Sterling Social

We’re daydreaming of summer and all of the seasonal goodness it brings…bright sunshine, warm breezes and fresh ingredients!  Not only is it a time to relax, but it’s a fabulous time to entertain.  Whether lounging poolside or hosting a sunset soiree, these “summer sips” are sure to quench your thirst.  Treat your guests to these mouth-watering cocktails with a twist, and you’re sure to be the life of the party.

MINT & WHISKEY BLOOD ORANGE SOUR

Ingredients & Directions

1 cup fresh squeezed blood orange juice
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1 sprig of mint
1/2 cup whiskey
1 lime

In a glass, muddle a few mint leaves, powdered sugar and juice of half a lime.  Add ice. In a cocktail shaker, combine the blood orange juice and whiskey, and shake. Pour into a cocktail glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.

LAVENDER MOJITOS

Ingredients & Directions

8-10 mint leaves
1 oz lavender simple syrup
1 oz white rum
1/2 of a lime’s juice
Splash of club soda

Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup together.  Add the rum, lime and lots of ice and shake.  Pour everything into a mason jar and top with a splash of club soda (if desired).  Stir and mix it all together again.

SPARKLING POMEGRANATE PUNCH

Ingredients & Directions

3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup pomegranate juice
2 bottles (750-ML) chilled sparkling wine
3/4 cups late-harvest white wine, such as late-harvest Riesling chilled
2 oranges, thinly sliced crosswise
1 cup diced fresh pineapple, 1/2 inch dice
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

In a punch bowl, dissolve the sugar in the pomegranate juice, stirring vigorously.  Add the sparkling wine and late-harvest white wine, then add the orange slices, diced pineapple, and pomegranate seeds.  Serve the sparkling pomegranate punch over ice cubes.

PINK TEQUILA

Ingredients & Directions 

6 cups chopped watermelon
1 pint of fresh strawberries
6 limes, juiced
1 tablespoon agave nectar
10 oz white tequila

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients except for the tequila.  In a pitcher, add a few cups of ice and top off with the white tequila. Stir, taste, and add the blender ingredients into the pitcher.

ELDERFLOWER CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

 Ingredients & Directions

1 bottle dry champagne or prosecco
Sliced cucumbers
Bunch of fresh mint
St. Germain to garnish

Fill a tumbler with ice.  Fill three-quarters of the glass with dry champagne or prosecco.  Add thinly sliced cucumber and fresh mint. Top off with St-Germain.

PEACH & BLACKBERRY MUDDLE

 Ingredients & Directions

4 thin peach slices
6 blackberries
2 large sprigs of mint
1 ½ teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 oz bourbon
Seltzer

In a double-old fashioned glass, combine two peach slices, three blackberries, mint, honey and lemon juice.  Mash gently with the back of a spoon until the fruit releases juices.  Add bourbon, remaining peach slices and remaining blackberries.  Fill glass with ice and top with seltzer.

CHEERS!

Be Social,

Angela & Erin

Image & Recipe Credit:  Mint & Whiskey Blood Orange Sour from Life Styled, Lavender Mojito from Sugar and Charm, Sparkling Pomegranate Punch from Delish, Pink Tequila from Refinery 29, Elderflower Champagne Cocktail from Life Styled, Peach & Blackberry Muddle from Martha Stewart.