Summer Vodka Cocktails
Posted on 15 July 2008 by joy
Summer is simple. All you need is access to a beach, a cute two piece and sunglasses, sunscreen, friends and a great cocktail recipe.
Think beyond the usual margarita or vodka tonic this summer. Take some of summers freshest produce and brightest colors and create a vodka cocktail that will wow your friends and show off your summer style.
Here are the top three summer cocktails ideas.
Spiked and Sparkling Honey Lemonade with Citrus Salt Rimmed Glasses
from Whole Foods
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup honey
6 cups sparkling or still cold water
Zest of 1 lemon
coarse finishing salt of your choice
lemon or lime wedges
Add 1 1/2 cups of chilled vodka, or more depending on desired strength
Combine lemon juice and honey in a saucepan. Heat until honey is completely blended with the juice. Chill until cold, then stir and pour into a large pitcher. Add cold water and chilled vodka and stir to combine completely.
Mix lemon zest with finishing salt in a small dish. Rub the rim of serving glasses with a wedge of lemon or lime. Invert glass into dish of salt and turn to coat rim. Add ice and lemonade. Serve immediately.
Vodka Watermelon Cooler
from Paula Dean
1 cup chilled vodka
1 1/2 pounds (4 cups) sliced seedless watermelon, rind removed
1 cup lemon sorbet
1 lemon, zested
1 1/2 cups cold water
Watermelon wedges and mint, for garnish
In a food processor blend vodka, watermelon, sorbet, and lemon zest until very smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water; cover and refrigerate until very cold. Serve over ice and garnish with watermelon wedges and mint.
Mint Cucumber and Vodka Cocktail
from Martha Stewart
2 English cucumbers
Small ice cubes
1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 to 3 limes)
4 ounces (1/2 cup) vodka
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Cointreau
Cut 4 thin spears from 1 cucumber, and reserve for garnish. Peel remaining cucumbers, and quarter them lengthwise. Scrape out seeds with a spoon, and discard. Coarsely chop cucumbers, then puree in a food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add mint, sugar, and lime juice, and shake. Add 3/4 cup cucumber juice, the vodka, and Cointreau, and shake. Strain into 4 glasses filled with ice. Garnish each cocktail with a cucumber spear.
