When it comes to cocktails, summer screams "Sex on the Beach", or at least fruit-forward rather than spirit-forward, more refreshing cocktails, but not necessarily long drinks. I've tried to be imaginative in compiling my 20 best summer cocktails.
1. Crystal Ship
With: Mezcal, rhum agricole, blue curaçao, almond syrup, pineapple juice and lime juice.
We say: Sail through aquamarine waters to a happier place
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2. Daiquiri (frozen)
With: Gold rum, lime juice, sugar syrup, maraschino liqueur, and xanthan gum.
We say: A superbly refreshing cocktail on a hot day.
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3. Fire & Brimstone
With: Chili pepper, mezcal, triple sec, lemon juice, orange bitters, and agave syrup.
We say: A refreshing riff on a Mezcal Margarita with enlivening chili heat.
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4. Mai Tai (Difford's recipe)
With: Gold rum, pineapple rum, orange curaçao, lime juice, almod syrup, amaretto, falernum, white crème de menthe, absinthe, and saline solution.
We say: A classic Daiquiri with a few bells and whistles: orange curaçao, lime juice, almond syrup, amaretto, falernum, white crème de menthe, and absinthe.
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5. Mezcalita
With: Mezcal, triple sec, lime juice, orange juice, agave syrup, Margarita Bitters, and saline solution.
We say: A Mezcal Margarita with a freshening splash of orange juice to accompany the triple sec.
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6. Missionary's Downfall
With: Mint leaves, gold rum, peach schnapps, honey syrup, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
We say: Recipes for this venerable Tiki classic vary enormously and are often confused with the Aku Aku, which this drink morphed into at the hands of its creator, Donn Beach.
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7. Monkey Business
With: Dry gin, banana liqueur, honey syrup, lemon and lime juices.
We say: Stop monkeying around and have a sip of this gin-forward banana summery cocktail.
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8. North Beach Cooler
With: Blanco tequila, dry vermouth, red biter liqueur, lime juice, sugar syrup, and soda water.
We say: As the name suggests, this low-alcohol, tequila-laced, bittersweet Cooler is suited to summer drinking.
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9. Pineapple & Mint Caipirinha
With: Fresh lime, powdered sugar, fresh pineapple, mint leaves, and cachaça.
We say: Minty fresh pineapple transports the Caipirinha into the realm of tropical drinks.
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10. Pineapple Daiquiri (Difford's recipe)
With: Pineapple rum, gold rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, pineapple liqueur, sugar syrup, and Daiquiri Bitters.
We say: Tangy pineapple fruit laced with characterful rums. Yumm!
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11. Pink Frozen Margarita
With: Blanco tequila, triple sec, red bitter liqueur, lime juice, agave syrup, and xanthan gum.
We say: A bittersweet Frozen Margarita.
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12. Pinky Gonzales
With: Reposado tequila, blanco tequila, orange curaçao, lime juice, almond syrup, agave syrup, grenadine syrup, and saline solution.
We say: A tequila-based Mai Tai variation created by Victor Bergeron, AKA "Trader Vic", creator of the original Mai Tai.
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13. Pisco Sour (Difford's recipe)
With: Pisco, lime juice, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white, orange blossom water, and saline solution.
We say: I also like to add a dash of orange flower water to my Pisco Sours and to serve them straight-up in a frozen, heavy-bottomed old-fashioned glass to help lengthen the time the cocktail stays ice cold, but a frozen coupe also works well (and looks better in photos).
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14. Premiere Mai Tai
With: Aged rhum agricole, aged rum, orange curaçao, black rum, overproof white rum, almond syrup, and lime juice.
We say: A quartet of rums dance in this delicious rendition of Trader Vic's classic Mai Tai.
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15. Prescription Julep
With: Mint leaves, cognac, rye whiskey, brown sugar syrup, orange bitters.
We say: Rye whiskey and cognac combine harmoniously in this delicious julep.
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16. Reggae Rum Punch
With: Overproof white rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, strawberry syrup, and lime juice.
We say: Combines sweetness, potent rum, and generous fruit, but with balanced sweet 'n' sourness.
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17. Rum Punch
With: Overproof white rum, lime juice, sugar syrup, aromatic bitters, and chilled water.
We say: Many prefer this cocktail served over crushed ice to further dilute and tame the overproof rum.
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18. South Side Rickey
With: Dry gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, mint leaves, and soda water.
We say: Think gin-based Mojito – refreshing and easy drinking.
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19. Sunset Vibes
With: Vodka, pink grapefruit juice, aperitivo liqueur, tonic water, and mezcal.
We say: This appropriately sunset-coloured cocktail serves a cacophony of flavours that combine into a surprisingly harmonious symphony of sips.
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20. Three Dots and a Dash
With: Aged rhum agricole, aged rum, falernum, pimento dram liqueur, lime juice, orange juice, honey syrup, and aromatic bitters.
We say: Rhum agricole and allspice dram play a huge role in what is one of the most complex of all classic Tiki cocktails.
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