Chances are pretty good that your time spent hitting the bar scene lately ranges from few and far between to non-existent. If you’re of the legal drinking age and looking for a refreshing beverage to relax by the pool with, try one of these easy craft cocktail recipes. And if you’re not into alcohol, perhaps you’re at a loss to come up with any interesting summer drinks beyond the standard lemonade and iced tea? We’ve got a couple craft mocktails in here as well.

But what we’re really trying to say is let’s give the White Claw, Vodka and Rosé a bit of a break. You’ve got a little time before school starts to hone some fancy drink skills, no?

 

Limoncello Collins

16 oz of Limoncello

12 oz of gin

8 oz of fresh lemon juice

24 paper-thin lemon slices

16 oz of chilled club soda

8 mint sprigs

Ice

 

Combine limoncello, gin and lemon juice in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. Press three thin lemon slices against the inside of eight glasses. Add ice. Stir limoncello mixture and pour into glasses. Add two ounces of club soda to each glass. Garnish with mint sprig.

 

 

Redhead in Bed

3 lbs of strawberries (this drink is for you and friends), with their green tops popped off and chopped up

2/3 cups of sugar

½ cups plus 2 tablespoons of citrus vodka

¼ cup of fresh lime juice

1/3 cup of chilled Riesling

Ice

 

Toss strawberries and sugar in a bowl and let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. In a blender, puree half of strawberries (with their juices), vodka and lime juice, and one cup of ice. Repeat with the second half of the ingredients. Pour into glasses over ice and add in about ½ tablespoon of Riesling to each glass.

 

 

Virgin Cucumber Mojito

1 package of Mojito-flavored dry mix (like Crystal Light)

8 cups of cold water

I cucumber, peeled and sliced

3 cups of ice

Dissolve Mojito mix into water in a pitcher. Add cucumbers and ice.

 

Colorado Cooler

1 oz of chilled club soda

¾ oz of fresh lemon juice

¾ oz of Simple Syrup

2 oz of malt whiskey

2 dashes of celery bitters (optional)

4 pitted cherries (plus one for garnishment)

Ice

 

Muddle four cherries in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, lemon juice, Simple Syrup, whiskey and bitters, and shake. Strain into ice-filled glass. Stir in club soda and garnish with cherry.

 

Watermelon Strawberry Cooler

4 cups of cubed watermelon

1 cup of hulled strawberries

½ peeled lime

2 teaspoons of chia seeds

6 mint leaves (plus some for garnish)

Ice

 

Blend watermelon, strawberries and lime, and strain into a pitcher. Mix in chia seeds and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Stir mixture. Muddle mint leaves into the bottom of two glasses. Pour in juice over ice.

 

Cherry Smash

1 cup of pitted cherries

¼ cup of fresh mint leaves

4 mint sprigs (for garnish)

8 teaspoons of sugar

6 oz of dark rum

¼ cup of lime juice

3 cups of cherry-flavored seltzer

 

Divide mint leaves, cherries and sugar among four glasses. Mash together. Stir in rum and lime juice. Fill glasses with ice and top with seltzer. Garnish with mint sprigs.