It’s summer again! That means its prime time for relaxing outside and with friends and family. Whether you are hanging at the beach, boating, camping or BBQing at the house, there is no better way to experience summer than with a refreshing drink in hand.
Try these 5 Coastal Carolina inspired summer beach drink recipes and kick back and take in the refreshing taste of fun in the sun on the beaches of Wilmington, North Carolina.
1. Mango Rum Cooler
Simple yet exotic cocktail, Mango Rum Coolers are super refreshing and perfect for summer. Sip at the beach, by the pool, on the boat or at the house in your backyard.
Ingredients
- 3 oz fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup chopped mango
- 1 ounce light rum
- 1/2 cup ice
- Mint for garnish
Add all ingredients in to a blender and blend until smooth and consistent. Pour into glasses and garnish with mint leaves. Serve immediately so the blended ice doesn’t melt.
2. Blueberry Basil Lemonade
Blueberry Basil Lemonade is definitely a celebratory drink with its sparkling color reflecting off fresh squeezed blueberries and the bite of high quality bourbon.
This is the perfect beach drink recipe for entertaining and throwing a party. Make big batches or small batches, the ingrediants are easy to find and will stay good for 24 hours so you can make the drink the day before an event and have it ready and taste amazingly fresh.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup fresh blueberries, plus extra for garnish
- Juice from 2 lemons
- 4 large basil leaves plus extra for garnish
- Ice
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- Tonic water
Blueberry Basil Syrup: Combine the sugar and water, blueberries, lemon juice and basil leaves in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil until the blueberries have popped and the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer to a heat-proof container, and chill until cold.
Lemonade: Fill a high ball glass or Mason jar with ice, add in 2 tablespoons of the blueberry-basil syrup, followed by 1 1/2 oz of vodka. Fill to top with tonic water. Garnish with extra blueberries and basil leaves.
3. Pineapple and Ginger Mojito
Summer has never tasted so good. The Pineapple and Ginger Mojito is one of the most refreshing summer drinks you can serve. The combination of mint, lime and pineapple, make this summer beach drink recipe a must have for your parties or days out on the boat.
Ingredients
- 6-8 mint leaves
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/4 oz ginger simple syrup
- 1/4 cup fresh pineapple, pureed
- 2 oz rum
- Club soda, splash
- Mint and pineapple wedge for garnish
Ginger Simple Syrup: Place a 1/4 lb of peeled and thinly sliced ginger, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat, and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes. Strain into an airtight container, cover and chill.
Mojito: Put mint leaves and lime juice in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Fill halfway with crushed ice and add ginger simple syrup, pineapple puree and rum. Shake well, strain into a chilled glass and top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with mint and a pineapple wedge.
4. Cucumber-Basil Gimlet
Fresh and smooth the Cucumber-Basil Gimlet combines freshly squeezed cucumber juice, basil simple syrup, ice cold gin and lime juice. Serve this drink on the hottest of hot days and share it with friends and family.
Ingredients
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 small cucumber from local farm or farmer’s market sliced
- 1 1/2 oz basil simple syrup
- 2 oz gin
- Cucumber slice and basil leaf for garnish
Basil Simple Syrup: Place 1 cup of basil, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat, and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes. Strain into an airtight container, cover and chill.
Gimlet: Put lime juice and cucumber in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Fill halfway with crushed ice and add basil simple syrup and gin. Shake well, and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with basil and cucumber slice.
5. Spiked Rosemary Lemonade
Spiked Rosemary Lemonade is an easy, refreshing cocktail that’s best served in the late summer as we transition into fall. Using a combination of fresh lemon juice sweetened with maple and rosemary simple syrup, Spiked Rosemary Lemonade is perfect for serving on Labor Day Weekend.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 rosemary sprigs
- 1 lemon wheel
- 2 oz vodka
- 1/4 oz rosemary simple syrup
- 2 oz lemon juice
- 2 oz club soda
Rosemary Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water and 1 rosemary sprig, and bring to a simmer. Stir until sugar dissolves, then remove from heat. Steep 30 minutes, then remove rosemary sprig and cool completely. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Lemonade: Place 2 rosemary sprigs, a lemon wheel and ice into a cocktail glass. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add vodka, rosemary syrup and lemon juice and shake. Poor into glasses and top with soda.