Top 10 drinks for the spring season
You can finally rejoice! Spring is here! To celebrate, here are ten cocktails and mocktails that are not only fresh and flavorful but are also easy to make:
1. Lemon thyme vodka lemonade
This recipe serves one.
Ingredients:
- 3 lemon wedges
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1 small bunch of fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup citrus vodka
- 1/4 cup club soda
Directions:
- Put the lemon wedges in a cocktail shaker along with simple syrup, lemon juice, fresh thyme, and vodka
- Muddle hard, breaking the lemon skins
- Cover and shake
- Pour the mixture into the glass, and top off with club soda
2. Virgin cucumber kiwi gimlet
This recipe serves two.
Ingredients:
- 2 tonic water
- 1/2 sliced cucumber
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce kiwi juice
- 1 cup ice
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker
- Gently muddle the cucumber
- Fill with ice and shake really well
- Strain into a tall glass
3. Raspberry and lemon sparkler
This recipe serves six.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 pints fresh raspberries
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 bottle sparkling rosé
- Sliced lemons and raspberries
Directions:
- In a pitcher, smash the raspberries with sugar and lemon juice
- Top with sparkling rose
- Serve over ice with sliced lemons and raspberries
4. Grapefruit jalapeno tequila
This recipe serves one.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup fresh pink grapefruit juice
- 3 tablespoons simple syrup
- 1 1/2 ounces spiced tequila
- Sparkling water
- Pink grapefruit wedges and sliced jalapenos
Directions:
- Fill a glass with ice and top with grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and tequila
- Stir to combine
- Top with sparkling water and garnish with grapefruit wedges and sliced jalapenos
5. Lavender sparkling wine
This recipe serves one.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Fresh lavender sprigs
- 3 dashes lavender-lemon balm bitters
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- 2/3 cup sparkling wine
Directions:
- Combine simple syrup and bitters in a champagne glass
- Top with sparkling wine and lavender sprigs
6. Limoncello citrus mock sangria
This recipe serves eight.
Ingredients:
- 1 orange
- 1 pink grapefruit
- 2 lemons
- 1 bottle chilled nonalcoholic white wine
- 1 1/2 cups limoncello
- 3 cups sparkling water
Directions:
- Cut the orange, grapefruit, and lemons into 1/4 inch thick slices
- In a large pitcher, combine the white wine, sliced citrus, and limoncello
- Refrigerate overnight
- When ready to serve, stir in the sparkling water
7. Blood orange margaritas
This recipe serves one.
Ingredients:
- 2 jalapeno slices
- 3 sprigs cilantro
- 1 1/2 ounces tequila
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- Blood orange soda
Directions:
- Muddle jalapeno slices and cilantro in a cocktail shaker
- Add tequila, lime juice, and ice, and shake
- Serve topped with blood orange soda
8. Grapefruit mint bellini mocktail
This recipe serves six.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 bunch of fresh mint
- 3 cups grapefruit juice
- 2 bottles of kombucha
Directions:
- Bring sugar, water, and mint to a boil in a saucepan
- Simmer until the sugar is dissolved
- Allow to cool completely, and discard mint
- Divide simple syrup and grapefruit juice between six glasses and stir
- Top with sparkling wine
9. Mango raspberry mimosa
This recipe serves four.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of sparkling wine
- Raspberry liqueur
- Fresh raspberries
- 3/4 cup mango puree
- 1 cubed mango
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions:
- To make the mango puree, place the mango cubes, lemon juice, and sugar into a blender and puree until smooth
- Pour three tablespoons of mango puree into each champagne flute
- Then pour champagne until 3/4 full
- Add 1/2 ounce of raspberry liqueur
- Top with raspberries
10. Virgin blackberry mint mojito
This recipe serves one.
Ingredients:
- 1 pint blackberries
- 1/2 cup water
- 6 mint leaves
- Juice from half a lime
- 2 ounces of pineapple juice
- 2 ounces of blackberry juice
- Soda water
Directions:
- In a blender, combine the blackberries and water, and blend until pureed
- Strain the juice using a sieve
- In a glass, add the mint leaves, lime juice, and a splash of soda water
- Muddle together
- Fill the glass with ice and add rum, blackberry juice, and top with soda water
- Stir to combine
References
- "35 Best Easter Cocktails Perfect for a Springtime Celebration," Country Living, February 12, 2020.