Cocktails & Mocktails for Summer Entertaining

There is nothing like the long awaited first day of summer (Saturday can’t come quick enough!). Enjoying the warm sun with a drink in hand is one of my favourite ways to welcome summer. With our patio installation almost finished, I am looking forward to inviting a few close friends over for a BBQ and perhaps some homemade cocktails!

That’s right, skip the beer, cider and canned bevies; making your own classic summer cocktails is easy. Totally customizable, you control the sweetness, fizziness, and alcohol level. So whether you go heavy on the rum or like to keep it light with a splash of tequila, homemade cocktails are what summer is all about!

Local Strawberry + Mint Mojito

As you know I have a thing for mojitos. There is nothing like refreshing mint paired with tangy limes and sweet local berries. Strawberry season is currently upon us, so super-ripe Ontario strawberries made their way into this cocktail!

Makes: 1 mojito

Ingredients
1 shot of Bacardi Rum, per drink (optional)
Lots of mint leaves
2-3 fresh strawberries, cut into cubes
A squeeze of fresh lime
1 tbsp sugar
Ice cubes
SodaStream sparkling water

Directions
Mix & mash everything in a glass at levels that suit your taste – that’s right, add the rum, mint, strawberries, lime and sugar. If you have a muddler, muddle until everything is incorporated. Carbonate your water using a SodaStream. Add ice to the glass and pour sparkling water over. Give a quick stir and enjoy!

Ruby Red Grapefruit Paloma

This refreshing cocktail sure packs a nice kick. The tart grapefruit is taken up a notch with the addition of smooth tequila. Don’t forget the salted rim, it really helps to elevate the drink!

Makes: 1 paloma

Ingredients
Sea salt for rim (or you could use sugar if you prefer sweetness)
1 shot of tequila, per drink (optional)
Squeeze of fresh grapefruit juice
1 tbsp sugar
Ice cubes
Diet Pink Grapefruit by SodaStream

Directions
Rim glass with sea salt. Slice grapefruit and place one whole slice in the bottom of a glass. Squeeze 1/4 of grapefruit juice into glass with 1 tbsp of sugar. Carbonate your water using a SodaStream. Mix in Diet Pink Grapefruit syrup. Add ice to the glass and pour sparkling grapefruit water over. Give a quick stir and enjoy!

Rootbeer & Bailey’s Ice Cream Float

This cool summer cocktail is as much fun for adults as the non-alcoholic version is for kids! Real vanilla been ice cream brings a new layer of texture and flavour to classic rootbeer. A shot of Bailey’s poured over the ice cream takes everything up a notch.

Makes: 1 rootbeer float

Ingredients
Rootbeer by SodaStream
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (check for the “Real Dairy” logo)
1 shot of Bailey’s Irish Cream (optional)

Directions
Carbonate your water using a SodaStream. Mix in Rootbeer syrup. Poor into large glass. Add one large scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pour shot of Bailey’s overtop. Enjoy with a colourful straw! Trust me, it makes it fun!

What are your plans for the first day of Summer? I’ll be heading over to a friends house for a big birthday bash surprise, where we will likely be enjoying a cocktail or two! Celebrate wisely my friends! Enjoy!

Disclosure: I was provided with a SodaStream corporate sample in order to create the cocktails for this feature, and in all honesty I love the damn thing! I’ve been using it almost everyday to make mock-mojitos with my lunch.