Summertime calls for cold, refreshing drinks… perfected boozy cocktails and mocktails are a must! Our favorite herb-infused summer cocktail recipes are perfect for sophisticated summer sipping and will spark up the whimsy in your repertoire. We’ve curated our new porch and poolside-worthy favorites that you will want to sip all summer long. From rosemary to mint to watermelon and more, these cocktails epitomize summer in a glass and are simple to make.
I am thrilled to introduce an outstanding and multi-talented entrepreneur, Cece Page! Cece is the author and illustrator of a fabulous cocktail book, The Bar(c)art Book: The Art of Crafting Tasty and Timeless Cocktails, available on Amazon. Cece is passionate about bringing creative visions to life through inspiring graphic design. A fun fact: she is one of the two finalists out of hundreds for the 2023 Atlanta Peachtree Road Race t-shirt design! When she isn't designing on the computer, she's usually painting, reading a book, working on her garden, or drinking a cocktail on her back porch. It is a pleasure featuring Cece’s delicious cocktails, but picking favorites is a challenge since I love them all. Investing in young entrepreneurs is very meaningful to me, as their vision will shape our economy.
Whether you grow herbs yourself or buy them from a store, Cece Page is going to teach us how spice up our cocktails by muddling or making a simple syrup. Did you know that flavored simple syrup is the easiest thing on earth to make?! Combine 1 part water, and 1 part sugar. Bring it to a boil on the stovetop, and then turn off the heat. Add your flavor, which in this recipe would be rosemary sprigs, and cover. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Strain into a large mason jar and chill in the fridge. The syrup is good for up to a week and will take your cocktails to the next level. Fresh herbs can also be muddled just before serving to add a light herb flavor. By muddling, you crush the herbs so that their essential oils and flavors are released.
Summer wouldn't be complete without watermelon. This sweet watermelon cocktail is perfect for a summer soirée. Chop a watermelon up and throw it in the blender. Except for the LaCroix, multiply everything by 10x and combine in a large pitcher. My favorite thing about this recipe is that it can be easily multiplied, making it the perfect summer punch to serve at a party! When it's party time, fill your guest's glasses with ice and add the mixture to each glass until halfway full. Top each with LaCroix and garnish with fresh basil for the most refreshing party drink!
Mint leaves are super easy to grow, but highly invasive. Keep your mint sprigs in their own pot near a sunny window or on the back porch, and you'll have fresh mint sprigs available whenever you please! The best way to release the mint scent is to slap the sprigs against the back of your hand before arranging them in your glass. Minty fresh every time.
Pineapple juice is the star of this next cocktail! The flavorful ginger beer, jalapenos, mint, and lime, plus lots of ice, are shaken together for a refreshing, not-too-sweet drink that is sure to refresh. People tend to forget how many different fresh ingredients you can add to your cocktails. If you already have a garden growing, consider adding jalapeños to the mix. They are great companion plants for basil, tomatoes, and other peppers. If grown together in a bed where they all share soil, these plants will improve the flavor of each other. And most importantly, they can give your cocktails a fun little kick! I love having this alcohol-free drink when I'm craving something tasty but don't feel like drinking liquor. This is a fabulous option if you're hosting friends who don't drink or can't drink!
Make other delicious mocktails by adding fresh herbs like thyme, basil, lemon verbena, chamomile flowers, lemongrass, or ginger to lemonade or iced tea. Tossing herbs like Rosemary into a summer fire creates a lovely aroma of summer that's perfect for alfresco entertaining.
Saluti! Cheers! Raise a glass and enjoy entertaining alfresco with elegant herbaceous cocktails!
You can buy her fabulous cocktail book on Amazon!
