Sensational Sips for Summer Nights

Ingredients:

• coconut water or whole coconut, if you can find one
• one lime
• knob of fresh ginger
• handful of basil leaves (any variety of basil works)
• fizzy water/club soda/seltzer
• bourbon or rum (optional)

Method:

• This makes two drinks. Pour two cups of coconut water into a blender (if you’re lucky enough to have a whole coconut, add some of the flesh, too). Juice your lime, strain, and add. Grate your ginger and add (do this to taste). Blend. Sample. Coconut water is quite sweet, but sweeten if needed—I find maple syrup to be a wonderful addition.
• Muddle a few slices of lime, a few basil leaves, and a spoonful of sugar (optional) in two glasses. Divide coconut drink between them. Top with fizzy water or seltzer.
• If using, add an ounce of your favorite brown liquor.
• Garnish with a slice of lime and sprig of basil.

Ingredients:

• one tablespoon sugar
• ¼ cup water
• slices of fresh ginger
• ¼ cup dried hibiscus or 4 teabags
• one lime
• handful of mint leaves (any variety)
• seltzer or ginger ale
• crushed ice for serving
• tequila, mescal, or gin (optional)

Method:

• Heat the water and add sugar, stirring until it dissolves. Add hibiscus flowers/teabags and ginger slices (to taste). Remove from heat, cover, and steep ten minutes. Strain.
• In two glasses, muddle lime slices and mint leaves (to taste). Pour cooled hibiscus simple syrup over the muddle. Add crushed ice and top with fizzy beverage of choice.
• For an ombré effect, you can top this off with a dash of orange juice—so pretty!
• If using, add one ounce tequila, mescal, or gin to each drink.
• Garnish with a sprig of mint and slice of lime.

Ingredients:

• One grapefruit—fruit, juice, and zest—nothing goes to waste!
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup sugar
• few sage leaves (fresh, not dried)
• fizzy beverage of choice
• vodka (optional)

Method:

• Dissolve sugar in water to make a simple syrup. Juice your grapefruit and strain, combine with syrup. (You can, of course, use bottled grapefruit juice. If it’s pre-sweetened, then skip making the simple syrup.)
• Add a couple of sage leaves and strips of grapefruit zest to the warm mixture and steep about seven minutes.
• Strain into two glasses. Add ice and top with fizz of choice.
• Add one ounce vodka, if using.
• Garnish with fresh slices of grapefruit, a twist of zest, and a sage leaf.