A Gathered Hostess Guide: Summer Cocktail Trends for 2013

Happy Friday fashionistas! I'm sure since all of you are so fabulous, you're planning on going out tonight, right? Well, this post is for those special times in a gathered lady's life when she brings the party home by hosting it. Now, don't get me wrong -- many of you are natural born entertainers. But I'm sure, like me, you need help and inspiration to take your gathered gatherings to the next level. As a southern woman, it all starts with what you serve - an amazing cocktail is the start to a spectacular evening. Let's get inspired by some awesome cocktail ideas for those times when it's your time to shine.  

I am no mixologist and have no genius in this area, so ya'll can go right ahead and thank Chef Bobby Flay for sharing... 

Cookouts and Grilling 

Cookouts, Barbeques, and Grilling are pretty much all the same in terms of what cocktails to serve. It's hot, and you'll be outdoor for most of the party, so you want to make sure that you serve something refreshing that pairs well with grilled food. Light, fresh tastes, nothing bitter or overly savory. Frozen drinks shine in these situations. Also, if the drink you serve isn't overly garnished and is simple, with simple ingredients, you'll easily be able to churn out a bunch and then go enjoy your own event! 

Option 1: Frozen Mojito

A classic frozen is more than a classic... it's epic. This one's a no-brainer.

Total Time: 15 min

Yield: 2 servings 

Ingredients
1/4 cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water boiled together until sugar melts)
2 limes, juiced
12 fresh mint leaves, plus mint sprigs for garnish
4 ounces white rum
2 cups crushed ice
Directions
Combine simple syrup, lime juice and mint leaves in a blender and blend until combined. Add the rum and crushed ice and blend until frothy. Pour into 2 rocks glasses and garnish with mint sprigs.

Option 2: Tropical Sangria

Although this tropical sangria is a slightly more complicated twist on another classic. That twist kills! Lemongrass simple syrup? Yes please! 

Total Time: 3 hr 15 min (Prep 10 min, Inactive 3hr, Cook 5 min)

Yield: 4 to 6 servings 

Ingredients
Tropical Sangria:
1 bottle sauvignon blanc
1 cup light rum
1/2 cup passion fruit nectar
1/2 cup Lemongrass Simple Syrup, or to taste, recipe follows
1 fresh lemon, halved and thinly sliced
1 fresh orange, halved and thinly sliced
1 bunch fresh mint leaves
1 fresh passion fruit, seeds removed, optional
Directions
Combine the sauvignon blanc, rum, nectar, Lemongrass Simple Syrup, lemons, oranges, mint and passion fruit if desired in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
Lemongrass Simple Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 stalk lemongrass, cut into thirds
Combine 1 cup water and the sugar in a small saucepan. Hit the stalks with the back of a knife to lightly bruise and help release the flavor. Add the stalks to the pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 48 hours to let the flavor develop. Strain before using. Yield: 1 cup.

Option 3: Ginger Slushy with Vodka 

What I like about this option is that the virgin version of this drink would also be a fresh summer drink to serve (Having kids at your grill party? No problem.)

Total Time: 2 hr 10 min (Prep 5 min, Inactive 2hr, Cook 5 min)

Yield: 4 servings 

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
4-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 cup fresh lime juice
Zest of 2 limes
3 tablespoons ginger liqueur, such as Domaine de Canton
1/2 cup cold vodka
Crushed ice

Directions
Bring the sugar, 1 cup water and ginger to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook until the sugar has melted. Transfer to a glass bowl or measuring cup, cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.

Put the juice, zest, 1/4 cup ginger simple syrup, ginger liqueur and vodka in a blender and blend until combined. Taste for sweetness, adding more simple syrup if needed. Add a few cups of ice and blend until slushy, adding more ice as needed. Serve in a pitcher.

You didn't think we'd leave you in the lurch without something to wear, now did ya?

Dinner Party 

Ah, the dinner party. I love having these! Whether Sunday dinner with family, a couples night, or a gathering of friends, your cocktail choice needs to inspire conversations, whether by being a conversation starter or loosening tongues. Since it's indoors, and shortly to be followed a multi-course meal, the flavors and liquors used can be heavier and/or more varied based on the tastes of your guests. You may also want to consider what pairs well with hors d'oeuvres and or your cheese plate. 

Option 1: Blackberry-Bourbon Iced Tea

Spiked iced tea will get your party started off right. It's a great mix of the summer, an unintimidating yet substantial start to a fun evening. 

Yield: 4-6 servings 

Ingredients
3 cups fresh blackberries
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus mint sprigs for garnish
6 good-quality black tea bags
Good-quality bourbon, to taste 
Directions
Combine the blackberries, sugar and chopped mint in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or wooden spoon; let sit while making the tea.

While the blackberries are macerating, bring 1 1/2 quarts cold water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and let steep for about 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags and pour the tea over the blackberry mixture. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld.

Pour the mixture through a strainer into a pitcher, pressing on the solids. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. (You can also pour the mixture into a bowl set over an ice bath to cool it faster.)

Serve the blackberry tea over ice in tall glasses and float a shot of bourbon on top of each. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs (like a mint julep).

Option 2: Pimm's Cup

This is my favorite cocktail. Done right, it will amaze you with it's refreshing sparkle and ability to absorb the flavors of it's garnish (usually cucumber and fruit). 

Total Time: 5 min

Yield: 1 servings 

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Pimms No. 1
3 ounces cold lemonade
2 cups cucumber juice
Cucumber spear, for garnish
Apple slice, for garnish
2 ounces cold club soda
Directions
Combine the Pimms, lemonade, and cucumber juice in highball glass. Garnish with the cucumber and apple and with just a splash of club soda.

And of course you shall look fabulous in summer colors... 

Girl's Night In! 

Is there anything more fun than girl's night in, I mean really. It's a chance to hang out uninterrupted with your besties, shrieking with laughter or rage or both, and drinking is a huge part of that. As the hostess, this is your night to shine and show your friends what a gathered lady you are (a healthy sense of competition lives in us all). You can do that by showing them the best hospitality, and it starts with a less-complicated-than-it-looks menu! Spread these cocktails out, and then put on your best "it was nothing" face and prepare to be barraged with compliments and recipe requests. 

Option 1: Watermelon Plata Tequila Cocktail

I took one look at this cocktail and KNEW it was perfect for a girls night in during the summer. Tasty watermelon, blueberries, and tequila. Oh yeah! 

Total Time: 1 hr 15 min (Prep 15 min, Inactive 1 hr)

Yield: 4 servings 

Ingredients
6 cups seedless watermelon chunks
1/4 cup simple syrup*
2 limes, cut into chunks
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
1 cup plata (silver) tequila
Crushed ice
Directions
Puree the watermelon in a food processor until smooth. Strain the juice into a bowl pressing on the pulp, then discard the solids.

Put the simple syrup, lime chunks, berries and mint in a pitcher and muddle until the berries are slightly crushed. Add the tequila and watermelon juice and stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour. Serve over crushed ice, garnished with mint sprigs.

*Put a 1/2 cup of water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Whisk in the sugar and cook until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let cool.

Option 2: Pineapple Chile Margarita 

Cool, sweet, and... spicy? Just like all your friends. #winning

Total Time: 5 min

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients
1 cup fresh pineapple juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh pineapple
1 Fresno chile, chopped
3 ounces tequila (recommended: Hornitos Reposada)
Ice cubes
Pineapple, for garnish
Directions
Combine the pineapple juice, pineapple, chile and tequila in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and serve.

Keep the drinks sophisticated and the attire casual for this party, ladies. 

Romantic Evening for Two 

Sometimes the entire party is for two and the theme is simple romance. In this case, pop in the right music, stare into another eyes, and get completely carried away. While drinking these cocktails of course.

Option 1: Sgroppino

This sophisticated Italian cocktail mixes Prosecco and lemon vodka to perfection. It's great for the beginning or end of a meal because of its palate-cleansing effect. Good to know in case you decide to let dinner wait while you get it on you skip to dessert.

Total Time: 10 min

Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients
1 bottle prosecco, very cold
4 ounces lemon flavored vodka, very cold
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Lemon sorbet
Mint sprigs, for garnish
Directions
Whisk the prosecco, vodka and mint in a pitcher.

Place a small scoop of sorbet in each chilled champagne flute and top with the prosecco mixture. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Option 2: Raspberry Basil Limoncello Cocktail

Li-mon-cel-loooo... Have ya'll seen that gelato commercial with the super sensual mouths pronouncing Italian words. I can't lie: I hate that commerical. Because it makes me squirm. Because of how much I secretly love that commercial. You are guaranteed to feel the same way about this cocktail. 

Total Time: 45 min (Prep 15 min, Inactive 30 min)

Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients
1 pint fresh raspberries, plus more for garnish
12 fresh basil leaves, roughly torn, plus sprigs for garnish
1 lemon, cut into sixths, plus wheels for garnish
1/4 cup simple syrup, chilled (more if you prefer the cocktail a little sweeter)
2 ounces Limoncello
4 ounces citron vodka
Crushed ice
Sparkling rose wine, chilled
Directions
Combine the raspberries, basil, lemons and simple syrup in a small pitcher and muddle until the raspberries are mashed. Add the Limoncello and vodka. Let chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Put crushed ice into rocks glasses and add some of the raspberry mixture. Fill to the top with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon and raspberries and basil sprigs if desired.
 

As for what to wear... well we don't need to tell you what to wear for romance, now do we? What matters more is what lies beneath. (Besides, we all know that no clothes is the most effective way to get the point across!)

So what say you, ladies? Try these recipes and share by email or facebook. We'd love to hear from you!