Beat the Heat: Summer Cocktails

There's just something about summer that makes me thirsty. Maybe it's the sunshine, or the heat, or the outdoor festivals. Mostly, though, it's because I just like to drink.

I'm really into using Mason jars as casual glassware: teas, lemonades and any other summer-infused concoction just tastes better from them. If you can, procure them from your mother, your grandmother or the flea market. If not, head to your local grocery store, and you'll find them right on the shelf. Older ones have more character but may be more fragile, while newer ones can be thrown right in the dishwasher.

Here are 2 cool cocktails you can make by the pitcher - perfect to quench adult thirsts.

SWEET TEA MINT JULEPS
Courtesy of Cooking Light magazine

I doubled this recipe, so my modified one below makes 1 full pitcher. If you find the finished product too strong for your taste, make and add more iced tea to temper it.

1 cup sugar
1 cup water 
8 Earl Grey tea bags
2 oz of fresh mint (approximately 2 cups)
2 1/2 cups of bourbon
2/3 cup fresh lime juice
3 1/2 cups chilled sparkling wine


1. Combine the sugar and water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for a total of 3 - 4 minutes, stirring after each minute to ensure sugar dissolves.
2. Add tea bags and mint to finished sugar-water mixture - which becomes simple syrup as it cools - and let them steep. After 20 - 30 minutes, remove the tea bags and mint and discard.
3. Pour the bourbon and lime juice into a pitcher. Add the cooled syrup. At this point, the pitcher can be stored in the fridge for a few hours (or days, as if you could wait).
4. Immediately before serving, add the sparkling wine. Serve in Mason jars garnished with more lime and mint, if desired.

FUZZY'S FIZZY PUNCH
This is named after our friend, Beth (a.k.a. Fuzzy), who brought us this favorite. Many a story between friends has been shared...and subsequently forgotten...after pitchers of this.

1/2 bottle of Moscato (sweet, sparkling wine)
1 - 12 oz can of frozen lemonade concentrate
3 cans of regular or diet lemon-lime soda  (approximately 1/2 liter)
1 pint of fresh raspberries
1/2 cup of fresh mint


1. Combine the Moscato and frozen lemonade concentrate in a pitcher.
2. If you're using a liter of soda, keep the lemonade concentrate can and add 3 "can-fulls" of lemon-lime soda to the pitcher. Otherwise, just add the 3 cans to the pitcher.
3. Add the raspberries and mint to the pitcher and slightly muddle. Serve immediately over ice.

*Optional: add 1 - 2 cups of champagne to make this best drink even best-er.

After happy hour, clean your Mason jars for a myriad of users. My Facebook followers suggested some great ways to use these.

Photo courtesy of The Design Grove

 

• Vases
• Luminaries (add a votive)
• Colorful candy display
• Layered desserts and fruit & yogurt parfaits
• Organizing office supplies
• Food gifts (layer dry ingredients for cookies & include a recipe tag)

I'd love to hear more of your ideas of how to use these functional yet charming jars. Meanwhile, all of this writing has worked up a sweat, so I'm going to pour another glass of Fuzzy's Fizzy Punch.