Best Summer Flavors: recipes for the ultimate summer cocktail party

It's that time again: hot afternoons by the pool and warm evenings on the patio reign supreme during summer. With a bounty of fresh produce and the taste for light, fruity, and cold drinks, summertime elicits some of the best cocktails. I've compiled some of my favorite refreshing concoctions that I love to make for guests.

Because you will always have a variety of tastes in any group, it's always a good idea to offer a range of options while hosting a summer cocktail party. For that reason, I include cocktails that use everything from gin to rye whiskey and beer.

One of the best things about summer are the fresh aromatics and herbs available. Some of my favorite flavors to work with, basil and cilantro, make frequent appearances in many recipes because of their unique characteristics and abilities to pair with many different spirits.

Cilantro Jalapeno Margarita

One of my favorite recipes for summer, this margarita pairs perfectly with street tacos or gazpacho on a warm summer night. I like to use fresh, firm jalapenos - whether you leave the seeds in the slices depends on how spicy you would like your margarita. I like to slap a couple leaves of cilantro between my hands to release their flavor before adding it to the shaker, as well as using it as a garnish. Fresh lemon sour and a hint of sweetness from the Cointreau make this one of the most refreshing drinks you can find on a summer night.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz 100% agave tequila (Patron, 1800 Silver, etc. I personally prefer El Espolon 100% Blue Agave)

1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice

1/2 oz Cointreau

2-3 jalapeno slices, to taste

2-3 cilantro sprigs

9 oz fresh lemon sour

course kosher salt

Rim the glass using lime juice and kosher salt, and set aside. Combine tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and lemon sour in a shaker. Slap together a few cilantro leaves between your hands to help release the oils and express the aroma; add jalapeno slices and shake vigorously. Shaking helps release the oils in the jalapeno as well. Pour into your rimmed margarita glass and garnish with a cilantro sprig.

Lavender Grapefruit Horse Feather

This cocktail is an incredibly simple classic, but one that has often been forgotten until recently. With the increase in popularity of the Moscow Mule, this recipe is one that can be played with as many times as you like - experiment using different types of whiskies and bourbons (I'm partial to rye, but many prefer a sweeter whiskey such as Jack Daniels), and find a ginger beer that you are more partial to. The most interesting part of this recipe, however, is the use of small-batch British bitters that have been infused with a variety of flavors - in this case, lavender. Bob's Bitters produces an extensive line of these botanical blends, and allows you to be creative with your concoction. Preparing it in a classic copper mug keeps it cool and lends to the timeless nature of this refreshing drink.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, or whiskey of your choice

2-3 dashes Bob's Lavender Bitters

Gosling's Ginger Beer, or ginger beer of your choice (some have stronger notes of ginger)

2 sprigs of fresh lavender

1-2 wedges fresh grapefruit

Muddle the lavender sprig and grapefruit wedge with the bitters in a copper mug until well blended. Add ice and whiskey, and fill with ginger beer. Toss between the mug and a shaker to ensure all the ingredients are well-mixed. Garnish with a lavender sprig and grapefruit wedge.

Strawberry Basil Squeeze

This cocktail is one of my very favorites for summer. A combination of herbal and sweet flavors, the Squeeze is fruity and refreshing without being excessively sweet. The natural sugars of the fruit temper well with the basil and soda water to create a drink that is flavorful yet light. I like to use a botanical gin in order to emphasize the notes of basil in the drink, but you can use any gin you like - for those who are not gin drinkers, vodka proves an easy substitute.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz botanical gin, such as Uncle Val's or Hendrick's

1/4 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

3-4 fresh basil leaves

2 whole fresh strawberries

6 oz soda water

Add the strawberries, basil, and St. Germain to a rocks glass and muddle thoroughly. Add the gin and ice and shake lightly to help break up any large chunks of strawberry that might remain. Return contents to the rocks glass and fill with soda water; toss the entire contents once in the shaker to help mix thoroughly, and garnish with a sprig of basil and strawberry slice.

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