Drinking in the summer can be a hassle. It's hot and humid, and some drinks won't taste the same under a ninety-degree sun with no cloud cover. Here are some refreshing options that can be made in under five minutes.
Tinto de verano
A popular summer drink in Spain, "tinto de verano," which translates as red wine of summer, is a great way to stay fresh in the summer heat. In the same family as sangria and easier to prepare, this drink may taste like a lightly-alcoholic fruit soda. Prepare for an afternoon siesta after a few of these, because you'll need one.
Ingredients
Any red wine
Sunkist Lemon Soda, or Diet 7-Up
Slice of lemon
Directions
1. Fill a highball glass with several ice cubes.
2. Pour wine one-third of the way to the top.
3. Pour the Sunkist Lemon Soda or Diet 7-Up to the top.
3. Garnish with lemon.
Mermaid mule
Add some summer tang to your standard mule.
Ingredients (makes 3 servings)
6 oz. vodka
3 oz. blue curçao
3 oz. lime juice
1 oz. ginger beer
Slice of lime
Directions
1. Split the vodka, blue curaçao and lime juice evenly into three glasses.
2. Fill with ice, and top them off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with lime.
Moscato Margarita
If you’re a fan of margaritas and moscato, the moscato margarita is the drink for you. All you'll need for this refreshing pink drink, aside from the few ingredients, is a blender.
Ingredients (makes four servings):
¼ cup sugar
Garnishes — limes or strawberries
12 oz. of silver tequila
1 cup chopped strawberries
8 oz. moscato
8 oz. triple sec
½ cup lime juice
2 cups ice
Directions
1. Combine tequila, strawberries, moscato, triple sec, lime juice and ice in a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and divide mixture between glasses.
Tequila Lemonade
Sometimes making a margarita takes too long and costs too much, but there’s a way to avoid the cost of a margarita and still get a great taste. With just three ingredients — one being ice — you can make the perfect “margarita.” The lemonade-to-tequila ratio is up to you, but beware, even if you don’t taste the tequila, she is surely there.
Ingredients:
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
Minute Maid Lemonade
Ice
Directions
1. Combine ingredients in glass and stir.
