With summer coming to a close, there’s no time like the present to celebrate the hottest season of the year. Soon, the days will begin to shorten, the temperature will lower, and the leaves will fall.
For now, though, we’d like to enjoy all of the last dredges of summer while we still can. Here at Flying Embers, we think that there’s no better way to say goodbye to summer than by throwing a barbecue.
While we appreciate staples like old fashioneds, mint juleps, rum punch, and sangria, there’s so much more waiting to be explored. Whether you’re looking for a ready-to-drink cocktail option that’ll have your guests coming back for more or you want a more complex signature cocktail recipe, we have you covered.
Here are our top three BBQ cocktails that will help you commemorate summer in style.
The 3 Best Cocktails for Your End-of-Summer BBQ
In order for a cocktail to be end-of-summer barbecue-ready, it has to accomplish a few different goals. First, it has to remind you of the warmth of summer days gone by. This looks different for everyone, so your perfect cocktail for this event might look different than someone else’s.
If you want to appreciate and honor that uniqueness in your guests, stock your bar with a variety of garnishes, mixers, and spirits for them to choose from. For instance, fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, and orange juice are common citrus flavor enhancers that bring many drinks to the next level. Meanwhile, mixers like club soda and ginger beer provide new complexities to beverages.
No aspiring mixologist’s at-home bar would be quite complete without a selection of simple syrup and bitters. A cocktail shaker is also a necessary tool to keep in your arsenal since you never know when you’ll need a drink shaken, not stirred.
Keeping different types of fruit and herbs on hand can ensure that you’re prepared for whatever garnish needs may arise. Raspberries, blueberries, sprigs of fresh mint leaves, lemon wedges, and lime wedges will all get you well on your way.
When you are well stocked with these components, as well as multiple ready-to-drink cocktails, your friends and family can take the time to craft their perfect summer cocktail for themselves, whatever that may be.
Here are some simple options perfect for any end-of-summer gathering.
1. Ready-To-Drink Margaritas
There’s no better place to start than with a classic margarita. Few drinks elicit thoughts of summer quite like a beloved marg. It’s easy to see why we associate margaritas with the hot weather, considering that they were invented in Juárez, Mexico, in the mid-1900s.
For the host that wants to spend a little more time socializing and a little less time making drinks, our pre-made canned margaritas will have your guests coming back for more.
The Classic Lime Margarita
Let’s start with a timeless option: Our Classic Lime Margarita, found in the Margarita Variety Pack, will leave frozen margaritas wondering if they aren’t good enough. With notes of agave, salt, and of course, lime, this 10% ABV beverage is utterly delightful.
The Strawberry Guava Margarita
Next in our Margarita Variety Pack, we have our Strawberry Guava Margarita flavor. For those that like a walk on the fruitier side of life, this drink rings in at only 190 calories. Naturally free of sugar, these bright bursts of guava and fresh strawberries are a refreshing summer treat.
The Blood Orange Pomegranate Margarita
Our Blood Orange Pomegranate Margarita flavor has just the right mix of sweet blood orange and exotic pomegranate. Another naturally free of sugar option with zero carbs, this drink is a no-brainer.
2. Ready-To-Drink Mojitos
Other than margaritas, the undeniably refreshing taste of a mojito might just be the flavor of summer. Our Mojito Variety Pack makes these drinks as easy to make as they are to enjoy.
The Lime Mojito
We’ve established lime’s ability to enhance a drink, and our Lime Mojito flavor is no exception. The lime adds a tropical flair to this well-loved beverage that also happens to be naturally free of sugar. It’s a refreshingly simple pairing of citrus and muddled mint guaranteed to be bright and refreshing.
The WatermelonMojito
There is perhaps no fruit more associated with barbecues than watermelon, so enjoying our WatermelonMojito during a get-together just makes sense. Allow yourself to feel refreshed, all without unnecessary carbs and sugar that can make you feel weighed down. Watermelon, lime, and mint combine for a juicy pool day delight.
The Mango Mojito
Rounding out our Mojito Variety Pack, we have our Mango Mojito. Tropical fruits complement the flavors of a mojito beautifully, so we were happy to add sweet mango to the lime and mint in this summer favorite.
3. Make-Your-Own Hard Kombucha Guava Mojitos
In case you were hoping to make these beverages a bit more your own, we have just the recipe for you made with Guava Citra Hard Kombucha found in the Tropical Hops Variety Pack.
To make this beverage, start by muddlingfresh mint in the bottom of a glass. Next, add your desired amount of ice, an ounce of white rum, and an ounce of lime juice. Finally, complete the drink by pouring some of our Guava Citra Hard Kombucha over the top.
End-of-Summer Cocktails Just Got Even Better
We all associate certain foods with a BBQ, from corn on the cob to watermelon to meat slathered in savory barbecue sauce, but there’s another aspect of these get-togethers that shouldn’t go forgotten. When attending or throwing a barbecue, remember that the drinks can be just as important as the food you’re serving.
Drinks have the ability to transform a meal into an experience. When you’re at a barbecue with friends and loved ones, the right beverage can set the tone and help get everyone into the summer spirit.
This is our list of some of the very best cocktails and cocktail recipes to make your barbecue one the neighborhood will be talking about for years to come.
Sources:
The Evolution of American Barbecue | Smithsonian Magazine