Summer Cocktails To Create Fresh From The Garden

Photo courtesy of jcomp

Fresh ingredients can elevate cocktails and other drinks, offering myriad opportunities for garden-fresh mixers and garnishes. Take things a step further with a custom cocktail garden to personalize your drinking experience.

From tomatoes for a classic Bloody Mary to fresh mint for refreshing mojitos, designing a section of your garden around your favorite beverages can be a delightful endeavor. Your homegrown produce can also enhance nonalcoholic drinks, providing numerous creative options like fresh juice, homemade infusions, syrups and mixers. Or muddle your fruits and herbs with other drink components.

Need some inspiration for your next patio party? We caught up with Bruce Gallagher, co-owner of Bonnie Brae Liquor, who provided a few tips for home mixologists:

To ensure your cocktails are well balanced, the 2:1:1 ratio of liquor, sweet and sour flavors is a good rule of thumb; no matter which liquor you choose, each flavor will be noticeable but not overpowering.

Summer is the perfect time to play around with herbaceous flavors like rosemary, thyme, cilantro, basil and mint in your cocktails; make them fruit-forward with fresh blackberries, peaches, strawberries and apples.

Pro tip: Make up a batch drink ahead of time so people can serve themselves and you can socialize, too. 

ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP

(Source: Bruce Gallagher, co-owner of Bonnie Brae Liquor)

Ingredients

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary cup granulated sugar cup filtered water

Instructions

Place the fresh rosemary sprigs on a cutting board and smack them gently two or three times with the bottom of a saucepan or the flat edge of a chef’s knife. Transfer the rosemary to a small saucepan and add the sugar and water.

Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook for about 6 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves completely and the liquid is clear, stirring every so often. Place a tight-fitting lid on the pan and remove it from the heat.

Let the syrup steep, covered, for 10 minutes, then strain the cooled syrup into an airtight container and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. This will keep, tightly covered, for up to 10 days in the refrigerator.

Drinks to Try

Rosemary Aperol spritz, rosemary gin fizz, rosemary lemonade, rosemary honey bourbon 

Illustrations by Adriana Picker, recipes by Ed Loveday (Hardie Grant Books, 2018)

BERRY PURÉE

(Source: Bruce Gallagher, co-owner of Bonnie Brae Liquor)

Ingredients

2 cups of your favorite fresh berries, or a mix (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries work well together)
2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon Fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse on high until it’s smooth. For seedless puree, pass the puree through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds. Store in an airtight jar and refrigerate up to five days or freeze for up to three months.

Drinks to Try

Muddled berry vodka smash, berry vodka soda, berry gin and tonic, berry mojito, berry Moscow mule 

RACQUET CLUB

(Source: The Cocktail Garden: Botanical Cocktails for Every Season)

Ingredients

4 slices of cucumber
Handful of diced watermelon 1 ounces gin
ounces elderflower cordial 1 ounces lime juice
Splash of sparkling white wine Sprig of mint to garnish

Instructions

Muddle the cucumber and watermelon in the bottom of a shaker.

Add the gin, cordial and lime juice and shake with ice.

Pass through a small, fine-mesh strainer into a collins or tall glass containing ice and top with sparkling white wine.

Stir gently, and garnish with mint. 

Photo courtesy of murziknata

MARGHERITA MARGARITA

(Source: The Cocktail Garden: Botanical Cocktails for Every Season)

Ingredients

Pinch of sea salt
1 lime wedge
1 ounce lime juice
2 ounce reposado tequila 1 ounce tomato juice
3-4 fresh basil leaves
ounce simple syrup
1 cherry tomato to garnish

Instructions

Put a little salt in a shallow bowl and wipe the lime wedge around the outside rim of a martini or coupe glass. Tilt the bowl slightly so the salt gathers up one end; dip and turn the glass in the salt until the entire rim is coated.

Combine the remaining ingredients except the cherry tomato in a shaker with ice. Shake, pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with the cherry tomato.