What's your favorite summer drink this year?
I scanned the news this morning, and saw stories about bedbug infestations, a homicide in Charles Village, the oil spill, and I thought 'Man, I need a drink.'
It's summertime -- one of the hottest summers in a long time. It's my favorite season for drinking, because I love ice cold cocktails.
This year, I've been keeping it simple: Vodka with light cran-razz and a splash of Rose's Lime juice. In past years, I was really into mojitos. This time around, I'm digging the citrusy twang.
What have you been drinking this summer? Beers count too, you know.
(Baltimore Sun archive photo)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Yikes! I just realized I haven't made a pitcher of mojitos all summer and that's my go-to summer libation. I did spend a weekend poolside sipping orange Creamsicle-like drinks. They were great when I started. Now I hope I don't have another one all summer.
Posted by: Baltimanda | July 27, 2010 7:53 AM
Bacardi Limon and Ginger, lemon wedge. Dangerous on a hot day. It'll get you where you want to be in a hurry
Posted by: LP | July 27, 2010 7:58 AM
Had a Moscow Mule at Bad Decisions the other day...very nice.
Posted by: scottbbfm | July 27, 2010 8:47 AM
Hornito's Margaritas! or Skinny Girl Margaritas - watches the waist line and less sugar means no hangover!
Posted by: KC | July 27, 2010 8:47 AM
... with light cran-razz ...
Laura, please give the keys to Midnight Sun back to a guy
Posted by: Anonymous | July 27, 2010 8:58 AM
I have no set name, but it has been called by many people "the ultimate summer drink." I'm not so sure, but it's in the 95th percentile.
Fill glass with ice. Preferably a high-ball or juice glass.
Add 1-3 shots of gin, depending on your preference.
A dash or 2 of bitters.
A splash of lime juice.
Fill rest of the glass with Bitter Lemon.
Stir.
Relax.
Posted by: Stagger Lee | July 27, 2010 9:06 AM
Moscow Mule out of a copper cup.
Posted by: RC | July 27, 2010 9:06 AM
I would like to be able to say that a Painkiller is my fave this summer, but I have yet to find a bartender in this town who knows how to make them.
Over ice in a pint-glass:
2 oz dark rum
1 oz cream of coconut
4 oz pineapple juice
1 oz orange juice
Fresh grated nutmeg (sprinkled on top)
Hint, Hint to all you bartenders reading Midnight Sun ;-)
Posted by: Nansea | July 27, 2010 9:16 AM
@Anon -- Darn right it's light cran-razz. As Queen Colleen would say, I've got to get it right, get it tight.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 27, 2010 9:44 AM
Sand Wedge. Rochester, NY favorite, as 1/3 people plays golf there:
-1 part citrus vodka
-1 part orange juice
(shake)
-pour over ice and finish with 2 parts Fresca
Also dig the Cherry-Basil Mr. Happy (vodka lemonade) I made earlier this year (I'll post the simple method I used)
empty 1/2 each of 2 bottles of Simply Lemonade
blend together on high:
-one 750ml bottle lemon vodka
-1-2 cups fresh basil
-1/2-1 bag fresh (pitted) or frozen cherries (also works great with raspberries)
-pour the vodka mixture into the lemonade bottles and shake...portable, fierce, and amazing poured over plenty of ice in schweaty Baltimore...
Posted by: Baltimore Liquid | July 27, 2010 10:05 AM
gin and tonic, double lime, boodles british gin.
Posted by: bryanintowson | July 27, 2010 10:11 AM
I second Nansea comments!
ditto
Posted by: Joe | July 27, 2010 10:22 AM
Mojitos! Margaritas! Gin and Tonics!
Oh yea, and a whole ton of water :)
Posted by: Nakiya | July 27, 2010 10:35 AM
Who cannot love a margarita in the summertime? The ones at Austin Grill pack a punch. Likely to get you in trouble!
Posted by: Nansea | July 27, 2010 11:18 AM
Whiskey. And lots of it.
Posted by: JTK | July 27, 2010 11:25 AM
Gin & Tonic with cucumber and basil syrup. Ozzy ale for summer beer.
Posted by: Chris | July 27, 2010 11:43 AM
Anyone had this one: Turbo Painkiller? I have not (yet). It's a martini of sorts that's supposed to taste like a painkiller:
2 parts pineapple rum
2 parts coconut rum
1 part grand marnier
fresh grated nutmeg (sprinkled on top)
Sounds lethal! Maybe that new Water Street tiki bar will mix them up???
Posted by: Nansea | July 27, 2010 11:52 AM
Flavored Stoli and club soda. 105 calories.
Posted by: Micki | July 27, 2010 12:22 PM
I'm hooked on Grapefruit Crushes right now, going so far as to purchase a restaurant-quality press juicer for my house.
Posted by: Rich B | July 27, 2010 12:38 PM
@Rich B -- Now that's commitment.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 27, 2010 12:41 PM
Gotta go to pussers (annapolis) for a quality pain killer.
I've been keepin' it simple with bohs, and occasionally firefly sweet tea vodka and lemonade.
Posted by: Tom | July 27, 2010 1:00 PM
JTK -
i'm with you. i've picked an odd season to get fully into bourbons and rye's
i recommend RI (spelled like pi with the bar over the i) as a damned good rye, despite the schticky name.
Posted by: ryan97ou | July 27, 2010 2:24 PM
I've been digging anything with cucumbers & gin. It started with Hendrick's Martinis with a cucumber slice, then Bad Decisions' Cucumber-Dill G&T. Couple weekends ago, I mixed up some Twenty-Ones to cool off.
I have a feeling that I'm gonna move to basil drinks for the end of summer, though.
Posted by: Jehan Alvani | July 27, 2010 2:28 PM
Purple Drank
Pour Cough Syrup, Sprite, Pieces of Grape Jolly Rancher into a styrofoam cup.
Nice!
Posted by: CDoubleIPA | July 27, 2010 3:14 PM
Simply Limeade & Sauze Silver Tequila on ice. The best thing that ever happened to my summer lush life.
Posted by: egillesp | July 27, 2010 3:35 PM
John Dalys.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 27, 2010 4:08 PM
Leland Palmer
Fill pint glass with ice.
Add iced tea.
Add lemonade.
(or, if you have it, Arizona Iced Tea's Arnold Palmer, already mixed!)
Fill rest of glass with vodka.
Stir.
Enjoy.
Posted by: Stagger Lee | July 28, 2010 8:54 AM
Pretty simple...
One shot of Firefly + 8 oz's of Water + Ice
OR
A cold can of Natty Light (of course with my No Way's coozie)
Posted by: eCommerce Consultant | July 29, 2010 12:47 AM
No name for it but....
Fill pint glass with ice
add Coconut Vodka (I use Van Gogh) to 1/2 - 2/3s full
add club soda almost to the top
finish off with a decent splash or two of pineapple juice
It's like a pina colada without the sticky heavy sweetness - very refreshing!
Posted by: Patty B | July 29, 2010 9:04 AM
I now have to rescind my comment about no one in bmore knowing how to make a painkiller. Katie, at the Tiki Barge, knows!
Posted by: nansea | July 29, 2010 9:59 AM
When it's really hot outside, I like to slam a half-gallon carton of whole milk. Milk: It's always a good choice.
Posted by: BA | July 29, 2010 10:35 AM
Yesss Sam, thanks for the "Get it tight, Get it Right"shout out.
My favorite drink of the summer has been Citrus Vodka and Rockstar Lemonade. Or regular lemonade. The Rockstar just helps me keep it tight a little better. It's sugar free.
Posted by: queen_colleen | July 29, 2010 12:40 PM
"Perhaps the milk was a bad idea!"
-Ron Burgundy
Posted by: Stagger Lee | July 29, 2010 1:34 PM
I'm with Ecomm. Pint glass full of ice, half ice tea vodka, half water. Easy ingredients and gets you where you want or need to go.
Or a Natty Boh
Posted by: TS | July 29, 2010 3:12 PM