Cool Cocktails to Beat the Heat

by Kelsey Menzel
Editorial Assistant

Everything in moderation, right? Well, it’s summer, so how about moderation in moderation. If you’re inclined to indulge, you may as well do it right.Whiskey Peach Cocktail:
This fresh peach drink warms as it cools and is as sweet as it is tart, making it a great choice for your transition from afternoon to evening. Peach, mint and lemon combine with whiskey and simple syrup for a dark, glowing drink that is as beautiful as it is tasty.

Recipe per drink:
1/2 fresh peach, thickly sliced
Fresh mint leaves
Lemon wedge
1 ounce water
1/2 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces whiskey or bourbon
Mint sprig
Thin peach slice for garnish 

Muddle all ingredients except whiskey in shaker. Add ice and whiskey. Shake and strain over ice, garnish with thin peach slice and mint.

Skinny Margarita
Herradura Silver Tequila
splash of cointreau
agave nectar
splash of lime juice

Skinny Mojito
Deep Eddy Straight Vodka
agave nectar
soda water
muddled mint
lime

Cucumber Cantaloupe Cooler:
As delicious as they are on their own, cantaloupes aren’t known for making great cocktails. Ditto for cucumbers. But the two combine in this recipe to make one fresh, delicious cocktail your guests will flip for at your next summer soiree.

Recipe per drink:
6 to 8 one-inch cubes fresh cantaloupe
2 ounces cucumber-infused gin
Lime juice
Dash of simple syrup
Cucumber slice for garnish

Muddle the cantaloupe pieces in a mixing glass. Fill with ice, add the liquid ingredients, and shake until cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of cucumber.

Sangria Starburst: 
This sparkling sangria recipe combines fresh fruit, dry red wine, brandy and a couple pinches of sugar for sweet patio refreshment.

Recipe per pitcher:
1 bottle dry red wine
1 cup light orange juice
1/4 cup brandy or cognac
1/4 cup orange liqueur
Sugar, to taste
Orange slices
2 cups club soda
Crushed ice

Mix all together in large pitcher, stir, enjoy.

Watermelon Martini:
Watermelon is the perfect summer fruit, and Texans are lucky to have an abundance of fresh, local melons at almost every grocery store and farmer’s market. This martini fuses vodka and watermelon juice to create a perfect summer treat.

Recipe per pitcher:
1 cup of watermelon juice (strain through cheesecloth)
1/2 cup vodka
1/4 cup simple syrup
Lime juice
Salt, for rim
Sugar, for rim
Ice
Watermelon slices for garnish 

Place the watermelon juice, vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Top with ice. Shake well.

Blueberry-Lime Margarita:
Nothing says summer quite like Red White and Blueberries. And since one serving rings in at only 125 calories, this blueberry drink will leave your purple-tinted mouth smiling as you relish in its deliciousness.

Recipe per pitcher:
2 cups ice
1 cup blueberries
1 cup blueberry nectar (in the drink mixers aisle)
1/4 cup seltzer
2 tablespoons frozen limeade
1 tablespoon lime juice
3 ounces tequila
Lime wedge
Salt for the rim

Combine first seven ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Use lime wedge and salt to garnish rim of two glasses, pour and serve.

If cool cocktails aren’t your choice of #HealthyDrinks, tweet us @AustinFit to find out about our list of the 21 healthiest beers.
[HINT: Anything that says, “light”.]