Happy National Cocktail Day from the NST team to you! There’s nothing quite like a refreshing cocktail at the end of a long day. To celebrate, we’re sharing the team’s favorite cocktail recipes so you can sip along with us.
Cheers!
Melissa Rue
Lower East Side
“It’s pretty much a health drink. I mean it’s green so it’s totally good for you, right?”
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. dry gin
- 1 oz. mint and cucumber pulp syrup (recipe below)
- ¾ oz. fresh lime juice
- Dash of spirulina
- Sea salt
How to Make:
- Salvaged Mint and Cucumber Pulp Syrup
- 3 oz. mint
- 32 oz. simple syrup
- 8 oz. cucumber pulp
- Spirulina
Shake all the ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Finish with a pinch of sea salt.
Paige Shewmaker
Cadillac Margarita
“This cocktail takes a refreshing marg up a notch. The orange liqueur makes for zesty taste that can’t be beat!”
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz. premium reposado tequila
- 1 oz. premium brandy-based orange liqueur
- ¾ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- Lime wedge, optional for rim
- Coarse salt, optional for rim
- Lime wheel or wedge, for garnish
How to Make:
- Combine tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice into a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Shake well.
- Use lime wedge to wet the rim before rolling or dipping it in a tray of coarse salt.
- Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge. Serve and enjoy.
Natalie DeAngelo
French 75
“Gin and Champagne make a bubbly wonderful duo, which is why this classic, refreshing cocktail is always a good idea. Who wouldn’t want to feel like they’re jet setting to the French Rivera?”
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz. Gin
- ¾ oz. Fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. Simple syrup
- Champagne/sparkling wine to top
- ½ oz. Grapefruit cordial (optional)
- Long spiral lemon twist
How to Make:
- Combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and grapefruit cordial in a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain contents through a strainer or a slotted spoon into your glass. A large flute or coupe will do. Top with Champagne and garnish with lemon twist.
Price Adams
The Best Margarita (so far…)
“My husband and I always joke that we’re on a never-ending quest to find the perfect margarita. Perfected in Baja, this is our go-to recipe, but the quest isn’t over just yet, because the pursuit is too much fun!”
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. blanco tequila
- 2 oz. triple sec
- 1 0z. Garn Marnier
- 1 oz. fresh squeezed lime
- Lime wedge, optional for garnish
- Dash of kosher salt
How to Make:
- Combine tequila, triple sec and fresh squeeze lime into a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Strain into a glass over ice and top with Gran Marnier floater.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tanya Johnson
Watermelon Tini
“This drink is slightly sweet, but very refreshing. It’s the perfect drink for summer.”
Ingredients:
- 1 shot Stoli Cucumber Vodka
- 2 shots DeKuyper’s Watermelon Pucker
- 2 ounces watermelon juice (Minute Maid Juice Watermelon or Simply Watermelon Juice Drink)
- Lime wedge
- Chamoy & Tajin
How to Make:
- Combine cucumber vodka, Watermelon Pucker, and watermelon juice in a cocktail shaker over ice.
- Combine Chamoy & Tajin on plate. Rim the glass with lime wedge and dip into Chamoy & Tajin mixture.
- Strain into a martini or cocktail glass and enjoy!
Elise Frankel
Paloma
“Sweet, sour and refreshing, a Paloma is the perfect tequila drink when you want something on the lighter side.”
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Tequila
- 2 oz. fresh grapefruit juice, plus wedges for garnish
- 2 oz. sparkling water
- ½ oz. lime juice
- ¼ oz. agave nectar or simple syrup, or to taste
- Coarse sea salt, for the rim of the glasses
- Ice
How to Make:
- Add the tequila, grapefruit juice, sparkling water, lime juice, and sweetener to the glass. Stir to combine and add ice to fill the glass. Sweeten to taste, and garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge.
Mary Correia-Moreno
Lava Flow
“It’s an adult smoothie with a kick so it goes down easy. This drink reminds me of being on the beach in Maui so whenever I have it, it takes me back to my happy place and I’m immediately in vacation mode.”
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. light rum
- 1 oz. Malibu coconut rum (or 1 1/2 ounces light rum)
- 2 oz. strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 small banana
- 2 oz. coconut cream
- 2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
- 1 cup ice
- Pineapple wedge, garnish
How to Make:
- Blend the two rums and strawberries in a blender until a smooth paste has formed. Pour mixture into a tall Collins or Hurricane glass.
- Rinse blender. Blend banana, coconut cream, and pineapple juice with ice until smooth.
- Slowly pour mixture into glass with red rum mix. Watch strawberry mixture oozing its way to the top along the sides of the glass, creating a flowing lava effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella, if desired.
Aaron Blomberg & Brogan Bunnell
Espresso Martini
“Since I’m an old man it’s a nice pick-me-up on the weekends to stay awake! And delicious to boot!” -AB
“This is the perfect cocktail to sip on with dinner. Delicious and energizing!” -BB
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. vodka
- ½ oz. coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
- 1 oz. espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- Garnish: coffee beans
How to Make:
- Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Christine Whitman
Pomegranate Gin and Tonic
“Perfect for warmer weather, preferred at rooftop gatherings.”
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Hendrick’s Lunar Gin
- 4 oz. tonic water
- 2 oz. pomegranate juice
- 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- Lime wedge for garnish
How to Make:
- Fill a glass with crushed ice.
- Pour the gin over the ice, then the tonic.
- Stir in the pomegranate and lime juice.
- Stir a few times to combine.
- Serve with a lime wedge.
Anja Riedel
Hot Toddy
“There’s something soothing and refreshing about a hot toddy. The coziest of drinks with the simplest ingredients.”
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup water
- 1 ½ oz. whiskey
- 2 to 3 tsp. honey, to taste
- 2 to 3 tsp. lemon juice, to taste
- 1 lemon round
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for garnish)
How to Make:
- In a teapot or saucepan, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.
- Add the whiskey, 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water. Taste, and add 1 teaspoon honey for more sweetness, and/or 1 teaspoon more lemon juice for more zing.
- Garnish with a lemon round and cinnamon stick (if using).
Enjoy!