

2.  Set aside a couple of sprigs of mint, chop the rest, and place on top of the sugar in the pitcher.  Muddle the mint and sugar together, using a wooden spoon, until thoroughly mixed.

3.  Juice the limes into the muddled mixture.  Add the rum and stir.

4.  Pour through a strainer into libation glasses.  Pour the club soda equally, and gently stir.  Add ice and enjoy.

Apple-tini

INGREDIENTS:

Makes one 6 oz cocktail

1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

2 shots frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 shots spiced rum
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3 cloves

Sparkling Cider
1 cinnamon stick

1.  Mix sugar and cinnamon together on a small plate.  Rub the rim of a martini glass with a lemon wedge, and then dip the rim into the sugar mixture.

2.  Fill a cocktail shaker half-full with ice cubes.  Add the shots, lemon juice, and cloves, and shake the mixture until the shaker becomes too cold to hold, about 2 minutes.  Strain into the martini glass.  Garnish with a splash of sparkling cider and a cinnamon stick.

Raspberry Lemonade Sangria

INGREDIENTS

1 can of frozen lemonade concentrate
1 can of lemon lime soda
1 bottle white zinfandel
1/4 cup orange liqueur
1 cup fresh raspberries
2 lemons thinly sliced

1.  Add all ingredients into a large pitcher, mix well, and chill in a refrigerator for a few hours.

2.  Drink.

Peach Lime Sangria

INGREDIENTS

1+ cups simple syrup
16 oz fresh or frozen peaches
8 oz peach schnapps
1 tablespoon lime juice
8 oz fresh raspberries
1 lime, thinly sliced
1 bottle Moscato
club soda

1.  To make the simple syrup, heat one cup of water and one cup of sugar to almost boiling or until the sugar has dissolved into solution.  Set aside to cool down to room temperature.

2.  Pour cooled simple syrup into a blender, add peaches and blend until smooth.  Transfer to a large pitcher, add the peach schnapps, lime juice, raspberries and lime slices.  Chill until ready to serve.

3.  When ready to serve, add moscato to peach mixture and stir until blended.  Add a few peach slices and raspberries into a wine glass, fill half way with club soda, top off with chilled peach mixture.  Enjoy!

Peach Sangria

INGREDIENTS:

1 bottle of White Moscato, chilled
1 cup brandy
1 cup peach schnapps
2 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
1 15 oz can of pineapple chunks in juice
2 cups of fresh raspberries
4 cups of lemon-lime soda

1.  Combine Moscato, brandy, schnapps, peaches, pineapple chunks, and raspberries into a large pitcher.  Refrigerate for a few hours.

2.  Just before serving, stir in the lemon-lime sodas.

Dark & Stormy

INGREDIENTS:

2 shots Cruzan Black Strap rum
3 shots Reeds Ginger Beer
lime

1.  Fill a libation glass with ice, and then squeeze 1/4 wedge lime juice over the ice.  Add the rum and ginger beer.  Garnish with a wedge of lime.  Enjoy!

White Sangria Lemonade

INGREDIENTS:

1 bottle of Chardonnay wine, chilled
1 15 oz can of pineapple chunks in juice
1 6 oz can of frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup of light or white rum
1/2 cup triple sec
1/2 cup white grapes, halved
1 apple, cut into small pieces
1 orange, cut into small sections
1 lime, cut into small sections
2 cups lemon-lime soda

1.  Combine Chardonnay, pineapple chunks, lemonade concentrate, rum, triple sec, grapes, apple, orange, and lime into a large pitcher.  Refrigerate for a few hours.

2.  Just before serving, stir in the lemon-lime sodas.