Summer is a time for adventure, for dipping into waters unknown, and trying new things. Why not switch out your usual frosty beer or chilled wine for a simple but refreshing cocktail this July?
Here are two of my favourites that feature ginger beer—ginger ale’s spunkier (and tastier) cousin. These drinks are best enjoyed while sitting next to your new patio lanterns during a midsummer’s night.
The Dark ‘n Stormy
Ingredients
4 oz ginger beer
1 1/2 oz dark spiced rum
1 lime wedge
Ice
This is the easiest of our two recipes and requires only four ingredients (two of which you probably have at home right now). Pour the ginger beer into a glass filled with ice.
Add spiced rum. Stir, squeeze lime wedge over top and serve. Alternatively: garnish with lime, then squeeze. This is a great alternative to that classic summer standby: the rum and coke.
The Kentucky Buck
Ingredients
Strawberries – 1 chopped, 1 sliced for garnish
3/4 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
2 oz bourbon
2 dashes bitters
2 oz ginger beer
Ice
This cocktail gets a bit fancy. Simple syrup and bitters can seem intimidating, but the syrup can easily be made at home while bitters can be acquired at most liquor stores.
Both are also great to have around the house, as they’re used in many cocktails, and make you seem sophisticated and prepared when you have them on-hand.
For the simple syrup
The name rings true—this stuff is easy. All you need is two parts sugar and one part water (2:1). There are two ways of doing this, depending on how prepared you are.
You can either bring the water to a boil, add the sugar, stirring constantly as it dissolves, removing it from heat when all the sugar is dissolved. Then, allow to completely cool and thicken, bottling it for use later.
If you don’t have the time or resources for this, you can always make ‘bar simple syrup’, which calls for *equal parts* (1:1) sugar and water to be mixed together and shaken until dissolved. This method simply results in a less viscous syrup, but is perfectly effective.
For the Kentucky Buck
Muddle the chopped strawberry, syrup and lemon juice all together in a cocktail shaker.
Add the bourbon, bitters, and ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into an ice-filled glass.
Top off with ginger beer and a strawberry to garnish.
