Everyone recovered from National Martini Day? Yeah, me, too.
Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime…
Much of the country is in the throes of a heat wave with
record high temps. (Or near record high temps but when we’re talking about this
kind of heat quibbling over a couple degrees is just splitting hairs. It’s hot.
Really hot.) It’s also the first day of Summer!
So let’s talk about summertime drinks that are cool and
refreshing.
My two never-fail go-to cool-me-down-fast drinks are: 1)
Vodka and Tonic 2) Gin and Tonic. The beauty of these two drinks is that
they’re quick and easy and instantly refreshing.
Lemonade and vodka makes a very welcomed refreshing
summertime drink when the temps soar. I like to mix one part club soda to 3
parts lemonade to add some fizz and cut down the sweet-tartness of the
lemonade.
But what about those evenings when you want something that’s
cool and refreshing and tastes like summer?
What does summer taste like?
Popsicles. Fudgesicles. (Or “fudge-ickles” as some kids used
to call them.) If you have kids, you have popsicles and/or fudgesicles. Rethink
those frozen treats. Yes, they’re sweet, refreshing summer treats. But.They are
also ready-packed drink ingredients. Break the popsicles/fudgesicles into a
blender, add a few ice cubes and some liquor, voila! quick, easy frozen
cocktails.
Popsicle Cocktail
2 oz. Vodka
2-1.6 oz. Popsicles*
3 large ice cubes
Blender
Add vodka and ice cubes to blender. Break Popsicles into
blender. Blend just until smooth.
*Use the same flavor or mix up the flavors for zesty taste
combinations. Edy’s frozen fruit bars make excellent smoothie-esque drinks.
FudgeSicle Martini
2 oz. Vodka
2-1.6 oz. Fudgesicles
3 large ice cubes
Blender
Add vodka and ice cubes to blender. Break Fudgesicles into
blender. Blend just until smooth (blend too long and you’ll end up with
chocolate ice milk and vodka).
Optional: Add ½ oz. Amaretto, Chambord, or Crème de Minthe
before blending.
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| Blueberry Açai Edy's with vodka martini. |
Tropical drinks are always perfect on hot summer days. But
they require procuring several types of juices to mix. I’ve learned that when
the thermometer starts to rise it’s time to stock up on frozen treats like
popsicles and frozen fruit bars. They’re good summer treats but they serve
another purpose: Instant frozen tropical drink mix. Lime popsicles or Edy’s
frozen lime bars act as a substitute for sour mix. So, you can make a very
quick and easy frozen version of any sour mix drink. Whiskey Sours are not one
of my go-to drinks, but, since the advent of Edy’s frozen lime bars I have
become quite a devotee of a frozen version of a Whiskey Sour.
Quick and Easy Summer Daiquiri
2 oz. Rum
2 Edy’s Frozen Lime Bars
3 – 4 ice cubes
Blender
Rocks glass
Add rum and ice cubes to blender. Break frozen lime bars
into blender. Blend just until smooth.
Quick and Easy Summer Piña Colada
3 oz. Light Rum
1 Edy’s Frozen Pineapple Bars
1 Edy’s Coconut Cream Bar
3 – 4 ice cubes
Blender
Hurricane glass
Add rum and ice cubes to blender. Break frozen pineapple and
coconut bars into blender. Blend just until smooth.
