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Cocktails

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Labor Day is the unofficial last day of Summer in our house. Portland’s weather has already given us a small taste of Fall (which was glorious) but, we are going to hang on to the last bit of Summer as long as we can with a fun BBQ with friends, some hikes, and (for me) working on my computer outside. To celebrate this weekend, I’ll be making up a big batch of one of my favorite summer cocktails!

Cocktails that can be made in bulk are one of my favorites for parties so that I don’t spend the entire night playing bartender. Below are some of my favorite summer cocktails that can be made by the pitcher!

Favorite Summer Cocktails

 

Summer cocktails for me typically are a mix of sweet and sour flavors. They often have a selection of herbs or fruit muddled in. Nearly all of my favorite summer cocktails can be made in batches and served to a crowd.

Vodka Slushies

 

These are SO tasty and easy to make. Just increase all of the ingredients to make a pitcher worth of slushies. Hand them out quick though… they will melt!

Vodka Slushies

Gin Mint Lemonade

 

A mint simple syrup brings this lemonade based cocktail over the top flavor wise.

Gin Mint Lemonade

 

Peach Bourbon Iced Tea

 

This one is PERFECT for a batch cocktail. Simply multiply all ingredients by 8 and put in a pitcher. Pour over ice, stir and enjoy!

sponsored content in partnership with Maker’s 46

 

Herbal Gin and Tonic

 

Gin is absolutely my liquor of choice over the summer months. This cocktail is so easy to customize as well!

GinandTonicSummerSipper-002

 

Jalapeno Margarita

 

Spicy margaritas, well… spicy cocktails in general, are my favorites. I love the little bit of a kick that pairs so well with the sweet and sour of a this margarita.

AWCP-JalapenoMargaritaPinterest

 

Beergarita

 

Margaritas are just so good for batch cocktails. They are easy to put together and don’t need a bunch of shaking or added elements to be ready to go. This beergarita gives a little carbonation to the traditional margarita.

Beergarita

 

Spiked Arnold Palmer

 

This is absolutely one of my favorite camping cocktails. Lemonade, tea, and bourbon make for a lovely combination.

Spiked Arnold Palmer the perfect camping cocktail from A Well Crafted Party

Spiked Ice Cream 

 

One of my favorite summer party treats involves mixing ice cream (or sorbet) with my favorite liquors. This sweet treat is easy to make and only needs a few hours in the freezer to firm up!

Spiked Ice Cream from A Well Crafted Party

 

What is your favorite summer cocktail to serve to a crowd?

I am a little surprised at how much I like these glowing glasses. When PremierGlow.com first approached me to work on a post together I *almost* said no because I couldn’t quite see myself using light up barware. Boy am I glad I ended up saying yes. These are SO fun! I like changing up the colors of the glasses to differentiate glasses for each person (easier than labels). I love how it shows off these drinks with tonic water. (Check out my last post with a glowing cocktail.)

I’m totally excited to get to share the opportunity to win some of these amazing glowing whiskey glasses and more glowing goodies! Continue to read to see how you can win!

This post is a collaboration with PremierGlow.com. All opinions are my own. For more information about my sponsored content please visit my policies page. 

Mint Lemonade Gin Cocktail from A Well Crafted Party

Gin Mint Lemonade

This cocktail was actually inspired by a very overpriced (but delicious looking) beverage sitting in the beverage section of a speciality food store. The drink was a mint honey-lemonade. I instantly began thinking about how delicious a mint lemonade would be with gin. I mean, really. So tasty. I added in some tonic water for a bit of bubbles, light lemon flavor, and the fun glow effect that tonic has in glasses such as these Flashing Whiskey Glasses from PremierGlow.com.

 

Mint Lemonade Gin Cocktail

Single Cocktail Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 oz Gin
  • 1 oz Lemoncello
  • 1 oz mint simple syrup*
  • 2 oz lemonade
  • 1-2 oz tonic water
  • Shaker with ice
  • lemon slices and sugar for rimming the glass
  • Mint for Garnish

Single Cocktail Directions:

  1. Rub the rim of your chosen glass with a lemon slice. Dip the rim into granulated sugar.
  2. In a shaker combine gin, lemoncello, mint simple syrup, and lemonade. Shake to chill and strain into a glass.
  3. Top with tonic water.
  4. Garnish with mint and enjoy!

 

Mint Lemonade Gin Cocktail from A Well Crafted Party

 

Batch Cocktail Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cup Gin
  • 1 cup Lemoncello
  • 1 cup mint simple syrup*
  • 2 cups lemonade
  • tonic water to top each drink
  • pitcher
  • lemon slices and sugar for rimming the glass
  • Mint for Garnish

Batch Cocktail Directions:

This cocktail is a great one to create in a batch, put in the fridge to chill, and then bring it out for a dinner alfresco!

  1. Combine the gin, lemoncello, simple syrup, and lemonade in a pitcher. Stir and put in fridge to chill.
  2. Prep glasses with a sugar rim.
  3. Pour 6 oz of mixture into rimmed glass, top with tonic water, garnish with mint, and enjoy!

Mint Lemonade Gin Cocktail from A Well Crafted Party

How to make Mint Simple Syrup:

Mint simple syrup is super easy to make. Combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water in a sauce pan on medium heat. Drop in a few springs of mint. Stir occasionally. Once all of the sugar has dissolved move the temp to low and allow the mixture to absorb the mint flavors for about 15 min. Strain into a bottle and store in fridge up to two weeks.

Mint Lemonade Gin Cocktail from A Well Crafted Party

A Glowing Giveaway!

 

Prize: 4 of the glowing rocks glasses , glow straws, ice cubes and possibly more fun glowing goodies.

Rules/Guidelines: Enter to win a glowing gift box prize from PremierGlow.Com that includes 4 flashing rocks glasses (or equivalent chosen by PremierGlow), glow straws, ice cubes and more glowing goodies. You must be 18 to enter and have a US Mailing Address to win. This giveaway is from A Well Crafted Party and PremierGlow.com. Family and contractors of Jenni Bost are ineligible to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook or Twitter. By entering, Entrants agree to a complete release of Facebook or Twitter. No Cash Value. PremierGlow.com will provide the prize to a US Mailing Address. Giveaway begins Saturday, August 20 at 12:00 AM PST and ends Sunday, August 28 at 12:00 AM PST. The winner will be emailed at the email provided and given 48 hours to claim their prize. After 48 hours the prize will be awarded to someone else.

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I think Gin and Tonic is the perfect summer sipper. I’ve never been a huge fan of the classic itself with just gin and tonic, but adding in a few elements that bring out the flavors of the gin and I’m THERE. My favorite thing about this drink is that it can easily be made in a batch and served at a dinner alfresco. The directions below will have a batch and single drink version of this cocktail.

Cucumber, Citrus & Herbs Gin and Tonic

Cucumbers, Citrus, & Herbs Gin and Tonic

 

This drink may be served over ice or straight up. I personally enjoy it over ice on a very hot day. You can mix and match the herbs that you use in this drink from what is available. I used Thyme and Basil, but you could also do some Rosemary, Mint, or Sage to complement the other flavors in this beverage.

Single Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Ingredients & Tools:

(Affiliate Links*)

  • 1 Shaker with ice, strainer, & muddler*
  • 3-4 slices cucumber (extra for garnish)
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • Juice of 1/2 lime squeezed fresh- you’ll throw the wedges in the drink before straining as well
  • Juice of 1 lemon squeezed fresh- you’ll throw the half in the drink before straining as well
  • 2-4 springs of fresh herbs- I used Basil and Thyme
  • 1 1/4 oz Gin
  • 3-4 oz of Tonic
  • Glassware of choice – I chose a collins glass* with ice

Single Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Directions:

  1. Place 3-4 slices of cucumber and herbs in cocktail shaker. Squeeze lemon and add into the shaker. Squeeze lime and add into the shaker.
  2. Muddle the cucumber, herbs, lemon, and lime until the natural juices are released and you can smell the herbs.
  3. Pour in simple syrup & gin. Add ice and SHAKE.
  4. Strain the mixture into your glass of choice.
  5. Top with tonic, give it a little stir, garnish and enjoy!

 

Cucumber, Citrus & Herbs Gin and Tonic from A Well Crafted Party

 

Batch Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Ingredients & Tools:

(Serves 8)

  • 1 bowl
  • 1 muddler*
  • Fine mesh strainer*
  • 1 full cucumber sliced (slice some extra for garnish)
  • 8 oz simple syrup
  • Juice of 4 limes squeezed fresh- you’ll throw 2 limes in the mixture before straining as well
  • Juice of 6-8 lemons squeezed fresh- you’ll throw the 2 lemons in the mixture before straining as well
  • 10-12 springs of fresh herbs- I used Basil and Thyme
  • 10 oz Gin
  • bottles or cans of Tonic on side
  • Pitcher*
  • Collins glasses with ice & cucumber slices as garnish

Batch Summer Sipper Gin & Tonic Cocktail Directions:

  1. In a bowl place the cucumber slices, herbs, lemons, limes, lemon juice, and lime juice. Muddle well. This will take some time because there is just so much there!
  2. Once you smell the herbs and everything looks well muddled, add in the simple syrup and gin. Let the batch sit together for about 30 minutes to really incorporate.
  3. Strain the mixture into a pitcher.
  4. Serve along side collins glasses filled with ice and garnished with cucumber.
  5. To serve, pour about 3 oz of the mixture into the glass and then top with tonic water. Give it a little stir and enjoy!

 

Cucumber, Citrus & Herbs Gin and Tonic from A Well Crafted Party