Southerners have learned the best way to stave off the summer heat is to shake, pour and sip a sweet, ice-cold cocktail on the front porch swing. Summer is made for relaxation and soaking up the sun, so give yourself a break from the grind and treat your taste buds to these four quintessentially Southern cocktails.
the Porch Swing cocktailPorch Swing
1 1/2 ounces Hendrick's Gin
1 1/2 ounces Pimm's No. 1
4 ounces fresh lemonade
DIRECTIONS: Pour into a Collins glass. Add a splash of 7-Up and finish with 10 finely sliced half-moon cucumbers.
the Scarlet O'Hara cocktailMint Julep
5 fresh mint leaves,
plus a few mint sprigs
1 teaspoon sugar
Shaved ice
2 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey
OPTIONAL GARNISHES: Lemon or Orange slice, or Maraschino cherry
DIRECTIONS: Place mint leaves, sugar and a splash of water into a silver julep cup or a 12-ounce Collins glass. Muddle the mint, sugar and water together with the tip of the handle of a wooden spoon. Fill the glass with shaved ice, add the bourbon and stir until combined. Garnish with a few sprigs of fresh mint.
Scarlet O'Hara
2 ounces Southern Comfort
Dash of lime juice
Cranberry juice
Lime wedge for garnish
OPTIONAL GARNISH: Maraschino cherry
DIRECTIONS: Pour the Southern Comfort and lime juice into a Collins glass filled with ice. Fill with cranberry juice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Mo-tea-to
1.5 ounces Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
1 ounce white rum
7 mint leaves
1 tsp. sugar
1 lime
Soda water
DIRECTIONS: Muddle mint leaves with sugar, lime juice and a little bit of soda until the sugar dissolves and the mint aroma intensifies. Add ice, Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and rum and shake. Pour over ice into a highball glass and top with soda. Garnish with a mint spring.