Step away from the standard bottle of White Zindanfel and grab your best friends, your best glasses – the umbrellas are optional – and make a jug/bowl full of these yummy and easy cocktails to spice up your pre-drinking this summer. They are also perfect for BBQs, so you can be the hostess with the mostess whilst holding your own post-exams party! Even if you just want to have the girls round for drinks for your last exam blowout, these will definitely go down a treat. These recipes use your typical alcohol and ingredients but with an extra added twist. Most ingredients will give you a pitcher full.
Cran Razzy
Ingredients
- 120 mls fresh or frozen raspberries for garnish
- 480 mls cranberry-raspberry juice
- 480 mls soda water
- 30 mls lime juice, plus four wedges for garnish
- 180 mls (3/4 cup) vodka
Directions
- If using fresh raspberries, freeze them in a single layer for about one hour – or overnight – before proceeding with step two.
- Combine cranberry-raspberry juice, seltzer, lime juice, and vodka in a pitcher. Divide among four ice-filled glasses. Garnish with frozen raspberries and lime wedges.
Watermelon Gin Fizz
Ingredients
- 1200 mls diced watermelon, divided
- 180 mls gin, divided
- 118 mls lime juice, divided
- 319 mls ginger ale, divided
- Lime wedges for garnish
Directions
- Freeze one cup of watermelon for garnish. Puree the remaining four cups watermelon. Strain; divide the juice among four ice-filled glasses.
- Top each with 1 1/2 ounces gin, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 1/3 cup ginger ale. Garnish with the frozen watermelon and lime wedges. Nonalcoholic variation: Omit the gin.
Monkeylada
Ingredients
- Two very ripe bananas
- 240 mls diced fresh pineapple, plus four wedges for garnish
- 240 mls pineapple juice
- 120 mls “lite” coconut milk
- 720 mls ice cubes
- 180 mls (3/4 cup) light rum
Directions
- Puree the bananas, diced pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk and ice in a blender. Stir in rum. Divide among four glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges.
If you don’t want to buy coconut milk separately then pineapple and coconut juice is often found at your local supermarket, which is just as perfect. Then simply add a couple of spoons of ice cream to make your colada have that creamy effect.
Peach Wine Cooler
Something different to try with a fruit not commonly associated with anything other than a posh ‘Peach Bellini’…
Ingredients
- 720 mls seltzer
- 240 mls peach juice or nectar
- 240 mls dry white wine
- 30 mls honey
- Four slice(s) fresh peach
Directions
- Combine seltzer and peach juice (or nectar) in a pitcher. If desired, add wine and honey; stir until the honey is dissolved. Divide among four ice-filled glasses. Garnish with peach slices.
