If you’re going to be a super hostess this summer, you need to have a signature cocktail — something fresh and fun that has everyone asking how to make it. Look no further than one of these easy cocktail recipes from Beauty & Essex, a destination for stylish drinks in New York City.
We checked in with bar manager Beate Kiser to see what she’s shaking and pouring this summer. The Lower East Side lounge and restaurant, styled like a glam townhouse, has played host to celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Kelly Rutherford, Ashley Olsen and Minka Kelly.
This summer’s best cocktails taste light and call for fresh ingredients, she says. And when fruit is used, it should be subtle, not overwhelmingly sweet.
Here, Kiser shares cocktail recipes that are perfect for July 4 weekend and all summer long:
Honey Bea
Honeydew isn’t a fruit that we easily get excited about, but we have to side with Kiser on this one: It’s just right for the Honey Bea, a refreshing gin cocktail that also has lemongrass and honey. “I’ve always loved honeydew,” Kiser says. “It’s a really, really light fruit and it doesn’t have a huge flavor profile, but I think the gin really plays with it nicely.” If you don’t want to drag out the blender to puree the honeydew, just muddle the fruit well, she says.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 ounces Bombay Sapphire Gin
- 1 ounce honeydew puree
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce honey simple syrup
- 6-7 thin slices of lemongrass stalk
Directions:
Muddle lemongrass. Add remaining ingredients, shake, strain and serve in a martini glass.
Mango Mint Margarita
This marg has so many good things going for it, we’re not sure where to start. Habanero-infused tequila gives it heat, but mango soothes the spiciness and makes it easy to sip. And then, there’s mint leaves that give the drink an unexpected zing. “It’s really great to have something that’s a little spicy but also refreshing,” Kiser says.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 ounces habanero-infused tequila
- 1/2 ounce mango puree
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce mint simple syrup
- Splash of pineapple juice
- 6 mint leaves
Directions:
Tear up mint leaves. Add remaining ingredients, shake and serve on the rocks.
Emerald Gimlet
Traditionally, a gimlet is a straightforward mix of gin and lime juice. This variation is a tasty twist on the original, and you might never go back. Here, vodka takes the place of gin, and muddled basil adds freshness, making this classic an effortless summer cocktail. “It stands out with very few ingredients,” Kiser says.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Ketel One Vodka
- 3/4 ounces lime juice
- 1/2 ounce lemon simple syrup
- 3 large basil leaves
Directions:
Muddle basil with ice. Add remaining ingredients, shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a piece of lime.
Photos courtesy of Beauty & Essex
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