Cocktails you can make at home, vol. 4

We’re over halfway through August. Summer is moving too fast. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what we have: There’s still plenty of summer sunshine left, which means more time to enjoy some drinks on the patio.

Mexican Mule

The Mexican Mule is a spin off from the classic Moscow Mule. Instead of using vodka we will use tequila. Tequila is the national spirit of Mexico. It is made from the blue agave plant which grows naturally around the city of Tequila, Mexico. Even if you don’t own the sometimes elusive and expensive copper mugs you can always use whatever you have on hand.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Tequila (silver or blanco)
• Ginger Beer
• Fresh Lime Juice (concentrate will work too)
• Bitters (optional)
• Lime wheel or sliced jalapeno for garnish (optional)
• Copper mug (optional)
• Ice

How to make:

1. Fill copper mug or glass with ice
2. Add 1.5 oz. tequila
3. Add 4 oz. ginger beer
4. Add .25 oz. fresh lime juice
5. Add dash of bitters (optional)
6. Garnish with sliced lime and/or jalapeno (optional)

* Yields 1 drink/serving (Replace blanco or silver tequila with reposado or anejo for a richer taste)

Bloody Maria

Since we’re already mixing things up (pun intended) why not try Mary’s sister drink?  

The Bloody Maria might not be the best for a hot summer August day, but maybe try spicing things up for when after the sun goes down or even a weekend morning!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Tequila (silver or blanco)
• Fresh Lime juice (concentrate will work too)
• Celery salt
• Bloody mary mix
• Glass
• Ice
• Garnish with celery, cheese, jerky, etc.. (optional)

How to make:

1. Squeeze lime juice onto clean plate
2. Pour celery salt onto separate plate
3. Dip the rim of desired glass through the juice then rim it with celery salt
4. Add ice to rimmed glass
5. Add 1.5 oz. tequila
6. Add 3 oz. of bloody mary mix
7. Stir
8. Garnish (optional)

* Yields 1 drink/serving (Replace blanco or silver tequila with reposado or anejo for a richer taste)

Home Made Whiskey Sour

We’ll wrap up this volume of “Cocktails You Can Make at Home” with a classic. Since the other two above were tequila drinks this one is for the whiskey and bourbon lovers out there. Although on the contrary to being overly sweet in most whiskey and bourbon connoisseurs, the whiskey sour cocktail can be quite flavorful, especially home made with fresh ingredients.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Whiskey (bourbon will work as well)
• Fresh Lemon juice (concentrate will work too)
• Simple syrup
• Low-ball glass (any glass will work)
• Ice
• Garnish with lemon wedge and cherry (optional)

How to make:

1. Fill glass with ice
2. Add 1.5 oz. whiskey or bourbon
3. Add 1.5 oz. lemon juice
4. Add 1 oz. simple syrup
5. Stir
6. Garnish with lemon and/or cherry (optional)