This week I want to celebrate a few of my favorite summer beverages. When I dream about summer afternoons I always imagine myself sitting somewhere in the sun with a cold drink in my hand. These are some of the things I’m loving this summer.
Blue Print Cleanse Gold. BPC started selling their juices at the Whole Foods down the street. This made me super happy. This didn’t make my wallet super happy, but their beyond-refreshing Pineapple Apple Mint juice is worth it. I crave this juice. It has just the right amount of sweetness and tartness, and the mint wakes you up and cools you down and you find yourself wondering how they got so much good stuff in one bottle.
Lemonade. I got into lemonade this summer, and especially love the flavored varieties. The Cherry Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade from Santa Cruz Organics are superb. I had a Rose Lemonade that was intriguing, but I think it could be better than the variety I tried. Lavender lemonade? Thyme lemonade? I want them all. Lemonade makes me feel like a carefree kid again, and if summer isn’t the time for that, I don’t know what is.
Rosé. Some people think Rosé is best enjoyed in spring, but I love it all summer long. It’s festive and elegant and light and refreshing. It’s pink. It makes me smile. It makes me feel French. Bring on the rosé.
Sparkling water, preferably with a splash of bitters. This makes me feel like I’m having a cocktail even when I’m not having a cocktail. I’m not brand loyal, but I like glass bottles. I prefer bigger bubbles to smaller, fizzier bubbles. I totally want one of those Sodastream machines so I can have fizzy water at the push of a button.
Deschutes Brewery Twilight Summer Ale. This is quickly becoming my favorite beer this summer. It’s light and easy to drink, but still full of flavor and body. I’m not a beer connoisseur, and I can’t talk to you about balance and hops and malts and bitter body whatever. But I like this beer, especially if I’m sitting outside and maybe just about to eat a hot dog.
What libations are you enjoying this summer?
I made marionberry drinking vinegar a couple weeks ago. Marionberries from out backyard steeped in coconut vinegar for a week, boiled out and sweetened with sugar. A couple tablespoons in a glass of fizzy water: heaven.
Nice! I remember you talking about that when we were visiting. Glad you finally tried it out!
I’m loving a Derby Cocktail variation this summer:
1 oz bourbon
0.5 oz sweet vermouth
0.5 oz orange liqueur (Gran Marnier, Cointreau or whatevs)
0.5 oz fresh squeezed Lime Juice
Shake ’em up with ice and strain into a chilled coupe for a sweet-yet-tart, refreshing summertime whiskey cocktail.
I will have to give that a try.
Limetto, sparkling water and crushed ice!
That sounds so refreshing!