by Amanda Rose Newton
Limes and lemons are the undisputed bartender’s best friend. After all, without those two we would not have the family of sour drinks which includes favorites like whisky sours, the infamous margarita, the gin sour, and the vacation-necessary daiquiri.
So what can you do with all those tangerines, satsumas, grapefruits, and oranges in your yard? Luckily, there is a botanically-themed cocktail for each that will easily be the highlight of any summer soiree you have planned for this upcoming season.
Made all the more impressive by the fact that you didn’t need to hit the store to purchase the key ingredient.
Classic Grapefruit Salty Dog
If you are a fan of paying homage to the classics, a grapefruit-tinged salty dog is easy enough to make every day at home. If you want to add your own botanical touch, fresh rosemary makes this sparkle!
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon high-quality salt
1 wedge of grapefruit for prepping the rim
½ slice of grapefruit for garnish
1.5 oz chilled vodka or gin
½ cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
2 tsp honey or simple syrup
Ice
Method:
1. Spread salt on a small plate.
2. Run the grapefruit wedge around the rim of a tall glass, then roll the glass in the salt to coat the rim.
3. Fill the glass with ice.
4. Add vodka (or gin), grapefruit juice, and honey/simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
5. Fill the shaker ¾ full of ice.
6. Cover and shake!
7. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass.
8. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and enjoy on a hot day when you need a cocktail.
**To make this alcohol-free, you can have a nice everyday mocktail by using sparkling grapefruit-flavored water instead of gin or vodka.
Orange Tequila Sunrise
Another cocktail classic, the Tequila Sunrise, takes maybe 5 minutes to make and looks stunning enough for elegant festivities.
Oranges are the star of the show here, and if you want to use a fresh herb pairing with it, basil is a surprising win.
Ingredients:
Ice
4 slices of a fresh orange
1 ½ oz Tequila
½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
½ cup grenadine
Maraschino cherry for a fancy garnish
Method:
1. Fill a tall glass with ice
2. Place 3 orange slices decoratively between the ice cubes and the inside of the glass.
3. Add tequila, then top with orange juice.
4. Pour grenadine slowly over the top of the drink to create those iconic layers.
5. Garnish with the remaining slice of orange and a cherry, if you are feeling fancy.
** Make this a weeknight mocktail by replacing tequila with more orange juice!
Tangerine Sidecar
Sidecars are a must for any bourbon lover, and though tangerine is not the original choice for this classic cocktail, you may find that you like it better! Herbs that go well here are mints (especially citrus ones) or a touch of basil.
Ingredients:
2-3 Tangerines
2 tangerine slices
6 tbsp Bourbon
2 tbsp Triple Sec
I tbs fresh tangerine juice
Ice
Method:
1. Squeeze enough fruit to get 1/4 cup juice.
2. Combine the juice, bourbon, Triple Sec, and additional tangerine juice in a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill with ice.
4. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
5. Pour through a strainer into 2 martini glasses (any glass or mason jar works here)
6. Garnish with a tangerine slice and herbs from the garden, if desired.
**To enjoy sans alcohol, substitute a splash of your favorite flavor of sparkling water in its place.
Frozen Satsuma Creamsicle
If frozen is your drink style of choice, you are in for a treat when an orange is swapped out for a satsuma! Any of the mandarins will work here, so feel to use what you are growing or love. As for herbs, a basil leaf garnish mimicking the leaves of a satsuma is a classy touch.
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups fresh squeezed satsuma juice
½ cup unsweetened coconut milk (or other non-dairy milk of choice)
¼ cup frozen satsuma slices, pineapple, or mango chunks (or a combo)
2 ounces of vodka or coconut rum
2 satsuma slices and 2 basil leaves for garnish
Ice
Method:
1. Combine mandarin juice, coconut milk, ice, frozen fruit, vodka, and/or rum in a blender.
2. Blend until the fruit is pureed and the ice is crushed to a slushy consistency.
3. Divide the mixture between two 12-ounce glasses.
4. Garnish each with an orange slice and 2 basil leaves and enjoy immediately.
** This frozen delight can easily be made into a mocktail by replacing the alcohol with more fresh juice.
Summer calls for outdoor parties, and regardless of what citrus you have, be sure to include it in your warm-weather drinks menu.
If you plan to gift a loved one a citrus tree, consider adding on a container garden of fresh herbs to get them porch-drink-ready just in time for the season.
Too hot to make drinks? Be sure to head to the Rockledge Gardens, where resident Farmer’s Market Café Garden Party can whip up a memorial beverage of your choice while you take in the garden view.
Cheers!
