Summertime is fully-ablaze, and many of us have already indulged in plenty of sunshine, hot temps, beach days, and fun summer drinks to prove it! The June 21st solstice has arrived, making the season “officially official.” There’s no better way to commemorate the longest day of the year than by raising a glass to the most glorious season on the calendar with 4 summer cocktails from the mixology masters at End of Days Distillery.
Recipes: End of Days Distillery, Photography: Matt Ray
French Bloom
Everything we want in a summer cocktail, Light and bubbly with notes of lavender and lemon.
Ingredients
1 oz Luna Bloom Gin
.5 oz Lavender Simple Syrup
.5 oz Lemon Juice
Top with Cava
Garnish Viola Flower or Lemon Twist
Method
Add all ingredients into a shaker, add ice, shake, and strain into a glass, then top with cava.
*Recommended* Glassware: Champagne Flute
Mango Mojito
This light and refreshing cocktail is the perfect summer staple, well balanced between sweet and tart, with notes of mango at the forefront.
Ingredients
2 oz Port of Entry Rum
.75 oz Lime
.75 oz Simple Syrup
4-5 Mint Leaves
.5 oz Mango Preserves or 3-4 slices fresh Mango
Top the rest with Sparkling Water
Garnish Sprig of Mint and Mango Slice
Method
Muddle fresh mint with fresh mango slices or preserves, add ice, rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, and top with sparkling water. Give it a stir, then serve.
*Recommended* Glassware Highball Glass
Strawberry Smack
The perfect summer cocktail that combines sweet and tart with the freshness of strawberries.
Ingredients
1-2 strawberries
2 oz Port of Entry Gin
1 oz Aperol
1 oz Honey Chamomile Syrup
.75 Lemon Juice
Garnish Strawberry
Method
Muddle strawberries into your shaker and add all of your ingredients. Add ice, shake, and double strain into your glass.
*Recommended* Glassware Nick & Nora
The Melody
This perfect summer cocktail is light and refreshing with a sweet blueberry twist to entice all your tastebuds.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Port of Entry Vodka
.75 oz Elderflower Liqueur
.75 oz Lemon Juice
.5 oz Blueberry Preserves
Garnish Lemon Zest, Sugar Rim, and Blueberries
Method
Coat your rim with honey or the juice of a lemon to allow your rim to stick, then add all of your ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake, and strain served over crushed ice.
*Recommended* Glassware Rocks Glass
1815 Castle Street, Wilmington, NC