1. Get a 70s vibe with a classic Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients
- 50 ml white tequila
- 100 ml orange juice - fresh is best
- 2 tablespoons Grenadine (pomegranate syrup)
- Orange slice/cherries on a cocktail stick to decorate
Instructions
- Add ice, tequila and orange juice to two tall glasses
- Pour the grenadine syrup over each glass – don’t stir - it will sink to the bottom creating the sunrise effect. Add garnishes as desired.
Make it a mocktail – swap tequila for lemonade.
2. Elderflower Margarita – a summer twist on an old favourite
Ingredients
- 60 ml tequila
- 35 ml St-Germain Elderflower Liquor
- 30 ml fresh lime juice juice, plus a slice for decorating
Instructions
- Add to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a small glass with a salted rim if desired (simply dip a moistened glass into salt) and decorate with a slice of lime
Fun summer rum cocktails
3. Strawberry daiquiri – seasonal, fruity and fresh
Ingredients
- 3 or 4 large strawberries plus more to decorate
- 2 tsp sugar
- 30 ml fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp Bols strawberry liqueur
- 35ml white rum
Instructions
- Mash – or muddle- the ingredients together
- Add to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a small glass and decorate with the remaining strawberries.
Want it frozen? Watch this video on how to make strawberry daiquiri slush.
4. Dark and Stormy – despite the name this is a totally tropical punch
Ingredients
- 80g chopped pineapple
- 30ml fresh lime juice
- 50ml dark rum 100ml
- Fiery ginger beer
- Lime and pineapple slices for garnish
Instructions
- Mash – or muddle- all the ingredients except the ginger beer together
- Add to a tall glass, top up with ginger beer, stir and garnish.
Breezy easy summer champagne cocktails
5. The brilliant Bellini – so simple and so delicious
Ingredients
- 30 ml Peach juice
- 100 ml chilled champagne or prosecco
Instructions
- Add peach juice to a champagne glass
- Top with your choice of sparkling wine
6. The French 75 – so sophisticated as a sundowner!
Ingredients
- 30 ml lemon juice
- 50ml gin
- Sugar syrup to taste
- Chilled champagne or prosecco
Instructions
- Add the lemon juice, sugar syrup and gin to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a champagne glass and top with sparkling wine
Easy summer cocktails with gin
7. The Bramble – super-easy, but also sweet and pretty
Ingredients
- 25ml sugar syrup
- 25ml lemon juice
- 50ml gin
- 20 ml crème de mure - or cassis
- Fresh blackberries to garnish if you like.
Instructions
- Add the sugar syrup, lemon juice and gin to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a cocktail glass filled with more, preferably crushed, ice and top with crème de mure and blackberries.
8. The Gimlet – even easier, zesty and refreshing
Ingredients
- 75 ml gin
- 25 ml lime cordial
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a cocktail glass
Hot weather whisky cocktails
9. Think of whisky as wintery? This cool Mint Julep recipe will prove you wrong.
Ingredients
- 60ml bourbon
- About 8 mint leaves
- 5ml sugar
- Sparkling water
Instructions
- Muddle the bourbon, mint and sugar together in a glass
- Add ice and top with sparkling water to taste.
Brown Derby – another American classic for sipping at sunset
Ingredients
- 60 ml Bourbon
- 25 ml Grapefruit Juice
- 25ml runny honey
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
A recipe for a happy retirement
With their glossy contemporary kitchens, our retirement apartments and retirement bungalows are perfectly designed for your to cook up a storm. And, if you live in a Retirement Living PLUS property and fancy a hearty meal without the faff, you can pop to the subsidised, stylish and sociable restaurant/bistro when you want to, too.
Learn more about our lovely retirement homes near you, call our friendly team on 0800 201 4811 or contact us online for more information.
