It’s peach season, y’all! And we are feeling inspired to mix up some tasty summer drinks! Summer cocktails call for sweet and fruity flavors. I know the blogosphere is all crashing forward with fall…which is akin to Christmas showing up in the stores before Halloween in my opinion.

We have OVER A MONTH of summer left here people, and while it’s been unusually hot and humid, I’m not about to wish my favorite season away!

We are always dreaming about lazing around on the porch amid the overflowing planters, watching the birds and impressively acrobatic chipmunks (which we’ve named Hoover and Roomba for obvious reasons) sipping chilled, fruity adult beverages. So here are recipes for 4 of our favorites!

These are recipes, but I use the term loosely as I rarely measure anything unless I’m baking! And you can, of course, substitute and experiment with the ingredients to get YOUR perfect recipe!

Peach Sangria

I adore peaches in ANY form, fresh from the tree, baked in pies, cobbler, melba sauce, grilled with chicken, grilled with honey and mascarpone, in a caprese salad, and I had them last night on bruschetta (must try recreating THAT at home!) …peach season is my favorite.

It is finally peach season here and I am in heaven! So it will come as no surprise that I have a fondness for Peach Sangria! One of my dear friends bequeathed me with a birthday gift of all these ingredients one year (thank you, Mary Ann!) and I have been a fan ever since!

• 1 bottle white wine (with sangria, there is so much going on that any inexpensive bottle of white will do)

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups peach nectar

• fresh (or frozen - desperate times call for desperate measures) peach slices

• 1/2 cup peach vodka

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup peach schnapps

• simple syrup, to taste

• 2 cups sparkling something (Asti, seltzer, ginger ale, ginger beer…)

Mix all ingredients except the sparkling something and refrigerate 2 hrs or overnight. Add the fizzy ingredient and serve over ice. Garnish with a peach slice, of course! Raspberries, blueberries or mint make a nice addition to this as well!

Classic Sangria

Classic sangria should be red and fruit infused. There are a zillion variations and it is fun to experiment with different fruits in different seasons. In the heat of summer, though, I want my classic sangria with refreshing citrus flavors so here is our favorite summer classic sangria recipe:

• 1 bottle dry red wine (or red blend) again, any inexpensive red will work

• 1/2 cup simple syrup* (optional depending on how sweet you like it)

• 1 can of frozen lemonade concentrate

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups orange juice

• 1/2 cup brandy

• 1/2 cup triple sec

• 1 small jar maraschino cherries

• sliced orange, lemon, and lime

• 2 cups sparkling something (Asti, citrus flavored seltzer, ginger ale…)

Mix all ingredients except the sparkling seltzer and chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Add the seltzer just before serving. Serve in stemmed goblets over ice and garnish with skewers of orange, lime, or cherries for a festive finish!

IF you have leftovers and you plan to store them for a while, I recommend removing the lemon slices as they will eventually turn bitter.

*simple syrup is made by heating equal volumes of water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar is fully dissolved. Simple syrup will keep in a jar in the fridge forever and it’s great to have on hand for summer cocktails! We’ve been known to infuse our simple syrup with other flavors too, which we talked about HERE.

Mango Mojitos

Honestly, mango has never been a favorite flavor of mine until recently, but put it in a mojito, and I’m in! This recipe is courtesy of my daughter, Jenna (aka The Diva), she makes them, I just drink them, so I’ll turn this over to her for the recipe!

Jenna here! This was the first cocktail I ordered at a bar on my 21st birthday, so naturally it holds a special place in my happy hour heart! It’s basically just a normal mojito recipe with the addition of some mango nectar to give it some extra tropical flair. You can easily make it in a large pitcher for a crowd, or per glass, for which you will need:

• 1-2oz rum according to preferred strength

• About 10 mint leaves, plus more to garnish

• 1 oz lime juice

• 1/4 cup mango juice, nectar, or purée

• 2 Tbsp simple syrup (or to taste)

• Club soda

Start by muddling the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass along with the lime juice (you can throw your squeezed lime wedges in as well if you like). Add ice, rum, and mango flavoring of choice. Fill the glass the rest of the way with club soda and add simple syrup to taste. Don’t forget to garnish with mint and an artistic slice of lime!

Tipsy Lemonade

Is there anything more refreshing on a hot summer day than ice-cold lemonade? Take your lemonade to a new level with this adult twist on the classic summer beverage! Refreshing with a kick and the surprising hint of basil herbiness, this is sure to be an instant classic! Click HERE for the recipe.

Perfect Cocktail Accompaniment

Every drink needs a little something to go with it. This snack is easy, delicious and a little grown up. A bit of local blue cheese (Great Hill Blue is our favorite) is served with a sturdy pita crisp cracker and topped with a drizzle of local honey. The contrast of tangy, creamy blue cheese with the sweetness of honey is heavenly! Walnuts make a nice addition to this trio as well.

Happy Summer!