Ant Ellis shares his best-ever cocktails to get the summer party rockin’.
Let’s keep this short, simple and very happy, because this is about summer boozing. Cocktails shouldn’t be reserved for glamorous nights out, nor require a bow-tied professional to shake like a lunatic. Pouring a perfectly balanced, classic cocktail is one of life’s lovely little pleasures, one we can all get behind … after all, we’re here for a good time, not a long time.
A quick triple-shot of basic rules for ya: Buy good quality hooch, always have ice, and make your drinks look beautiful with a frosted glass, a salted rim, a twist of citrus zest or a fresh cherry here or there. Try these swingin’ recipes that’ll make your breezy summer days last forever.
Hawaiian Sea Breeze
Sweet, tart and tropical
- good quality vodka
- pineapple juice
- cranberry juice
- lime wedges
- ice-cubes
Mix 2 measures of vodka with 2 measures of pineapple juice in a tall, cold glass. Fill with ice-cubes, top up gently with cranberry juice to keep the layers and garnish with a wedge of lime.
Lynchburg Lemonade
You don’t know Jack until you’ve tried this
- Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey
- orange liqueur
- fresh lemon juice
- ice-cubes
- Sprite
- lemon slice and cherry for garnishing
Mix 2 measures of Jack Daniel’s, 1 measure each of orange liqueur and lemon juice in a glass or jar, fill with ice-cubes and top off with Sprite. Garnish with a lemon slice and a fresh cherry.
Classic Margarita
Yes, tequila isn’t only for nasty shots
- coarse salt
- fresh lime juice, keep a squeezed wedge
- proper tequila
- orange liqueur
- ice-cubes
Sprinkle salt into a shallow dish and rub the reserved lime wedge around the rim of a glass, then dip in the salt to cover the rim. Add 1 measure of lime juice, 2 measures of tequila and 1 measure of orange liqueur into a cocktail shaker with ice-cubes, and shake well. Serve in a short glass with or without ice.
Until next time: Here’s to nights we’ll never remember, with friends we’ll never forget. Bottoms up!
FOR MORE INFO:
Talk to me at ant@rockthekitchen.co.za