Summer is here! And with summer, comes all the outdoor gatherings. Whether you are hosting a party and providing refreshments for your guests or you need to bring a beverage with you to a neighborhood BBQ, there is something on this list for everyone (even a non-alcoholic, mocktail!).
Since my husband is a wine and liquor salesman, he always has the inside scoop on what the hot new options are for the season. He told me about the new Ketel One Botanical line and I knew I had to try it. This line has no artificial flavors, no sugars or artificial sweeteners, no carbs and its 100% non-GMO. At 73 calories per serving, what’s not to love? There are 3 flavors, Cucumber & Mint, Grapefruit & Rose, and Peach & Orange Blossom.
My first experience with one of the flavors was while we were out to eat at That Place on Palmyra after my last day of work for the school year. The bartender made me a SeaQuench Mule that was the perfect, refreshing drink to start my summer. I wanted to make them myself one night for a party so I had my husband ask him for the recipe. The ingredient list was long and I gave up when I heard simple syrup…lol. I didn’t want to mess around with that as a guest at someone else’s house. At this point, however, I already had the cucumber mint bottle… I ended up just drinking it with plain water that night and it was pretty good. I knew it would be even better with club soda or sparkling water so when it came time to host my son’s birthday party, I served just that in copper mugs and garnished with a lime wedge, cucumber slice and a sprig of fresh mint. Everyone loved it!
If either of the other flavors speak to you, they are delicious with sparkling water as well (I know, I’ve tried them!). My sister-in-law’s go to this summer has been the Grapefruit & Rose with Fresca. I found this recipe for a Botanical Summer drink that uses the Peach & Orange Blossom flavor and pairs it with club soda, raspberries, mint leaves and a squeeze of fresh lemon. I’m going to have to try that one next.
There are times when you don’t want to do any mixing and you just want to be able to open a can (or bottle) and enjoy a refreshing adult beverage. Enter my BYOB drink of the summer, Truly Spiked & Sparkling. By now, you’ve gotten the clue that I love refreshing drinks, I can’t do the sweet stuff. It gives me heartburn and I feel full and blah which is no fun. I have tried a few other versions of pre-packaged hard sparkling waters and they just don’t do it for me. Either they are too sweet or too artificial tasting. I actually tried Truly for the first time at my Uncle’s house and fell in love. Truly is made with no artificial flavors or sweeteners and is only 100 calories a can (roughly equivalent to a light beer) and 5 % alcohol. I like to buy the citrus variety pack which consists of lime, lemon, grapefruit and blood orange flavors. I enjoy them all and it’s fun to have variety to choose from. Be careful though, they go down really smooth!
Peroni
Sometimes on a hot day, nothing hits the spot like an ice cold beer. If you are are someone that likes one of the typical light beers (Bud/Miller/Coors, etc.), you should give this Italian import a try. I first tried this at my sister’s house last spring and was pleasantly surprised. It has a nice light, crisp, refreshing taste and something about drinking an import just makes you feel classy. Am I right?! Even though it is an import, it comes at a price point that won’t break the bank (about $9 for a six pack). Also, here in the US, Peroni is distributed by the Miller-Coors company so you should be able to find it at your bigger retailers. Last time I was at my sister’s house for my niece’s birthday (complete with a unicorn sprinkler), on what was the hottest day of the year so far, I found myself looking for one of these. Alas, I did not find one and settled for a Summer Shandy instead. I can’t believe you didn’t have these, sis?!
Speaking of hitting the spot, the new SeaQuench Ale made by DogFish Head Craft Brewery is supposed to be the ultimate thirst-quenching beer. This beer is a tart, slightly sour lime-infused low-alcohol beer with a dash of sea salt. It reminds me of a much more refreshing, slightly more sour version of a bud-light lime. The sea salts used to make this beer add minerals which really satisfy your thirst and replace lost electrolytes. The mineral content of the SeaQuench Ale is supposed to be similar to that of sports drinks! My husband was super excited about this beer when he first brought it home and couldn’t wait to get it out on the golf course. I will admit, it was very refreshing and it pairs nicely with any seafood dish.
Rosé wine is so HOT right now! With it’s pink color it just looks like summer in a glass, and usually tastes like it too with it’s fruity aromas and finishes. If you are a wine lover you should always have a bottle (or 3) on hand for an emergency. This is the perfect drink to serve when having a small group of your closest gal pals over. You just need to throw on your ‘Rosé All Day’ shirt, pop the cork (or in this case, unscrew the cap) and let the wine and gossip flow. I think this Matua brand is a great option.
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Rosemary Berry Bubbler (Mocktail)
Let’s face it, there are some times in life you can’t/don’t want to drink. Maybe you went a little too hard the night before…maybe you have some dietary restrictions…or maybe you just choose not to drink, but just because you are not drinking alcohol, doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun and festive drink when you are out at a party. Last summer my husband and I completed the Whole30. The details of this need a post all to themselves, however, if you have no idea what the Whole30 is, I’ll give you the quick version…it is an elimination diet. You basically take out everything that is known to cause digestive issues in people for an entire 30 days and at the end of those 30 days, you gradually re-introduce the foods you cut out to see how your body reacts. One category that was off limits: alcohol. We had our fair share of social gatherings to attend over that 30 day period (even the 4th of July) but since we couldn’t drink alcohol, I decided to give one of the mocktail recipes a try from the Whole30 book (The Whole 30: The 30-day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom, by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig) and I am so glad I did. It is super refreshing and you don’t feel like you’re missing out on any of the fun because it is a fun looking drink. I honestly had almost forgotten about it until just recently my mother-in-law mentioned it. This was actually my drink of choice (with a little tweak) again this year on the Fourth of July. It was perfect for sipping by the pool with the kids around. It was nice that they could try my drink too! Here is the recipe:
AuthorBrittanyMuddle 1/4 c. raspberries and rosemary leaves in a large glass.
Add the lemon juice and sparkling water, and mix thoroughly.
** If you are in a pinch you can eliminate the lemon juice and just use lemon flavored sparkling water.
Strain the mixture into a new glass filled with ice, discarding the raspberries and rosemary leaves.
Garnish with a remaining raspberries.
* Recipe adapted from The Whole30: The 30-day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom, by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig
Ingredients
Directions
Muddle 1/4 c. raspberries and rosemary leaves in a large glass.
Add the lemon juice and sparkling water, and mix thoroughly.
** If you are in a pinch you can eliminate the lemon juice and just use lemon flavored sparkling water.
Strain the mixture into a new glass filled with ice, discarding the raspberries and rosemary leaves.
Garnish with a remaining raspberries.
* Recipe adapted from The Whole30: The 30-day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom, by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig
Hopefully you find something on this list that is up your alley. It can be hard finding that perfect drink on a hot summer day so I thought I’d help you narrow it down with a few of my faves. Did I leave something off? Let me know in the comments.
Yours,
Allison
