Is there anything better than spending time al fresco with friends and family? If you haven’t already, take advantage of the glorious spring weather by firing up your grill, uncovering the outdoor furniture and planning some backyard get-togethers.
Whether you’re invited to a party or hosting one of your own, you’ll want to provide a refreshing, delicious drink or two. If the gathering is at your home, consider setting up a buffet table where guests can get their glasses and add ice and other ingredients before dispensing their own beverage. For an outdoor party, using shatterproof plastic or acrylic glasses, or even copper mugs, is your best bet.
Don’t know what to serve? Here are some cocktail ideas that are sure to be crowd pleasers:
Tipsy Mermaid Punch
INGREDIENTS
Ice
1/2 cup Blue Curaçao
1/4 cup Midori (optional)
1 bottle prosecco (or champagne)
1 1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 cup light rum
2 cans seltzer
Pineapple wedges, for garnish
Maraschino cherries, for garnish
Fill a large punch bowl with ice, then pour over Blue Curaçao and Midori, if using. Top with prosecco, pineapple juice, rum and seltzer, then add pineapples and cherries. Stir to combine. Serve immediately.
From Delish.com
Fresh Watermelon ‘Rita
INGREDIENTS
2 chunks of watermelon (each the size of your thumb)
2 ounces of silver tequila
1 ounce of fresh lime juice
1 ounce of simple syrup
Dash of Cointreau
Coarse sea salt (optional)
Use a shaker top to crush the watermelon in the bottom of a pint glass. Fill the shaker with ice and add the rest of the ingredients. Shake vigorously for five to ten seconds.
Rim a pint or margarita glass with salt. Strain the mixture into the glass; garnish with a small watermelon wedge.
From mixthatdrink.com
Strawberry Pimm’s Cup
INGREDIENTS
1 handful of fresh mint
4 cucumber slices
4 strawberries, sliced
2 lemon slices
2 lime slices
4 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
1 lemon wedge
1 lime wedge
4 ounces ginger beer
1 to 2 ounces club soda
Fill glass with a mixture of ice, strawberries, cucumber slices, fresh mint, lemon slices and lime slices. Remember to save a strawberry or some mint for garnish.
Once your cup is filled, pour in the Pimm’s and squeeze in the lemon and lime juice from each wedge. Use a knife or cocktail stirrer to stir the mixture and muddle the mint. Pour the ginger beer over top and finish with the club soda; give it a gentle stir. Garnish with the leftover mint or strawberry or lemon wedge. Drink up!
From howsweeteats.com