Stuart Mullenberg |
The longest, and hopefully
the sunniest, day of the year is always a cause for celebration. And this year
in particular, with June 21 falling on a Friday, there’s no reason not to raise
a glass to everyone’s favorite time of year. Full of the flavors of the season,
here are eight cocktails that will keep you cool and refreshed all summer long.
Barbadian Gin Punch Swizzle (pictured)
Lightly sweet coconut water meets lime juice, genever and rich Demerara syrup in this Caribbean cooler from cocktail historian and Imbibe contributor David Wondrich.
Photo: Stuart Mullenberg
This combo of fresh
grapefruit and lime juice lends a citrusy brightness, while fragrant basil
syrup adds a refreshing herbal note to this twist on a classic Daiquiri.
Fresh and fizzy, this
porch-perfect beer cocktail is light enough to drink on even the hottest summer
day. Lemon juice brings out the zippiness of the IPA, while St. Germain
highlights its floral notes.
Polite Provisions was one
of Imbibe’s 2013 “Places to Watch” in the 2013 Imbibe 75 issue, and this
delicious cocktail is one reason why.
A splash of St. Germain and
a glass filled with crushed ice lighten up the assertive combination of gin,
Campari and vermouth in this sunset-colored cocktail.
Inspired by the abundance
of local produce in the land of the endless summer, Los Angeles bartender Matt
Biancaniello created this Mediterranean-esque, bitter-meets-floral cocktail.
A mix of vodka, fresh lime
juice and muddled cucumber, this summery drink couldn’t be easier to make.
With the addition of
bittersweet Aperol and muddled cucumber, this twist on a classic Gin &
Tonic will keep you cool as a cucumber.