Cocktails for a summer party do not have to be a bank-breaking feature you’d much rather skip! In fact, I’ve realized mixing cocktails instead of just lining the bottles in a self-serve manner helps the same amount of liquor stretch much further. Oh and let’s not forget how great, refreshing and absolutely cool summer cocktails are! Let's sum it up, shall we? You won’t need to demonstrate skill that would put a pro bartender to shame, you don’t need to spend a fortune and you get to have this ultimate party feature – all with the help of these super budget-friendly cocktails for a summer party!
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Cape Cod
Absolutely undemanding in terms of both skill and ingredients, the Cape Cod, or Cape Codder, is one of those popular cocktails for a summer party you really have no reason to be without. Check it out, this budget-friendly cocktail will be ready to serve in under five minutes and requires only the simplest, easiest to find ingredients.
Ingredients:
3 oz cranberry juice
2 oz vodka
Lime wedge for garnish
Directions:
Pour the ingredients into a highball glass with ice cubes.
Stir well.
Squeeze the lime juice into the drink.
Drop the lime wedge into the glass.
Source: cocktails.about.com
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Lemon Drop
Sweet and sour, refreshing while at the same time having all the potency of an alcoholic drink – this interesting, fancy-looking cocktail is definitely a must try!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz vodka
3/4 oz lemon juice
1 tsp sugar syrup
Lemon twist for garnish
Directions:
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with the lemon twist.
Source: cocktails.about.com
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Tequila Sunrise
A bottle of Tequila can really go a long way if you decide to surprise your guests with this fancy-looking cocktail! It’s one of a very few I can make with my eyes closed and it never fails to impress. Give it a shot – tequila, orange juice and grenadine syrup are common, easy to find ingredients you’ll have no problem fitting into your budget and there will be plenty of grenadine left for your next party.
Ingredients:
4 oz orange juice
2 oz tequila
1/2 oz grenadine
Orange slice for garnish
Maraschino cherry for garnish
Directions:
Pour the tequila and the orange juice into a highball glass with ice cubes.
Stir.
Slowly pour the grenadine around the inside edge of the glass, it will sink and slowly rise to mix with the other ingredients naturally.
Garnish with the orange slice and cherry.
**Source****: **cocktails.about.com
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Highball
Speaking about budget-friendly cocktails you’ve got to try, here’s a perfect way to put that bottle of whiskey you’ve received as a gift into a good use. It’s simple, easy to do and you’ve probably got all of the ingredients. After all, there’s only two!
Ingredients:
2 oz whiskey
Ginger ale
Directions:
Fill a highball glass with ice.
Pour the whiskey into the glass.
Top with ginger ale.
Source: cocktails.about.com
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Mojito
Oh la la! Now here’s a summer cocktail no one will be able to resist! I’m definitely going to try to make it one of these days. But wait, before we proceed, let me just say that I hope I didn’t spoil you too much with all of this easy-peasy stuff because a Mojito will require a bit more work.
Ingredients:
2 tsp sugar
6-8 mint leaves
Club soda
1 lime, halved
2 oz light rum
mint sprig for garnish
Directions:
Place the sugar, the mint leaves, and a little club soda into a highball glass.
Muddle well to dissolve the sugar and to release the mint flavor.
Squeeze the juice from both halves of the lime into the glass.
Drop one half of the lime into the glass.
Add the rum.
*Jelena's note: Don’t forget to toss in mint sprigs and bits of lime – it will taste just as great without them, of course, but a Mojito is just not right without all that chunky stuff floating around. food.allwomenstalk.com
Source: cocktails.about.com
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Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Classic Daiquiri
Fun fact – Ernest Hemingway used to be a huge fan of this cool cocktail! Fair warning – His famous work called The Old Man and The Sea is probably the one you should NOT be attempting to read when you’ve had too many Daiquiris. But here’s the fun part – this particular budget-friendly cocktail is super easy to make and the Lemon Drop actually happens to be one of its modifications. Simply scroll up for the recipe, replace vodka with rum and you’ve got yourself a perfect Daiquiri! You can use this recipe, too!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz light rum
3/4 oz lime juice
1/4 oz sugar syrup
**Directions:
**Pour the light rum, lime juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Source: cocktails.about.com
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Margarita
Ah, well no summer party would be complete without a round of Margaritas! They are refreshing, super easy to make and you have a choice between salting or sugaring the rim of the glass, all depending on your personal preferences. I’d go for sugar, of course, although I must admit salt is what makes this drink so unusual.
Ingredients:
1 ½ tequila
½ oz triple sec
1 oz freshly squeezed lemon (or lime) juice
Lemon or lime wedge for garnish
Salt or sugar**
**
Directions:
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
If desired, salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass.
Pour contents, with ice, into the glass.
Garnish with the lime wedge.
Source: cocktails.about.com
How about it, ladies? Are you going to be mixing any of these summer cocktails anytime soon? And the really important question - am I invited?
