Now that patio season is in full swing, it feels like the perfect time to try some new cocktail and mocktail recipes. Of course, there are the favorites that you won’t want to totally ignore, but these 10 recipes might be worth adding to your repertoire of libations.
Cocktail Recipes
Bee’s Knees
Now, this isn’t a brand-new recipe, but it might be one you haven’t made or ordered in a long time. But it’s perfect for spring—and super simple too. All you need is 2 ounces of gin, fresh 3/4 ounce of lemon juice and 3/4 ounce of honey simple syrup.
If you can’t find honey simple syrup, it’s very straightforward to make. All you’ll do is simmer half a cup of water and half a cup of honey until melted. Once you have all your ingredients ready, add ice to a cocktail shaker, pour the ingredients in, give it a good shake (15–30 seconds) and strain into a coupe glass or champagne flute. Top with a small flower to make it pretty.
Ginger Peach Moscow Mules
Try this twist on a classic! You’ll need ¼ cup of peach juice or nectar, ¼ cup of ginger beer, 2 ounces of vodka, ½ ounce of lime juice, ice and slices of lime and peach for garnish. For a mocktail version of this, leave out the vodka and add soda instead. Quick to make and very refreshing!
Whiskey Smash
Another classic that you should revisit is the whiskey smash. Very similar to a mint julep, this drink uses whiskey and mint. What you’ll need: five to eight mint leaves, one lemon (cut into smaller pieces), 1 ounce of simple syrup, 2 ounces of bourbon whiskey and a mint spring for garnish. Click on the link for step-by-step instructions for how making this tasty drink.
Lemonberry Prosecco Sangria
Just from the name, you can already tell this is going to be a refreshing beverage. You’ll need one lemon (thinly sliced), 2 tablespoons of sugar, 10–15 hulled or sliced strawberries and one bottle of prosecco. Using a punch bowl or pitcher, place the lemons on the bottom, sprinkle the sugar on top and muddle. Add in the sliced strawberries and muddle some more. Pour the prosecco in, fill with ice and serve!
Basil Grapefruit Greyhound
Looking for a fruity yet low-calorie cocktail for the spring? Try this drink! You’ll need vodka, grapefruit juice, basil leaves, honey, lime juice and sparkling water. This is also a fun cocktail that you can switch up if you want to try something different every now and then. Swap out the vodka for gin or tequila for example, or use pineapple instead of grapefruit. Think honey is too sweet? You can use agave nectar to bring in a lighter sweet taste. For full directions (as well as how to make variations and larger portions), click on the link.
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Mocktail Recipes
Want to sip on something light and refreshing sans alcohol? Or maybe you want to make something fun and colorful the kids can enjoy too? Check out these five tasty options.
Sparkling Strawberry Mint Limeade
Think of this as a little twist on Sonic’s limeades. You’ll need ½ pint of strawberries (hulled), 10 mint leaves (and a few more for garnish), five limes, 72 ounces of seltzer water, 1 ½ cups sugar, ice and additional strawberries and limes for garnish. Click on the link for full instructions.
Virgin Banana Daiquiris
Sure, daiquiris usually make their debut closer to summer, but if we get one of North Texas’ particularly warm spring days, this drink will be a hit for the whole family. You’ll need two medium-size ripe bananas, 2 teaspoons of lime juice, 1 teaspoon of rum extract, ½ cup cold water and six large ice cubes. Place it all in a blender and blend until smooth! Recipe yields two drinks.
Mango Faux-jito
This is a great option if you want something with a little kick. You’ll need one lime, two sprigs of mint, 1 ½ ounces of jalapeño simple syrup, 3 ounces of mango water and 3 ounces of seltzer water. To make the jalapeño simple syrup, simple use ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water; add one jalapeño (remove the seeds if you don’t want it too spicy). Boil the sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved; add in the jalapeño after you’ve removed the saucepan from the heat. Leave the jalapeño in for as long as you like to reach the desired intensity. Mix everything together and enjoy!
Cucumber Collins Mocktail
Probably the simplest option on our list, this delicious drink only requires three ingredients: pureed cucumber, lemon juice and soda water. Heads up though: This will not be a sweet drink, so the kiddos may not enjoy this particular version. To make it a little sweeter, swap out a lemon-lime soda for the soda water. Click on the link for instructions.
Blackberry Jamble
If you’re looking for something a little creamy, try this recipe. You’ll need blackberry jam or preserves, plain yogurt (both regular and Greek work well), lemon juice, water and crushed ice. For a nice presentation, top the drink with a few blackberries and edible flowers if you want to be really fancy. Click on the link for full directions.
Tried any of these recipes? Let us know what you thought at editorial@dfwchild.com.
Image: iStock
