Favorite Summer Entertaining Cocktails

Five awesome hostesses on Twitter and I shared our favorite summer cocktails on the Daily Grommet blog. We all suggested easy to make cocktails.

Selecting my favorite cocktails was hard since I have so many. I selected the Tom Collins because it is fresh and most people like the taste. But instead of a slice of lemon as garnish, I prefer mint sprig. I feel it is fresher. But more importantly I grew my own mint. Therefore, there is no chance for me to run out of mint at the party.

Another suggestion

If you like lime, gin and mint, I suggest that you give a try to another fresh drink: the Southside. It is as simple to make than the Tom Collins. When you read the ingredient list, you have the impression that it is a gin version of the mojito. If you wish to intensify the mint flavor, use a muddler like in a regular mojito.

Southside recipe

• 1.5 oz of gin (1 large measure of jigger)
• 1 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice (1 small measure of jigger)
• 2/3 oz  Sugar syrup (2 parts sugar: 1 part boiling water, stir until dissolved and chill)
• 8-10 Fresh mint leaves
• Soda water
• Garnish: lime slice and mint sprig

Add all except the soda to a mixing glass with lots of ice.
Shake very hard to bruise the mint and release flavor and strain into a glass filled with crushed or cracked ice.
Top with a dash of soda and garnish with 1 large mint sprig, lime slice and 2 long straws.

More Summer Cocktails

Go see the French Martini! by Jennifer of Hostess with the Mostess, the Margarita on the Rocks by Kim of TomKat Studio, the French Vodka Slush Amy at ABCD Designs, the French 77 by Jen over at Second City Soiree, the Raspertini by Deborah at The Hip Hostess Blog, and my Tom Collins on the Daily Grommet. If you are looking for an appetizer to pair with a Tom Collins, try the Prosciutto and Sundried Tomato Rolls.