5 End of Summer Drink Recipes

We may getting closer to fall, but there’s still plenty of time for summer fun around the pool! No pool party or backyard barbecue is complete without refreshing drinks for everyone to enjoy, so we’ve put together a list of five drink recipes for you to try out before summer officially comes to an end. Some of these recipes include alcohol, but feel free to leave it out to make the drinks fun for the whole family.

1) Frozen Watermelon Margaritas

• 1 1/2 cups cubed watermelon
• 1 cup tequila
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur
• 1-2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups ice

Puree all ingredients in a blender, divide between glasses and garnish with a slice of lime or watermelon.
Serves: 4 | Recipe from Food Network

2) The Paysan

• 16 oz fruity red wine, such as Pinot Noir
• 8 oz cranberry juice
• 4 oz fresh orange juice
• 4 oz Chambord liqueur
• ice
• 3 oz chilled lemon lime soda, such as Sprite
• lemon, lime and orange zest

In a large pitcher, combine the wine, cranberry juice, orange juice and Chambord. Refrigerate until chilled, or about 2 hours. Stir well and serve over ice. Top each drink with 1/2 oz soda and garnish with zests.
Serves: 6 | Recipe from Food and Wine

3) Summer Fruit Shrub

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 pounds ripe fruit, such as peaches, strawberries, plums or pineapple
• 3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 6 oz spirit of choice
• 2 oz fresh lemon juice

Bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Slice fruit into medium pieces, reserving a few pieces for serving. Add remaining fruit to saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit 30 minutes. Strain syrup into a bowl and stir in vinegar to make shrub. Cover and chill. For each cocktail, shake 2 oz shrub, 1 1/2 oz spirit of choice and 1/2 oz lemon juice in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Serve over ice and top with reserved fruit.

Serves: 4 | Recipe from Bon Appétit

4) Sparkling Raspberry Tea

• 2 cups cold brewed tea
• 2 cups chilled cranberry-raspberry juice
• 2 cups chilled sparkling water
• fresh raspberries and lime slices
• mint leaves, if desired

Mix tea, juice and sparkling water in a large pitcher and stir together. Serve over ice and garnish with raspberries, lime slices and mint leaves.

Serves: 6 | Recipe from Tablespoon

5) Blackberry-Mint Julep

• 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves
• 1 pint blackberries
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 4 cups small ice cubes
• 4 sprigs mint, for garnish

Roughly chop mint leaves. In a blender, puree the mint, blackberries and sugar. Press through a fine sieve into a bowl and discard seeds. Rinse blender and return puree to blender. Add bourbon and ice cubes and blend until smooth. Divide among glasses and garnish with mint sprig.

Serves: 4 | Recipe from Martha Stewart