Enjoy every last drop of Summer

As the Summer draws to a close, and the Labor Day weekend beckons, it seems only right that it is spent celebrating the long, warm days gone by, before the kids go back to school and the cooler weather kicks in. Why not make up some of these tropical cocktails to help encourage the sunny days to stretch a bit longer…

End of Paradise Punch

Make this fruity concoction up in advance and then sip delicately throughout the day while chasing the sun around you back garden from the comfort of your sun lounger. Simply muddle fresh raspberries with simple sugar syrup, and then add three parts Malibu, two parts apple juice, four parts Earl Grey tea and a dash of fresh lime juice. Stir in a big bowl and garnish with mint and citrus fruits and then chill in the fridge. Top up your drink with a ladle every time you notice your glass getting empty.

Electric Lemonade

Nothing sweetens a lazy summer’s day like a glass of ice cold lemonade. This alcoholic version is just as refreshing, and will only enhance your Labor Day weekend. Chill four glasses in the freezer for a while before serving your drink. Then mix one cup of lemon juice, half a cup of sugar, some fresh mint, one cup of sparkling water, a splash of ginger ale and three cups of ice in a blender. Combine until you have a lovely thick liquid. Add a quarter of a cup of Vodka into your four frozen glasses, and top with your lemonade mix. Garnish with mint, lemon and a straw.

Watermelon Margaritas

Nothing refreshes a thirsty tongue like a juicy watermelon, and the fruit is synonymous with summer for me. Puree two cups of watermelon in a blender. Add it to a pitcher with half a cup of simple syrup, a three quarter cup of tequila and a dash of lime juice. Rim your glass with lime and sugar and fill with crushed ice. Pour your margarita mix over the top and garnish with lime. With all the work required to make this drink, you are sure to have built up a sweat that will require you to cool off with a melon drink or two.

Sunset Sangria

Reminisce about your tropical holidays with a twist on the traditional Sangria. Add shredded lime peel, one cup of lime juice and a three quarter cup of sugar to a bowl and add two cups of water. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and then refrigerate for at least two hours. Fill a glass with ice, add half a cup of Pinot Noir and top with the lime mixture. Garnish with nectarine and say Adios to the summer.