Summer is rolling through Malaysia… I mean Memphis… and the air is thick enough to swim through. In honor of this wonderful weather, we’ve come up with some cocktails that could help stem the tide of the heat. Or, at the very least, keep you drunk enough to forget the oppression of the Memphis summer.
Icepick
A personal favorite of mine and one of the cleaner drinks you can sip on during a thick summer. The added bonus with this drink is it might just get you a few freebies if your bartender doesn’t know what it is. It’s worked for me quite a few times.
Needs:
2 shots of your favorite fruit flavored Vodka (Belvedere flavors are the best, Absolut Mandarin is excellent as is Stoli Raspberry)
Unsweet Ice Tea (Sweet Tea can be used but it will increase the chances of hangover)
Lime or Lemon (Lime if you like tart, Lemon if you need sweetness)
How To:
This one is simple. Use a highball glass (taller of the two bar glasses) and ice. Pour two shots of Vodka into the glass and fill the rest of the glass with the unsweet tea. Squeeze lime/ lemon to taste.
Genoese Admiral
This drink is more reserved for the slower drinker seeing as it is a thicker concoction. This drink is great for the back patio after work or as a late night evening-ender.
Needs:
3 ice cubes
1 ½ shots of dark rum
½ shot of sweet vermouth
1 shot Orange Juice
½ shot of Lemon juice
How To:
This drink also needs almost no brainpower to make. Throw all five ingredients into a tumbler and shake for a couple shakes. Two things of note with this drink; first, you never want to use much ice in a drink containing Orange juice, ice dilutes the juice and make the end of the drink taste pretty awful. Second, you never want to over shake any drink/ shot with Orange juice in it because, again, the water dilutes the drink and the drink begins to acquire that lovely Tang flavor.
Naranjita
A quasi- island drink, the Naranjita is probably your best bet if you’re planning on going to something like the Botanic Gardens show. A great drink for the early evening or even a day at a backyard barbecue. It’s easy to make and a great mix of thin and thick ingredients.
Needs:
1 ounce light Puerto Rican rum
2-3 ounce ginger ale
1 ounce Orange juice
orange slices for garnish
carambola (star fruit) for garnish
How To:
A Naranjita is poured as a layered drink that you mix with either a straw or a stirrer. In this case, take the light rum and pour one shot into a glass filled a touch over half filled with ice. Add ginger ale till glass is about 75% full. Pour in Orange juice on top and stir until ingredients are sufficiently mixed.
Georgia Peach
I figured we definitely needed a blender drink in here and since everyone older than 15 knows how to make a Pina Colada and a Margarita, let’s try something a touch different. This drink is made more for the light drinker, seeing as Peach Schnapps is the only liquor in the drink, and can be made in mass quantity for any occasion, large or small.
Needs:
1 1/2 oz. Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz. Grenadine
2 oz. Sour mix
How To:
Blend with ice, Garnish with Peach slice and lemon wheel (the two garnishes are unnecessary if you don’t have or want them).
Lemon Drop (New York style) vs. Lemon Drop (Julian style)
Like Spy vs. Spy, there is always a classic and an basterized alternative to an idea that when someone tinkers enough with the idea they actually create a formidable alternative. My alternative has received rave reviews from even the most dyed in the wool drunk. While the classic (New York version) is easier to make while remaining quite tasty, the alternative creates a more palatable taste to many drinkers who don’t like straight Vodka going down the drain.
Needs (Classic version):
1 ½ shots of Lemon/ Citron flavored vodka (although you can use unflavored Vodka)
1 packet of sugar
1 slice of lemon
How To:
Chill the shots in a glass of ice (or a jigger if you have one available). Pour shot into shot glass. Pour half a packet of sugar on your tongue. Keep lemon wedge handy. Pour liquor down the gullet and suck on lemon wedge.
Needs (Julian version & this makes 2 shots):
2 shots of Lemon/ Citron flavored vodka.
½ shot of Sour Mix
1 Lemon
1 shot simple syrup.
How To:
First, what the hell is simple syrup? It’s equal parts sugar and water boiled down until the sugar dissolves into the water. It’s kind of yellowish and clear. Take it off the burner at this point and let it sit in the fridge until it’s reasonably cold and store it in an empty plastic bottle. Pour the Vodka, Sour Mix and simple syrup into a jigger/ glass filled with ice. Squeeze the both lemon halves into the mix and shake. Pour into shot glasses. Also, simple syrup keeps for a good amount of time in the fridge and can be used in lieu of sugar in many drinks.
