An Awesome Summer Cocktail Party

Sit back, relax, and enjoy summertime sipping with friends and family. Host a summer cocktail party! Alongside your signature cocktails, serve mini appetizers like Stuffed mushrooms or Caprese bites. Here are three of our favorite summer cocktail recipes definitely worth a sip (or two)!

Watermelon Tequila Cocktail

What you need: serves 8

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 8 cups diced seedless watermelon
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 3/4 cups blueberries
• 3/4 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 1/4 cups silver tequila
• Ice

Directions:

1. Simmer water in a small saucepan with the sugar and stir over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let the sugar syrup cool.
2. Puree watermelon in a blender until smooth. Strain watermelon juice and discard pulp.
3. Combine sugar syrup with the lime juice, blueberries, and mint leaves in a pitcher. Lightly muddle blueberries and mint. Add the watermelon juice and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled.
4. Pour cocktail into ice-filled glasses. Garnish with the mint sprigs.

The Clint Eastwood

What you need: serves 1

• 1 1/2 oz bourbon
• 3/4 oz sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 2 cherries, for garnish
• ice

Directions:

1. Combine bourbon, vermouth, and bitters in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a rocks glass; garnish with cherries.

Rum-Spiked Ginger Beer Cocktails

What you need: serves 16

• 12 oz dark rum
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 oz ginger beer

Directions:

1. In a pitcher, combine 6 ounces dark rum and 1/4 cup fresh lime juice; refrigerate.
2. Meanwhile, place 1/2 cup sugar in a shallow bowl and 2 tablespoons lime juice in a saucer.
3. Sugar the rims of each glass by dipping them first in the lime juice, then in the sugar. Refrigerate glasses.
4. Add two and a half 12-ounce bottles chilled ginger beer to the chilled rum-lime mixture and divide among the prepared glasses.

What's your favorite way to celebrate summer? Much Party Love, Smarties!