Spring is in the air! The flowers blooming and the bees buzzing is a sure sign that Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than with some fabulously Spring inspired cocktails. Impress the family with some killer cocktail making skills by placing a pitcher of one of these recipes on a picnic table.
It’s time to sit back, sip back, and throw in some creativity with these 5 thirst-quenching recipes that will make your highlight this Springtime.
1. Grapefruit Mint Mojito
Image source: BBC Good Food
A perfect, tasty twist to the old classic mint mojitos, the grapefruit mint mojito is an absolute delight that is refreshing and relaxing.
What you need:
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3 tbsp sugar
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3 tbsp water
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20 sprigs of fresh mint
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4 tbsp lime juice
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30 ml white rum
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30 ml fresh grapefruit juice
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60 ml cold sparkling water
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A handful of grapefruit slices if you want
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Ice
Starting with a simple syrup made of sugar and water boiled until dissolved, the sweet base is created without a worry of crunchy sugar bits in your cocktail floating around. Muddle some lime juice and mint followed by rum, the cooled syrup, grapefruit juice, and sparkling water, and there you go!
Pour the concoction over ice and enjoy. For a tangier twist, cut up some grapefruit slices to boost presentation and a tangy finish.
2. Sweet Georgia Peach Smash
Image source: Pizzazzerie
A perfectly sweet flavour of Spring, this refreshingly sweet Georgia Peach Smash cocktail packs an irresistible punch that is simply delicious.
What you need:
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30 ml quality Australian whisky
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1 tsp lemon juice
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3 tbsp sugar
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3 tbsp water
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30 ml sparkling water
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Fresh or canned peach slices
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Ice
To make the syrup, simply boil the water and sugar until the sugar has fully dissolved. While waiting, mash up a handful of peaches with a fork.
Once the syrup has cooled, it’s time to make the cocktail. Start by filling a glass with crushed ice. Add in a good quality Australian whiskey, lemon juice, mashed peaches, and cooled syrup into a cocktail shaker and shake it like a Polaroid picture. Strain into a glass and top it up with the sparkling water followed by added garnishes of peach slices for presentation.
For a stronger peach flavour, you could always add some extra peach syrup or mashed up slices muddled at the bottom of your glass before pouring in your freshly made cocktail. If you like mint, a sprig tastes fabulous in this cocktail too.
3. Blueberry Gin Sour Cocktail
Image source: Unusually Lovely
Spring season is blueberry season. And with all the supermarkets dropping prices on blueberries, why not take advantage of the cheap prices and make yourself a treat?
This Blueberry Gin Sour will have your tastebuds tantalised with the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
What you need:
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1 cup fresh blueberries
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2 tbsp syrup (you can make this by simply boiling sugar and water until the sugar has dissolved – see recipes above)
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4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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2 tbsp egg white m
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1/3 cup gin
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2 dashes Angostura Bitters
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Ice
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Lemon peel for garnish
Mash up the blueberries and combine together with the lemon juice and syrup. Pour this combination into a cocktail shaker or over a glass of ice – depending on the presentation look you want to achieve. If you prefer your cocktails smooth, strain the pulp away, and only use the juice in your cocktail.
Add in the gin and egg white and dry shake in the cocktail shaker. A dry shake will help the egg white york more and fresh egg whites will foam better than carton egg white.
Now it’s time to add the ice and shake to cool your cocktail. Strain your mixture into a glass filled with ice and serve with some lemon peel for decoration.
4. Rose Lemon Spritzer
Image source: Half Baked Harvest
If you love the smell of roses, this cocktail will delight, giving you the best flavours of the garden all in one glass.
What you need:
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2 tbsp rose water
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2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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40 ml quality Australian vodka
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1 tbsp honey or to taste
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120 ml sparkling water or to taste
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Ice
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Fresh roses for decorating
Mix the rose water, fresh lemon juice, vodka, and honey into a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake until well combined and strain it into a glass. Pour the sparkling water followed by some garnishes of fresh roses and voila! It’s time to enjoy!
5. Sparkling Fruit Sangria
Image source: The Spruce Eats
An extra bubbly twist to a Sparkling Fruit Sangria gives it the boost you need for a refreshingly delicious dessert. It’s exactly what you need to kickstart that sense of spring. This recipe makes a decent pitcher so adjust the measurements accordingly.
What you need:
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1 thinly sliced orange
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1/2 thinly sliced lemon
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1 cup blueberries
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1 cup raspberries
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10 large sliced strawberries
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1 cup orange juice
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1 x 750 ml sweet white wine like Riesling
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1 x 750 ml of your favourite champagne
In a large pitcher, add all the fruit, orange juice, and wine and let sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours (up to 24 hours). Before serving, simply add champagne and pour into glasses filled with ice. If you’d like it sweeter, add some honey, agave, or sugar to your liking.
And if you’re in Mount Isa this Spring and looking for a refreshing way to enjoy yourself, drop by the Cocktail Lounge at the Redearth Boutique Hotel and indulge yourself. Serving up some Australia’s tastiest cocktails, the expert bartenders with years of experience will help take the edge off and serve you up with a custom handcrafted cocktail made to your liking!
Banner image credit: Liquor Lab