Summer brings with it vacations and the general urge to relax, which means prime business opportunities for professional chefs and bartenders. Take full advantage of the tourist season with drink recipes designed especially for relaxation and the summer party crowd. Here are five of our favorite summer drinksservice mats.

Light, Breezy Summer Drink Recipes

1. Summer Dreams

This fruity selection will remind customers of a tropical island retreat. Shake two ounces of Midori melon liqueur with ice and one and a half ounces each of orange juice and lemon juice in a high quality bar shaker. Strain everything into a cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of pineapple.

2. Summer Sunset

Place ice cubes in a Collins glass, then add two ounces of either white rum or dry gin. Fill one half of the remainder of the glass with fruit punch and the other half with ginger ale to make another light drink for warm, sunny days.

3. San Diego Seabreeze

Clients love this complex but relaxing concoction. In a Collins glass, pour one ounce of vodka, then one half ounce each of blueberry schnapps and raspberry schnapps. Add one-half part each of pineapple juice and orange juice along with one teaspoon of blackberry brandy. Cover, shake, and serve.

Stand-out Drinks for Summer Nights

4. A Night in Old Mandalay

Fill a shaker halfway with ice cubes. Combine one ounce each of Añejo rum, light rum, and orange juice with one-half ounce of lemon juice. Shake the mixture thoroughly. Put ice cubes into a professional hi-ball glass until it is almost full, then strain the mixture into the glass. Pour in three ounces of ginger ale and serve with a twist of lemon peel.

5. All Night Long

Especially fitting for bars and other establishments that are open far into the summer nights, this party drink will keep customers ordering until last call. Using a hurricane glass, mix one-half ounce each of Malibu rum, vodka, Kahlua, and Dark Crème de Cacao. Stir in four ounces of pineapple juice and two ounces of Sour mix and shake well.

Each of these drink recipes offers great sales potential, particularly if you take special care with your presentation. Find original garnishes and decorations with which to display glasses creatively and appealingly. Created and served using the best bar tools, these summer drinks will be a hit with your customers this season and beyond.

Filed under: Resource Central • Recipes • How-To • General

Tags: bar equipment, bar tools, drink recipes, hi-ball glass, summer drink recipes, summer drinks