Cocktail Recipes Perfect for Outdoor Eating

I am sure that with this beautiful weather, we have all been spending more time outside.  It’s time to step up your weekend cocktail variety.  I don’t know about you, but I am getting sick of beer!  I will be adding Cosmopolitans and Sangria ingredients to my shopping list this weekend.  Each is simple and refreshing.  They are perfect for sipping while watching the sunset.

This cosmopolitan recipe came from my grandmother.  She happened to gather all of her favorite family recipes and compiled them in a cookbook to share with her family.  A sharp woman, even into her 80s, Gertrude Manion hosted cocktail parties for her friends in her building and she loved to serve Cosmopolitans during her day.  Here is her recipe:

Cosmopolitan

1 oz Vodka  (The better the quality the vodka, the better the drink is.)

1 oz Cointreau

A dash of lime juice

1 oz Cranberry Juice (Again, get the good stuff!)

Fill shaker with ice.  Add ingredients and shake vigorously.  Pour into a martini glass leaving the ice in the shaker. You should have more than one martini glass for when friends come over.

Not to disagree with grandma, but personally, I am not a fan of drinking out of a martini glass.  I would put this in a rocks glass on ice and add a wedge of lime.  

 While researching Sangria recipes, I found that there are so many ways to make this cocktail, it is best to do it how you think you will like it. The basic ingredients are wine, white or red, a sparkling beverage and fruit.  I happened to come across this recipe, and it sounds great!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brandy – again, don’t go cheap
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur 
• 1/4 cup sugar, super fine or dissolved in hot water and allow to chill
• 1 orange, washed and thinly sliced
• 1 pint raspberries, washed
• 1 lime, washed and sliced
• 1 lemon, washed and sliced
• 2 bottles sparkling wine or cava, chilled

Directions:

In a large pitcher, combine the brandy and orange liqueur. Pour in the sugar, stir or shake the pitcher thoroughly to mix until the sugar dissolves. Add all the fruit at once. Add the cava and serve as is or on ice.

You can have fun with Sangrias if you are entertaining.  You can switch up the fruit for whatever is in season. You can use wine glasses, rocks glasses, water glasses, brandy snifters, whatever works best for you!  Make it manly and put it in a frosted beer mug! 

Tell us YOUR favorite Sangria recipe, or favorite summer cocktail.

We ask that you drink responsibly and never drink and drive.

You can find the alcohol ingredients at your local and the rest of the ingredients at your .