Summer Sippers: Berry Explosive Raspado & Irish Mule Cocktail Recipes
I may not be summer's number one fan but I do love the season's cool, refreshing cocktails. Luckily, the possibilities are endless so if you wanted, you could have a different cocktail every day of the summer. Some recipes are just so good, they become Friday night favorites. Kind of like the two I have to share with you today. The first is a fruity explosion that is perfect for weekend barbecues and parties. The second is a twist on a refreshing classic that's easy to whip up and even easier to make in a batch. Both recipes have become two of my favorite cocktails to whip up at home. Check them out below.
The Berry Explosive Raspado recipe was created by Milagro Tequila. It's cold, fruity, refreshing and did I mention cold? The cocktail blend is poured over crushed ice (or in my case, shaved ice) making it an adult slushie of sorts. This would be fun for a weekend barbecue or girls' night in. The colors give it a patriotic look so might I suggest whipping this up for Labor Day? You could blend all the ingredients times ten, prepare the crushed ice in advance and even make this into a batch cocktail. It would take a bit more work than the cocktail I have next but It would definitely spice things up.
**If you run out of Agave Nectar or you don't have any in your pantry, simple syrup or honey work fantastic as well. I used a mixture of Agave and Honey because I didn't realize I was running low on the former. If the raspberries aren't looking great at the store, strawberries would be a tasty substitute.
BERRY EXPLOSIVE RASPADO by Milagro Tequila
Ingredients:
4 parts Milagro Silver
1 part Fresh Lime Juice
2 parts Agave Nectar
8 Raspberries
12 Blueberries
4 Fresh Mint Leaves
6 dashes Peach Bitters
Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Fill two glasses with crushed or shaved ice and pour over. Top with raspberries and blueberries.
You've probably heard of the Moscow Mule. It's traditionally made with vodka and known to be an incredibly refreshing cocktail. Tullamore D.E.W. gave it an Irish twist substituting the vodka for whiskey. The result? A richer, more flavor-filled cocktail that is still equally as refreshing. The simple ingredient list makes this an easy cocktail to turn into a batch. Simply decide how much ginger beer you need, add a quarter of that amount of whiskey and measure out one lime per cup of ginger beer. So, if you want to make 8 cups/servings, you'll need 2 cups of whiskey and 8 limes. Give it a quick stir, add to a pitcher or beverage dispenser and call it a day!
**My best friend taught me how to pick out the juiciest limes. I'm not sure that there is an exact science behind this but it's worked so far. Look for the shiniest limes. They don't have to be the greenest, the largest or squishy but very shiny. The shinier the lime, the more juice it contains. It hasn't failed me yet! If you've got a hard lime on your hands, throw it around a little, roll it while putting lots of weight on it or pop it in the microwave for a minute. Those should help loosen the juice.
IRISH MULE by Tullamore D.E.W.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey
1 cup Ginger Beer
Juice of 1 lime
Directions:
Fill a copper mug or whatever glass you have available with ice. Pour in whiskey followed by ginger beer and lime juice. Drink as is or give a stir before enjoying this refreshing cocktail.
What are some cocktails you're sipping on this summer?
