VANCOUVER (CUP) — Summer is here! And with summer comes sun (hopefully), beaches, barbecues and… drinks!
An essential part of a good summer, a summer drink means you no longer have the excuse to do multiple shots of tequila to “keep warm.” Whatever your preference, from virgin Cuba Libres to stirred martinis, summer is the best time to shake it up.
A note before you start: any good mixing book will stress the importance of quality ingredients. That said, we’re students. We don’t guzzle Dom Pérignon unless it’s free. Keeping it cheap but yummy, we present to you a small selection to get you started.
Frozen Lemon Drop
What is it? Possibly the simplest drink to make. The best part? It’s cheap. Your cocktail will taste as good with the Smirnoff stuff as it will with handmade Polish vodka with diamond dust.
What you need: Juice of 2 lemons, 4 ounces vodka, 1 ounce simple syrup or your preferred variation of sugar dissolved in water.
How to make it: Rim your glasses with sugar. Place all ingredients in a blender with 2 cups of crushed ice. Blend for 10 seconds, or more if necessary. Pour and garnish with lemon twist. Makes 2 drinks. Don’t have a blender? Use a highball glass and pour in everything, on the rocks. Teetotalers, substitute water for vodka (the sparkling kind works best if you’re not blending your drink).
Orange Mai Tai
What is it? Two words: mini umbrellas.
What you need: Juice of 1/2 lime, juice of 1 orange, 1/2 ounce Cointreau, 2 ounces dark rum, splash of amaretto liqueur.
How to make it: Add 3 ice cubes and lime to your glass. Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add everything, shake gently for 30 seconds, then strain into glass. Garnish with cherry, mint, and your favourite mini umbrella.
Basic Sangria
What is it? Ask your friends to help you out with this one to minimize chopping time. Substitute champagne for wine if you’re feeling fancy and see where this takes you.
What you need: 2 bottles red wine, 1/2 cup brandy, 1 lime cut into rounds, 1 lemon cut into rounds, 1 orange cut into rounds, handful red grapes.
How to make it: Mix everything in a pitcher, refrigerate. Serve chilled, without ice.
Mexican Red Eye
What is it? Mixing beer with hard liquor has a bad reputation, but this is a better hangover cure than the Bloody Mary.
What you need: 8 ounces beer, 1 ounce tequila, 2 ounces tomato juice.
How to make it: Pour beer, tequila and tomato juice into a glass. Stir, garnish, serve.
We could go on, but the best way to find your summer drink is to start sampling. If none of our recipes do the trick, pick up a good mixing book, download an app or use the magic that is the internet to find what your heart desires. Years from now, you may not remember how good or bad your drink was, but you will perhaps remember dancing with your friends on an unsteady table with three stacked sombreros on your head.