Summer Time Party Drinks

The Hive got the message you’d like to see some drinks on the blog. Here goes. Your summer time party gets a little easier if you have a few drinks already organized. And if you have a “house cocktail” ready to go, with a little day-ahead prep, you’re all set.

A lot of cocktails call for “simple syrup” as a sweetener—make it yourself in about 10 minutes. Heat equal amounts of sugar and water ‘til sugar melts and mixture simmers for a few minutes. Let it cool and store in glass jar. Make a lot for a party, less for cocktails for 2.

But here’s a trick for a simple syrup cocktail base. Take 1 cup of strawberries OR 2 ripe, cut up peaches, and 1 cup of water. Simmer and crush fruit. Add 1 cup of sugar, stir and simmer ‘til sugar melts (add a bit more water if it gets too thick). Cool and strain through sieve—now you have a simple syrup summer cocktail base.

Your House Cocktail
Mix 2 oz. cocktail base, 2 oz. rum or whiskey, 2 oz. of lemon or orange juice. Shake with ice, then strain and pour over 1 ice cube for one cocktail. Multiply ingredients for pitchers full of Your House Cocktail.

French Soda (non-alcoholic)
Put 2 oz. cocktail base in bottom of tall glass. Carefully pour seltzer down the side of glass. Gently finish with 1 oz. half-and-half. Serve without stirring.

The Kitchen Hive