I don't drink alcohol but I love anything fruity in the summer. With all the garden work I do, I'm very thirsty at night.

Last night I made a sugar free chocolate milkshake. First one I've had this year. Yum!

But any strawberry drink with Ginger Ale is great!

Fruit smoothies with plain yogurt are prefect in the warmer months. I usually use 1-2 bananas, 1- 1 1/2 cups of orange juice, a handful of strawberries or blueberries, 1/2 cup of plain yogurt, and 1 or 2 handfuls of ice. A bonus is adding some flavored syrup. I like the Monin syrups, my favorites being raspberry and mango. Put in a blender and hit "start". It serves 2-3 people. Absolutely delicious!

Another good thirst quencher is ginger ale with pureed strawberries and a dollop of fruit sherbet.

Unsweetened ice tea with the above named fruit syrups over frozen fruit juice ice cubes.

Iced coffee over frozen coffee ice cubes and a touch of chocolate syrup added for decadence.

We also enjoy prosecco during the warm weather. We're dry red wine lovers but a cold glass of prosecco is light and refreshing.

Peach Fizz: frozen peaches, a bit of sugar or sweetener, whirred up in a blender then mixed with champagne. It's a take on Peach Bellini, but we all make it with local peaches and domestic champagne, rather than the traditional white peaches and Prosecco. You can of course sub ginger ale, sparkling cider or club soda for the alcohol.

Watermellon Coolers: chunks of watermellon and a few sprigs of mint, whirred up in a blender, then mixed with either champagne or ginger ale.

I also love a good mojito. But not one made from a mix. I want real mint leaves and actual limes - muddled by hand in the glass with a wooden muddler.

Mimosas - champagne and orange juice - are always fun.

Beer Margaritas
4 bottles light (color and/or calories) beer
1 cup Tequila
1 can frozen limeade concentrate
Stir together, serve over ice

I've just recently started making Sangria, and have developed quite a fondness for it, lol. It's fantastic with lots of ice. I'm hosting a birthday party & bbq for my hubby later this month and plan to make a huge batch to serve in my punchbowl.

I also like to make strawberry daquaris now and again, although I haven't found a perfect recipe for those yet.

When I was in NO I had my first ever Mint Julep, and want to find a good recipe for those too.... and I want to try limoncello this summer.

Wow, I sound like a bit of a lush don't I.... :)

I'm a simpleton. Ice tea (unsweetened, thank-you-very-much), ice coffee and lots of water.

That said, I know very little about mixed alcoholic drinks but I'd like to know more. I'd like to know what to order once in awhile. At the wedding open bar, my niece got me a rum and coke. Way too sweet for me and I couldn't even get through it. Then I tried a cranberry something that was very good but I can't remember what alcohol was in it.

To me, summer = iced coffee and iced tea. I don't drink them any other time of the year and usually sometime in May I have my first one of the season and it makes me so happy! I also drink a lot of water. Trying to lay off the diet sodas even though I succumb to a craving now and then. But I don't keep it in the house.

I also love a good margarita -- not from a mix. On the rocks with salt, please. Or a light beer. Harpoon makes a raspberry beer that I discovered last summer -- yum.

I'm with you Sue~my morning coffee seems to turn into mid-afternoon iced coffee, and there's nothing like a good Margarita, on-the-rocks w/salt, please. A cold Hefeweizen can also hit the spot. ;o)

Another simpleton here. Iced coffee with cream and sometimes I add Splenda, lots of water and A&W diet root beer slushies for a treat.

golddust, it may have been a Cape Codder which is made with Cranberry Juice and Vodka - one of my faves! Or it may have been a Cosmopolitan - love those too.

And Mimosas and Bellinis and Screwdrivers and Mojitos and Motinis and Daiquiris and Mint Juleps and Brandy Alexanders and, well, pretty much anything unless it contains tequila. A friend of mine makes a great drink she calls a "Bourbon Slushie", but I have no idea what's in it other than bourbon.

Going to have to try those watermelon coolers - yum!

Non alcoholic- iced tea iced tea iced tea. and ice water by the gallon.
Fun drinks- white sangria most weekends - I make it by the pitcherful and make it pretty light in alcohol content.
mojitos, vodka tonics, margaritas, strawberry daquiris also mango.Oh and beer with cookouts, crabs and Mexican( Corona and lime then)
Spread out over the summer though- a change up is good.
I do have a bunch of frozen peaches though so quess what I will be making this weekend. fun.
mint julep- powdered sugar in the bottom of a glass, squish/crush mint in the sugar. fill glass with a good bourbon, a bit of water.stir. add ice. stir. drink. Now I am sure there are frosted sterling silver cup rules somewhere south, but not necessary.We had a NO themed party years ago- much mint juleps.

Corona with fresh lime is my go to summer beer. I love Hefeweisen, but after working in the yard, I want something cold & light. Sometimes DH keeps MGD on hand in the summer.

We live in the land of microbrews, so when the kids come over, they bring a variety. I recently tried a porter that wasn't too bad.

I don't drink much alcohol, so when I do, it's either beer or wine, rarely spirits. Other than that, my perennial drink is Diet Pepsi...year round.

Drinks:
Mojitos
Margarita(traditonal rocks & blended grapefruit)
Cuba Libre
Kir Royale, Bellini, Merchant of Venice
Wine:
Viognier
Piedmont whites
Pinot Noir for grill nights
Other:
Lemonade (REAL)
Herbal Iced Tea
Iced Coffee

Now I'm thirsty!

You can always tell who the southern gals are, they drink Minosos and Mint Jelips. Here's to the southern belle's!

I think Oak told me about Michael Lee West's book Crazy Ladies which I read. She is an author on here that writes southern novels. But, my favorite is Mermaids under the Basement and boy do those belle's drink. Minosos were mentioned all through the book I highly recommend it, the book that is and the drink.

I love fresh mint ice tea

Make your tea as usual, putting a cup of sugar in it when it is hot, so the sugar disolves easily. Add a cup or more of fresh mint and lemon as desired. If you like lemon, it's optional.
Then fill your glasses up with ice and enjoy.

.....Jane

Limoncello is delicious, especially if kept in the freezer (the traditional way). One of our favorite brands of limoncello is Sogno de Sorrento. It's best if sipped after dinner as an aide to digestion. It really works!

1) Pino Grigio white wine!

Favorite types:

Barefoot (cheap, cheerful and yummy!)
Middle Sister (delicious!)

2) Basic white table wine -- HIGHLY RECOMMEND "Menage a Trois"
(delicious, crisp and totally afforable)

3) Cosmos

And of course, ice cream with Ginger Ale OR (for my DH) rootbear with ice cream ......

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

So many great ideas here. It is almost like a virtual party just looking at them and imagining how they would taste. I'm taking notes, I have a feeling this is going to be a fun summer! Any more?

Yum Msmarv! I'm going to try the strawberries/gingerale/sherbert recipe. That sounds DELISH!

Another ice tea drinker here - year round, but more of it in the warm months. Love the mint ice tea or regular ice tea with lemon or lime slices - orange slices are good too!

Real lemonade or limeade.

And although I am not a coffee drinker at all - I do love an iced coffee - preferably with a bit of caramel or mocha flavoring.

tina

I am not a beer drinker but we keep our second fridge stocked with Corona, Rolling Rock and Stella Artois which seem to be popular with the guys, and some women as well.

I usually do blender drinks for the ladies, vodka is usually the alcohol and I just hit the farmer's market for whatever fruit is local and in good supply. I mix the vodka in separately so the kids can drink the virgin variety of the smoothie type blender drinks.

Also, I have a recipe for a great white sangria, but that needs to be done a day ahead. We usually just roll with it, so I don't always have a day's notice when a party happens. We have the pool and love to call a casual bbq at the last minute. When it is going to be really hot its nice to have everyone come by and float around. We have great guests who will bring surprises like a vodka soaked watermelon! Boy oh boy, that can sneak up on you...

Reminds me, tomorrow is Saturday. Need to start thinking ahead now that it is SUMMER (well unofficially). Also, need to do a Sams or Costco run for supplies!

Loving the ideas.

teacats, you are right, that Barefoot Pinot is cheap and good!
I did find a new Pinot Grigio this week called Danzante. Very clean and a just nice to drink on it's own! We have been having very hot weather here in Missouri, so just a nice fresh white wine really hit the spot after work!

I do like a good Margarita on the rocks, too! But not the mix stuff, I like them from scratch. That being said, you'll make fun of me for liking the frozen stuff from Schwans---add Grand Marnier and Tequila, and a shot of real lime juice and whirl in the blender to get a good mix. It's a little sweet but not like some of the mixes tend to be. They sell a lot of it just to be eaten like a sorbet!

Pink Ladies: pink lemonade and vodka (citrus vodka is best!) I started drinking these in college with my best friend, and we spent many fun summer nights drinking too many of these :)

Since I was a little girl, I have loved Fresh Lime Squeezes. Lots of ice, squeeze in several quartered limes, and top off with Sprite/7UP. Yummmm- loved these when I was pregnant and queasy.

Jen

Gosh Pink Ladies sound yummy.

Well, of course living here in New Mexico, we drink a lot of Margaritas. My favorite before a meal is a Golden Margarita; after dinner, it would be a strawberry one. But, they do pack a lot of calories! Most of the time in the Summer, I'll order a Tanqueray & Tonic with a lime wedge. I also like a nice chilled Chardonnay. My brother-in-law makes the most awesome Bloody Mary using Clamato Juice among other ingredients. Every year at our week-long Family reunion on Lake Huron in Michigan, we adults have cocktail hour under the trees by the beach and our favorite drink is Chris' Bloody Marys.
Lynn

I discovered an amazing drink while on a business trip to Pinehurst (NC). Its called the "John Daley" and consists of lemonade, ice tea and vodka. It is refreshing and deeeeeeelicious!

Another summer favorite:

Squirt

1 shot Three Olives Cherry Vodka
1/4 c. Lemonade - fresh if you can make it
1 t. of grenadine poured into the bottom of iced martini glasses

Dip rim of glasses in red colored sugar (for baking)
Put lemonade & cherry vodka in shaker with lots of ice, shake till you get some ice crystals in the mix, strain into martini glass prepped with grenadine.
Marachino cherry for garnish

Gin and Tonic--but you MUST USE GOOD GIN, like Bombay Sapphire, Plymouth, or Tanqueray 10. And lots of lime.

Mint Juleps, screwdrivers, mimosas will all do in a pinch too :)

Best party drink: Bourbon Slushy, of course!!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Bourbon Slushy

lynninnewmexico, your brother is making Bloody Caesars; the Caesar is a hugely popular cocktail in Canada. I didn't actually know you could buy Clam anywhere else! Aren't they delicious?

Hmmm... not a whiskey person per se, but that Bourbon Slushy recipe looks prettty good.

This was an expensive thread for me to read. Made me realize that white wine every day makes Barb a dull girl.

The lemoncello is the freezer. The pink lemonade is in the fridge with the citrus vodka waiting in the cabinet. Two bottles of Tanguray gin (one for dear old Dad on Father's day, one for me...). Limes are in the fruit compartment of the fridge.
And a bottle of rum; I like it with orange juice.

Thanks for sharing your recipes. Bring on summer!

Flowerpwr45: "Bloody Caesars"? What a neat name! Perhaps the reason he makes them like that is because they live so close to Canada: on Lake St.Clair between Detroit & Port Huron . . . which, of course, is just over the borders from Windsor and Sarnia, Ontario, respectively. He may have originally had one at a restaurant over there. Do you add dill pickle juice and a pickle spear to yours, too, or is that just my BIL's idea? We love it.
As for Clamato Juice, we buy it in Michigan but they also sell it at many grocery stores here in New Mexico. Love it!
Lynn

"Fresca Surprise" consisting of Fresca and vodka, sometimes with a hint of cherry juice and a cherry, then I call it a "Blushing Bride".
Frou

Ooh Frou, that does sound good! Very summery. Lynn, that pickle juice might be a BIL original, I bet it is yummy! We add worcestershire sauce and rim the glass with celery salt or one of the commercially prepared Caesar/Bloody Mary Rimmer concoctions. I have just always made it with a celery stick but have seen the addition of a pickled asparagus spear. They all sound good to me!

"Fresh Lime Squeezes. Lots of ice, squeeze in several quartered limes, and top off with Sprite/7UP"

I don't really care for Sprite/7up but for some reason I'd really like to try one of those right now! Think I'll grab the stuff at the store tomorrow!

Work in progress--that bourbon slushy drink is a HUGE hit, even for people who don't usually like bourbon. Give it a try!

barb5 - you should keep your vodka in the freezer as well!

WIP, thanks for the tip. Peaches are in the freezer too. I need to pick up a bottle of champagne to make housewitch's peach fizz.

The lemoncello is excellent!