3 Summer cocktails to stand out

With hot weather coming soon, it's time to ditch the Hot Toddy's and look forward to refreshing drinks. Summer brings people together and there is no better way to gather with the loved ones than with some amazing drinks to enjoy in the garden.

Here I will share some of my all-time favourite recipes to enjoy with your friends and family over a sunny afternoon.

CUCUMBER COOLER

This is pretty much a classic nowadays for summer. It's a well-balanced drink with Gin, Elderflower liqueur, fresh cucumber, lemon, sugar, mint and soda.

• 50ml of London dry Gin of your choice
• 20ml Lemon juice
• 25ml Elderflower liqueur
• 15ml Sugar syrup
• 4 Medium cucumber chunks or 25ml cold press cucumber juice
• Small bunch of mint
• Topped with Soda water

Start by muddling the cucumber in your cocktail shaker with the sugar syrup.

Add the rest of the ingredients in the same shaker with ice.

Shake well and double strain in a rock glass with ice.

Top the drink with soda water and garnish with a nice mint spring.

Enjoy and thank me later!

WILD MOJITO

Mojito is a classic summer cocktail, let's give it an easy twist that will get your guest asking for more.

• 50ml Dark Rum of choice
• 2 Blackberries
• 2 Raspberries
• 25ml Lime juice
• 20ml Spicy mango syrup.
• Topped with soda water

The easy thing about making a mojito is that you don't need a shaker or a fancy mixing glass. All you need is a muddler and a spoon.

Start by muddling the berries in the glass with lime juice. Once you have done that, add the spicy mango syrup and the rest of the ingredients but the soda water.

Add some crushed ice and mix it using the spoon. Add more crushed ice and top-up with the soda water.

- If you prefer your drink to be sweeter, add lemonade instead of soda water- .

SPICY MANGO SYRUP

In a saucepan add 200g of brown sugar, 100ml of filtered water, 150ml of fresh mango and a sliced whole small red chilli.

Stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mango starts to break apart. Let it simmer for about 10 min. Do not let the sugar boil as it will start burning and turning into caramel.

Let it cool, then strain it and bottle it!

BUBBLES FOR YOUR TROUBLES

Summer wouldn't feel the same if we didn't get our bubbly dose. This cocktail has a tart and zesty flavour, and calls for a hot day in a terrace!

• 15ml of Limoncello
• 15ml Gin infused with lemon, lime & grapefruit
• 10ml Agave syrup
• Top with sparkling wine of your choice

This is a very easy cocktail that requires not cocktail material to be used.

Start by adding all the ingredients in a wine glass with ice except the sparkling wine.

Stir the ingredients until the glass is cold and then add the bubbles.

Give it another stir and garnish the drink with a large lemon peel. -I always cut the edges of the peels so they look tidy and professional-.

GIN INFUSED WITH LEMON, LIME & GRAPEFRUIT (for 750ml)

Place the peels of 2 whole lemons, 2 whole limes and 1 whole grapefruit into a jar. Add the Gin (750ml), close the jar, give it a shake and let it sit for 24h is a dark and cold place. If you leave the peels for too long, this will result in the Gin having a slight bitter taste due to the pith of the citrus.

Remove the peels and bottle the gin. For best result, keep the Gin in the fridge.

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I hope you enjoy these recipes, feel free to ask any questions or send me some photos of your drinks at [email protected]. Also feel free to give a tip if you feel is worth it!