Cool Summer Cocktails

The mercury is rising by the day and in these sweltering temperatures what one requires after a long day in the sun is a dip in the pool and some refreshing drinks to sip and cool down. Now it’s very easy to open the fridge and gulp down that oh so inviting can of chilled beer… but think how exciting it would be if you were able to mix a few simple and easy to source homemade mixed drinks. 

These mixed drinks either alcoholic or non alcoholic would give a different dimension to your choice and would surely increase the range of drinks that you can serve your guests or enjoy on your own. Let’s look at some simple yet very refreshing summer drinks.

Beer Shandy

For this you require is a pint of lager beer, some lime juice, limca/sprite/7UP (any one), sugar & rock salt.

In two pint glasses add in juice of 1 lime each add a tea spoon of sugar and a pinch of ground rock salt in each of the glasses, add in the limca/sprite/7UP whatever you have to about half of the glass and then top them up with the lager. This you will find is cooler to taste than just the beer and it also helps to replenish the requisite body salts lost in the sun.

Bee Tea

Now this is your usual Iced tea with a unusual twist, I have substituted the sugar syrup with a more healthier option, honey & to spice it up you may want to add in your citrus vodka, if you have just a regular vodka don’t worry just squeeze in half a lime to the drink. So there you have your cool & energizing Bee Tea.

Watermelon wave

For this refreshing drink all you need is some watermelon juice, honey, ginger juice, rock salt and white rum or vodka. Now in a tall glass add in few cubes of ice add in the spirit, honey, rock salt and ginger juice about a tea spoon of it should be enough, fill the glass with watermelon juice and garnish with watermelon chunks & strips of ginger.

Mojito (pronounced as Mo-hi-toh)

This is the ever so popular cool summer cocktail. For the Mojito you require White rum about 30 ml, fresh mint leaves 6-8 no. , lime wedges about 3, sugar & soda (or instead of sugar and soda you can use just sprite).

In the glass place mint leaves with sugar and lime juice muddle it enough to dissolve the sugar and extract oils from the mint. Do not muddle to crush the leaves and make a paste. Add rum, ice cubes & top it up with either soda or sprite garnish and serve with a straw.

Cheers!!

Enjoy Responsibly 

Vodka Cocktails @ home

It so happened during one of the parties at home, the mixers(soft drinks)  got over and it was quite late in the night to get new ones, the party was still on and people needed their drinks , I looked around in the kitchen and found some unusual looking amla crush bottle(believe me, this drink was born out of necessity) , so I fixed one vodka drink with this amla crush, I added a regular vodka shot to about 60-80ml of amla syrup , cold water and few cubes of ice and voila the drink was ready. 

The drink was such a hit that everyone wanted to try one of those drinks. That day I happened to look around the house and found so many different and interesting mixers that since then I have stopped buying regular aerated drinks as mixers for my parties.

All of us might have such items @ home that we may just tend to overlook, but one may never know that those mixes might turn out to be a super mixers that may make your party a hit, people might remember your party because of that one drink or may be they come to your parties just to try your unusual mixes.

I have tried to list down a few mixes which are easily found at home or are easy to procure, & these make such wonderful cocktails that your guests are bound to get surprised when you tell them the ingredients of their drinks.

Kokum syrup

Amla syrup

Rose syrup

Tea

Strawberry/ mixed fruit Jam

Paani puri

 For the base alcohol I have considered vodka as it provides the best versatility for mixed drinks.

So for Kokum Delight you need the kokum syrup, soda or plain water, chaat masala, a dash of lime and ofcourse vodka.

In a glass add 45ml vodka, 60-80ml kokum syrup, pinch of chaat masala to it add water or soda whatever you prefer and then squeeze half a lime and drop it in the glass. Your kokum delight is ready.

The same recipe can be applied for Amla syrup, just remember to minus the lime as amla is tangy enough.

For Rose Garden (many might be familiar with Rooh afza sharbat) one can add vodka: 45ml, rose syrup: 45ml, water (you may want to try sprite) chaat masala (rock salt powder will work too) & a dash of lime. It’s simple & yet very refreshing.

 The same recipe may be used for mixed fruit or strawberry jam, just whisk about 20gms of jam to a paste and add rest of the ingredients.

Iced Tea surprise: Prepare black tea using two tea bags & let it cool, Remove juice of one lime and sugar syrup about 20ml. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes, add 45ml vodka then pour the cooled black tea further add the sugar syrup and then the lime juice you can garnish this with fresh mint leaves and lime slice.

Vodka Paani Puri shots: This is your ohh so delicious paani puri with a wicked twist. Prepare paani puri liquid using readymade paani puri powder mix. Then in a shot glass add 15-20ml vodka pour the paani puri liquid & garnish with khara boondi. Best way to have these is to try to gulp it in one shot just the way you have paani puri!! 

Cheers!

Enjoy responsibly!