Prevent Melting Away with these Cold Summer Cocktails
As I mentioned earlier this summer, my travel plans for these hot summer months were completely thrown off track. It wasn’t a problem, as we’ve still done some short trips here and there and I’ll be visiting Girona (Spain), Oporto (Portugal), Bolonia (Italy), Massachusetts (US) and perhaps Playa de Carmen (Mexico) all before the end of November! I’ve valued having the time this summer to plan these trips in advance– to search for flight deals, hotel rates, medical travel insurance, etc. Not to mention Madrid is an amazing city, and a great place to spend the summer. We’ve been busy exploring restaurants, taking day trips, and cooking in our new apartment.
But Madrid does have one big drawback– it’s hot!
With no nearby body of water (not even a pool in our neighborhood!) we have been sweltering every day and the heat has definitely affected my productivity and sleep schedule. But enough complaining! When faced with a problem I try my best to find a solution, and in this case that means some cold relief in the form of a delicious cocktail.
Here are 3 summer cocktails I’ve been making a lot of this summer– they all feature rum, as we don’t exactly have a liquor cabinet started at our new place (yet). Enjoy!
3 Summer Cocktails by Spanish Sabores
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The Strawberry Basil Bajito
Like a mojito, but made with basil instead of mint, this cocktail is delicious and refreshing and perfect during summer!
This is actually a mojito, I usually drink the bajitos too quickly to take pictures! Ingredients:
–About 5-6 basil leaves
-3 Strawberries
– 1/2 of a lime
-White sugar
-Brown sugar (optional)
-Rum
– Casera or soda water
– Cola (Coke or Pepsi)
-Ice
Instructions:
In a large glass or cocktail shaker, put the basil leaves, half of the lime cut into quarters, and strawberries. Cover with a blend of brown and white sugar (or all white if you don’t have brown). Muddle the mixture with a mortar or the back of a heavy spoon. Try to get all the juice out of the limes and strawberries and to bruise the basil quite a bit. Then, add the ice and pour over the rum (about a shot to a shot and a half depending on how strong you like your drinks!). Now, nearly fill the glass with either casera or soda water and top off with a quick splash of coke. Give it a quick stir (do not mix!) and enjoy!
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The Passion Fruit Caipirinha
Made with rum instead of traditional cachaca, this version is still addicting as ever with the addition of tangy passion fruit!
Ingredients:
– 1/2 of a lime
-White sugar
-Rum (or cachaca)
-Ice
-Passion fruit juice
Instructions:
In a cocktail shaker, add half of the lime cut into quarters and cover with a few scoops of white sugar. Muddle the mixture with a mortar or the back of a heavy spoon. Try to get all the juice out of the limes (you should have a syrupy mixture). Then, add the ice and pour over the rum (about a shot to a shot and a half depending on how strong you like your drinks!). Now, fill the glass with an equal amount of passion fruit juice (1-2 shots). Shake and enjoy!
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The Peach Rum Cooler
Fresh peaches make this cocktail worth drinking– tastes like peach juice but is secretly loaded with rum!
Ingredients:
–Simple syrup (white sugar and water)
-2 peaches
– Juice of 1 lemon
-Rum
-Ice
Instructions:
First make the simple syrup by combining 2/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water in a saucepan and heating over a low heat for a few minutes until you have a thin syrup. At that point turn off the heat and let it cool. Then, combine 2 shots of simple syrup with the sliced peaches (skin removed) in the blender and blend into a thick pulp. Next, in a cocktail shaker, add the pulp, lemon juice, 2 shots of rum, and lots of ice. Shake well and add more pulp if it’s too strong, or more rum if it’s too weak. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy these cocktails and that they can help you cool off this summer too! If you try them, let me know what you think.
Which summer cocktail do you want to make?
Photo Credit: (Mojito) The Digitel
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