It’s finally here – summer has arrived!

With any luck the sun is shining where you are right now, and you’re in a position to soak it up in one of Ireland’s many natural beauty spots.

To aid the relaxed feel, we suggest turning on some tunes and heading outside with one of these tasty treats in hand. Skip the wine and beer for the weekend, summer simply screams cocktails, and we’ve got seven suggestions for some tasty beverages for you to sip in the sun.

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1) Sangria

Ingredients:  (will make one pitcher)

1 x Bottle red wine

1 x Lime, orange and lemon

4 x Cups 7Up/Sprite

Ice

Fresh mint 

Method: 

Pour the wine into a large pitcher. Squeeze the juice from the fruit (cut into wedges) into the wine and add squeezed wedges to the mix. Fill up with ice and top with fresh mint.

Pro Tip:

The best sangrias are those left to chill in the fridge for 8-24 hours, so the flavours really mix… we’re not saying you should wait – but why not make one now for tomorrow too?!

 

2) Mojito 

Ingredients: (to serve six)

6 x tsp sugar

Juice of 3 limes

8-10 x fresh mint sprigs

300 ml white rum

I x litre club soda

Ice

Method:

Pour the sugar in the bottom of a pitcher and add the lime juice and mint. Gently pound together (you can use the end of a rolling pin). Fill the jug hallway with ice. Pour the rum over, add the club soda and stir gently. Serve immediately.

Pro Tip:

Mojitos are a Cuban treat, so turn up some Latin beats to really get you in the mood for some after sun party fun! 

 

3) Sex on the Beach

Ingredients: (makes 1 litre) 

200 ml vodka

100 ml peach schnapps

350 ml cranberry juice

350 ml orange juice

Method: 

Add all ingredients to a large pitcher and fill with ice. Stir well and serve!

Pro tip:

Add a small layer of cream to the top of each cocktail once it’s in its glass, and you have a Sex on the Beach with a Blanket!

 

4) Strawberry Daquiri

Ingredients: (makes 4) 

20 x fresh strawberries

8 x tsp white sugar

150 ml white rum

100 mil lime juice

Ice

Method: 

Place all ingredients a blender – fill up with ice and whizz to a delicious icy smoothie with a kick. If you don’t have a blender, simply mash the ingredients and pour over ice instead.

Pro Tip:

You can use almost any fruit to make a daiquiri, one lovely summer option is a mixed berry drink, so use 1/3 strawberries, raspberries and blueberries for a tart treat.

 

5) Long Island Iced Tea (Makes 4)

Ingredients:

60ml vodka

60ml gin

60ml white rum

60ml triple sec

60ml tequila

60ml lemon juice

60ml orange juice

Coca-cola – to top up

1 x lemon – cut in wedges

Ice 

Method:

You need quite the well-stocked drinks cabinet to take on this recipe, and the resulting beverage packs a punch! Add all wet ingredients bar the cola to a cocktail shaker and mix well. Serve over ice, and top up with cola. Use the lemon wedges to garnish 

Pro Tip: 

Ditch the tequila and replace with peach schnapps, and swap the lemon and lime for cranberry juice. Lastly, use 7UP/Sprite instead of Cola and you now have a Miami Iced Tea instead.