5 Summer cocktails to enjoy outdoors

Nothing says summer like a nice, cold, vibrant cocktail sipped leisurely on the patio. There are many cocktails that bring summer to mind with their fruity, herbal, and colorful qualities, but the following classic cocktails are staples of summertime. Read on to discover By the Yard’s favorite summer cocktails to enjoy outdoors on your patio, utilizing your favorite outdoor bar furniture:

1. Mandarin Mojito

Ah, the mojito. Perhaps the most classic of all the classic summer cocktails. With its sprig of mint and its blue-green coloring, the mojito is a staple of summertime. Mojitos with a tangy twist? Yes, please! The full flavor of mandarin elevates this drink to resort-level yumminess. Hailing from Cuba, this cocktail isn’t complete without quality rum, a hint of lime, and the aforementioned sprig of mint for added flavor and garnish. Its mixture of sweetness, herbaceousness, and citrus flavoring complements the rum and brings to mind the white sand beaches and blue waters of Cuba.

Ingredients
2 cups of mandarin or tangerine juice from about 8-10 mandarins (depending on the size)
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 cup sugar cane juice or ½ cup simple sugar or cane sugar
8 ounce of mint leaves
1 – 1 ½ cups of club soda
1 – 1½ cups of rum (adjust to taste)
Ice

Garnishes
Mandarin or tangerine slices
Mint leaves

Directions
Crush or muddle the mint leaves with the sugar cane juice (or sugar or simple syrup).
Add the rum, lime juice, and mandarin juice, mix well, and adjust for taste. Add a few ice cubes and mandarin slices, then top off with club soda and stir gently.

2. Hibiscus Margarita

Trading in rum for tequila, the margarita is another classic summer staple. Enjoyed all around the world, classic margaritas consist of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, although infinite variations exist. Margaritas are often served with salt on the rim, which adds a nice counterbalance to the sweetness and tang of the tequila and liqueur. These cocktails are best enjoyed served in large margarita glasses to allow for the full experience.

Ingredients
¼ cup tequila
2 tbsp. fresh-squeezed lime juice
2 tbsp. Cointreau
2 tbsp. hibiscus simple syrup (recipe below)

Hibiscus Simple Syrup Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dried hibiscus flowers

Garnishes
Lime slices
Margarita salt for the rim

Directions
Shake all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a salt-rimmed glass over large ice cubes. Garnish with a lime slice.

Hibiscus Simple Syrup Directions
Simmer ingredients in a pan on medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Cool to room temperature.

3. Rosé Aperol Spritz

This classic cocktail from the 1950s has recently experienced a resurgence in popularity. Officially dubbed the Aperol Veneziano, it is made with Aperol, a bitter Italian aperitif with a vibrant orange-red hue. Mixed with soda water and prosecco for added sweetness, the Aperol Spritz is sure to delight older and younger generations alike. Try it outside in the breeze at your favorite outdoor dining area, whether that be your yard or patio.

Ingredients
½ cup rosé
¼ cup Aperol
¼ tsp. rose water
¼ cup sparkling water or club soda

Garnishes
Rose petals

Directions
Fill a glass with ice, pour in rosé, Aperol, rose water, and club soda. Stir gently, top with a rose petal, and serve.

4. Cucumber Gimlet

Made with lime juice and simple syrup, the gimlet is another classic cocktail that’s appeal spans generations. Muddled with the flavor of a cucumber, the tart backdrop is satisfying and refreshing. The cucumber gimlet is simple to make and the cucumber twist brings summer to mind even in the depths of winter. So, why not break out the portable patio bar and whip up a cold batch of refreshing cucumber gimlets? Your guests will thank you!

Ingredients
3 long slices of cucumber
1 ½ tbsp. lime juice
1 ½ tbsp. simple syrup
¼ cup gin

Garnishes
Cucumber peel

Directions
In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber slices with lime juice and syrup, add gin and ice, shake, and strain into glasses over ice. Garnish with a cucumber peel.

5. Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade

A classic twist on a summer favorite, this adult beverage evokes our favorite childhood memories. It’s a refreshingly fruity cocktail that is easy to mix up and is ideal for serving on the patio while seated at your favorite bar stools.

Ingredients
⅔ cup whiskey
⅓ cup strawberry syrup (see recipe below)
⅔ cup lemon juice

Strawberry Syrup Ingredients
1 cup sliced strawberries
½ cup sugar
¼ cup water

Garnishes
Strawberry slices
Lemon slices

Directions
In a cocktail shaker, combine syrup, whiskey, lemon juice, and ice, and shake to combine. Pour whiskey lemonade over ice into drinking glasses. Garnish with fresh strawberries and lemon slices.

Strawberry Syrup Directions
Stir together strawberries, sugar, and water in a small pan over low heat. Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let mixture cool for 15 minutes. Strain syrup into a bowl through a mesh strainer to remove the strawberry pieces.

Prep Your Patio for Summer with By the Yard

If any of these cocktails have put you in the summer spirit, check out By the Yard’s collection of outdoor and patio bar stools and seating. For over 25 years, By the Yard has created luxury outdoor seating and furniture that is maintenance-free and built to last a lifetime. Constructed from lumber-grade engineered plastic, our patio sets are an investment worth making. Sustainable and made from recycled materials, By the Yard is proud to produce designer-quality furniture that protects the environment. The best part: it’s maintenance-free! Looking to spend more time outdoors this summer? Shop By the Yard luxury outdoor patio sets today at www.bytheyard.net.