Obviously we love whiskey any time of year. Even though whiskey enthusiasts think of it as a strictly winter drink, there are some amazingly delicious and balanced whiskey cocktail recipes that are great for summer. Here are a few of our favorites for you to enjoy this summer and beyond.
Summer Breeze Cocktail
This summer cocktail has it all. Refreshing. Easy. Great for warm summer days. Pair a premium bourbon with sparkling citrus and you’ve got a summer sipper that you’ll enjoy all season long.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. bourbon
- 2 oz. ginger ale
- 1 splash orange liqueur
- 1 orange slice
Directions: In an old fashioned glass, add the orange slice and a splash of orange liqueur. Muddle well. Add bourbon and ginger ale. Stir. Fill glass with ice and serve.
Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade
One of the best ways to enjoy a summer drink is to add seasonal fruit. And that’s just the ticket with the Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade.
Ingredients:
- ⅔ cup whiskey
- ⅔ cup lemon juice
- ⅓ cup strawberry syrup
- Fresh strawberries and lemon to garnish
Directions: In a large shaker, combine strawberry syrup, whiskey and lemon juice. Add ice and shake to combine. Pour lemonade over ice into tall glasses. Garnish with fresh strawberries and lemon slices.
Strawberry syrup: Stir together one cup sliced strawberries ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup water in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring strawberry mixture to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally until the strawberries have softened and sugar has dissolved (about 15 minutes). Remove saucepan from heat and let it cool. Strain syrup into a bowl or measuring cup through a mesh strainer to remove strawberries.
Watermelon Whiskey Cocktail
It’s a riff on a traditional whiskey sour using the most quintessential summer ingredient: watermelon. The result is a refreshing drink that you’ll be surprised is so easy to make.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. bourbon
- ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. lime juice
- 1 oz. watermelon syrup
- 3 dashes peach bitters
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Fill with ice and shake for 10-12 seconds or until the shaker is frosty cold. Strain into a chilled rocks glass and garnish with a fresh watermelon spear or lime wheel.
Watermelon syrup: Unlike most traditional simple syrups, this one does not involve cooking. For a large batch, combine 16 oz. of watermelon with 8 oz. sugar into a Ziploc bag. Muddle them together and place in fridge. After 12 to 24 hours, stir the contents until everything is dissolved. Strain through a metal sieve. **Adding ½ oz. of vodka to the syrup will help it last up to 4 weeks.
Summer Bonfire
It’s the ultimate vacation quest: finding a cocktail for sipping outside on lazy summer nights. The summer bonfire delivers. You’ll find it to be herbaceous with a jolt of spice, just what summer drink dreams are made of.
Ingredients:
- 1-½ oz. whiskey
- ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- Ginger beer for top
- Fresh strawberries for garnish
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Directions: Combine whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain contents into a highball glass over ice. Fill to top with ginger beer. Garnish with fresh strawberries and rosemary sprig.
French 95
Summer whiskey drink but make it fancy! The French 95 is a whiskey take on the popular French 75. Fresh and sparkling: your go-to summer mood.
Ingredients:
- 1-½ oz. bourbon
- 1 oz. lemon juice
- 2-½ oz. champagne
- ½ oz. simple syrup
Directions: Add all ingredients, except champagne, to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with champagne. Garnish with an optional lemon peel.
