Must try adult beverages for Summer nights

There is nothing better than gathering with your girlfriends on a hot Summer night cozied up around the fire pit sipping delicious cocktails. My friends and I make it a point to have girls night once a month, we have been doing this for the last few years. It is like a giant therapy session that always ends in hysterical laughter and the chances of one of us slightly peeing our pants is pretty high.

We all know that life gets so crazy and it's easy to lose touch with your friends. I can't stress enough how important it is to make a point to carve out time for each other. We are 20+ years and going strong, those kinds of friendships are priceless. To know that there is never a competition, unending support and unconditional love makes me feel like I hit the jackpot in the friends department.

Here are some fun, tasty Summertime drinks that are sure to be crowd pleasers!

Muddled Lemonberryade

Ingredients

• 4 lemons, sliced

• 1/2 cup mint leaves

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 pint berries (strawberries and blackberries preferable)

• 1 quart water

• 1 quart club soda

Directions

Slice lemons and place in the bottom of the drink pitcher. Add 1/2 cup fresh mint and 1 cup sugar on top of lemons. With the wooden spoon mash the mixture for 1 minute. Add the berries and lightly mash. Add 1 quart water and refrigerate until chilled.

To serve: Fill a tall glass with ice and fill 3/4 with lemon juice mixture, top with club soda and serve.

Watermelon Martinis

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup water

• 5 cups watermelon, seeds removed

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 1/4 cups vodka

• 2 ounces melon liqueur, optional

• 8 lemon twists, for garnish

Directions

Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar has completely dissolved. Let cool.

In a food processor, puree the watermelon flesh. Add a little of the sugar syrup to sweeten, to taste. Pour the pureed watermelon into 2 empty ice cube trays and freeze for at least 4 hours.

In a blender combine the frozen watermelon cubes, more simple syrup, to taste, lemon juice and vodka, melon liqueur and blend until smooth. Pour into 8 frozen martini glasses and garnish with a lemon twist.

Raspberry Mojito

Ingredients

• 2 lime slices, cut into wheel shape

• 1 sprig fresh mint

• 1/2 ounce or 1 tablespoon Raspberry-Infused Simple Syrup, recipe follows

• 2 ounces or 1/4 cup white rum

• Ice cubes, as needed

• Raspberry, for garnish

Raspberry-Infused Simple Syrup

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• 2 cups raspberries

Directions

In a cocktail shaker, muddle or crush the lime and mint leaves. Add in the raspberry simple syrup and white rum. Add ice, cover, shake, and then serve in a rocks glass. Garnish with a raspberry.

To make the simple syrup: In a saucepan combine the sugar and water. Cook the mixture over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the saucepan from the heat and add in the raspberries. Allow the mixture to steep for at least one day. The simple syrup will keep up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Add the syrup to the drink when called for above.

Peach Julep

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon, such as Maker's Mark

• 1 ounce peach liqueur, such as Winter Orchard

• Crushed ice

• 1 orange

• 1 sprig fresh mint

Directions

In a rocks glass or julep tin, add the bourbon and peach liqueur. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Express an orange twist by removing the orange zest from the pith. Using a sharp knife cut along the outside of the orange removing as much of the skin as possible and taking as little of the white. Squeeze the orange peel on top of the drink to express the citrus oil. Discard the peel. Garnish with the mint sprig.

Grab your girlfriends and celebrate the special bond you share, cheers!