From sparkling sips to fruity drinks, these four drink recipes are packed with flavour and holiday cheer. Impress your guests when you serve these at your summer soiree(s).
Berry ice lolly cocktails
Serves 4 // Cooking time 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 cup mixed berries
1 cup lemonade or lemon soft drink
¼ cup cranberry juice
750ml sparkling white wine
Method
- Mix the berries, lemonade and cranberry juice. Pour this into ice-lolly moulds and freeze overnight.
- To serve, place the ice lollies in glasses and fill up with sparkling wine.
- Stir to infuse the lollies in the wine.
Recipe & styling: Amerae Vercueil
Photography: Samantha Pinto // HMimages.co.za
Green melon cocktails
Serves 6 // Cooking time 15 minutes
Ingredients
4 limes
1 green melon
1 cucumber, roughly chopped and extra to slice for serving
½ cup mint, stalks removed
¼ cup white tequila
Pinch salt
Method
1. Zest one of the limes and juice all of them. Reserve a few slices for serving.
2. Peel, deseed and chop up the melon.
3. Blend all the ingredients until combined and strain through a fine sieve.
4. Pour into glasses with ice and serve with a slice of lime and cucumber.
Recipe & styling: Chiara Turilli
Photography: Samantha Pinto // HMimages.co.za
Salted mango and vodka slushies
Makes 4 // Cooking time 10 minutes
Ingredients
5 mangoes, cut and frozen
1 cup ice
2 limes, zested and juiced
½ cup vodka
1 Tbsp salt
To serve
4 Tbsp sea salt
1 lime, sliced into rounds
Method
- Blend all the ingredients together until smooth.
- To serve, spoon the thick slushy into a glass, sprinkle with salt and garnish with lime.
Recipe & styling: Chiara Turilli
Photography: Samantha Pinto // HMimages.co.za
Floral cocktails
Makes 6 // Cooking time 15 minutes
Ingredients
1½ cups sugar
1 cup water
2 Tbsp rose water
Ice cubes, to serve
¾ cup gin
1L soda water
Cucumber ribbons, to garnish
Edible flowers, to garnish
Method
- Heat sugar, water and rose water in a pot. Stir until sugar is dissolved, then set aside to cool.
- Place ice cubes in each glass. Add a tot each of syrup and gin.
- Fill glasses with soda. Garnish with cucumber and flowers.
Recipe & styling: Amerae Vercueil
Photography: Gareth van Nelson/HMimages.co.za