Five Fabulous Cocktails to Kiss Summer Hello

This long Independence Day weekend is the official start of summer for many people. Cocktails, anyone???

COCKTAILS

4 O’clock Fresh Vodka Gimlets- Mystic Island, NJ

The day is winding to a close and it is still a couple of hours until dinnertime. Beer isn’t doing the trick. It is time for something smooth, strong and refreshing. Ahhhh…..

Ingredients
• 1 oz Fresh Lime juice
• 1 1/2 oz premium Vodka
• 1 tsp Powdered sugar
Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve w/lime.

Margarita Perfecto- Key West, FL

Margaritaville is more than a state of mind with this premium upgraded version of the summer classic.

Ingredients
• 1 oz Fresh Lime juice
• 1 1/2 oz Herradura Silver
• 1 oz Grand Marnier
Instructions
Stir all ingredients with ice, shake vigorously, strain into a cocktail glass with ice, and serve w/lime (salt optional).

Sour Apple Martinis- Southampton, NY

Late 1990’s on a lawn in The Hamptons with a cool summer breeze blowing gently through the breezeway. Yes, I believe I will have one of those fruity juicy thingies!

Ingredients
1 oz vanilla flavored vodka
1 oz sour apple schnapps
1 splash sweet and sour mix
Instructions
Shake with crushed ice. Strain into glass. Garnish with apple slices.

The Jersey Pink Squirrel- Belmar, NJ

In the days of dayglo neon and Miami Vice white linen suits, we would load one cooler full of beer and the other with bar supplies and head to The Mayfair Hotel in Belmar, NJ. A pitcher of these mischievous, little fellas was always a good way to get the party started.

Ingredients
1 oz vodka
1 oz white rum
2 oz lemonade
2 oz pineapple juice

Instructions
Stir all ingredients with into a cocktail glass with lots of ice and serve w/lemon.

Old Bay Bloody Mary- Ocean City, Maryland

And when Sunday morning arrives, this Ocean City, Maryland concoction will give you strength to carry on.

Ingredients
2 tbsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 lime wedge
1 1⁄2 oz. vodka, preferably pepper flavored
3 oz. tomato juice
1 1⁄4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1⁄4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1⁄4 tsp.horseradish
1 large tail-on shrimp, peeled, boiled, and chilled (optional)
1 oz. beef broth or A1 sauce or both!

Instructions
Sprinkle Old Bay on a plate. Rub the rim of a small glass with the lime wedge and dip rim in Old Bay to coat. Add cracked ice to glass; set aside. In a mixing glass, combine vodka, beef broth, tomato juice, lemon juice, horseradish and black pepper; stir to combine. Pour into reserved glass; garnish with shrimp.