#Recipes: Two cold cocktails for one hot summer

By Alex Press

On hot summer days, people get thirsty and need an ice-cold drink to cool them down. In the heat a craft beer is probably too filling, your ice cubes will melt in your Jack and Coke and experienced Floridians know the effect of drinking wine all day in a sun chair. There are a few drinks that are best served on a hot day however and we wanted to feature them for this Staycation issue.

Mojito. Pronounced mo-heat-oh. Clearly this drink was made for summer.
Mojito. Pronounced mo-heat-oh. Clearly this drink was made for summer.

The Mojito — Mojitos are served at near every place that serves alcohol in the Keys, but no two will taste the same. Mixologists at bars often muddle together what they believe to be the perfect amount of five key ingredients — white rum (sugarcane traditionally), sugar, lime juice, sparkling water or club soda, and mint. The mint leaves should be barely bruised (to get the oils and flavor out) and not shredded (because they end up stuck in teeth). The drink is iced and, on a positive note, prevents scurvy!

Ingredients:

10 fresh mint leaves

½ lime, cut into four wedges

2 tbsp white sugar, to taste

1 cup ice cubes

1 ½ ounces white rum

½ cub club soda

Directions:

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the oils and juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice, cover with rum, and add carbonated water. Stir, add more sugar to taste, and garnish with remaining lime wedge.

You don't have to date a Long Islander to know that this drink will knock you on your bum.
You don’t have to date a Long Islander to know that this drink will knock you on your bum.

The Long Island Iced Tea — Long Island’s have the hue of tea but contain no actual iced tea in most cases, just a lot of alcohol. (Caveat Utilitor — user beware.) A blend of gin, tequila, rum, triple sec with a splash of cola and sour mix combines to make the 22-percent alcohol libation. Most variations use equal parts of all the liquor and some bars may include whiskey or maple syrup. All ingredients are poured into a highball glass and gently stirred. You can put a little umbrella and straw in there to give off the complete summer vibe.

Ingredients:

1 ounce vodka

1 ounce gin

1 ounce run

1 ounce triple sec

1 ounce tequila

2 tbsp orange juice

2 ounces cola carbonated beverage

1 lemon wedge

Directions:

In a cocktail mixer full of ice, combine vodka, gin, rum, triple sec and tequila. Add orange juice and cola. Stir vigorously and strain into a highball (or mason jar) glass filled with ice. Garnish with lemon.