Favorite Summer Cocktails - Blackberry and Meyer Lemon Gin and Tonics and Mojito

I love growing a few herbs out on the back deck.  Mint is one of my favorites as it's a base of two of our favorite summer cocktails.

Blackberry and Meyer Lemon Gin and Tonics - I came across this cocktail recipe on the food blog, Spoon Fork Bacon .  Check it out, it's an amazing blog!  The photography of their food makes me drool!  I don't care for a basic Gin and Tonic but this cocktail is so much more, it's so refreshing!  

Serves 1

Ingredients:
3 blackberries
5 fresh mint leaves
1/2 Meyer lemons (Meyer lemons are sweeter than regular lemons)
1 Tablespoon simple syrup (equal parts sugar/water)
1 - 1 1/2 ounces good quality gin (we like Hendrick's)
tonic water
ice

Directions:
1. Set out four high ball glasses.
2. Place 3 blackberries, 5 mint leaves, juice of ½ Meyer lemon, and 1 tablespoon simple syrup in each glass and muddle together.
3. Fill each glass with ice, followed by gin. Top off each drink with tonic water, stir and serve.

Mojito - This recipe comes from Allrecipes.com.  I love a good basic mojito but when I have fresh fruit (strawberries, pineapple, blackberries or raspberries) in the house I like to muddle a few in with the lime and mint.  It taste like summertime in a glass.

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• 8-10 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup, or to taste (simple syrup-equal parts sugar and water)

• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum
• 1/2 cup club soda

Directions:

Place mint leaves and lime wedges into a tall sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add the simple syrup and rum.  Fill the glass almost to the top with ice and fill with club soda and stir.

Strawberry Mojito - If adding fruit, muddle a few pieces with the lime and mint.

Fresh Orange Margarita

I love a good margarita and making it with fresh squeezed juice is the way to go.  I make this batch for Kevin and I but if making for more I'll double or triple.  It's nice to make these ahead and squeeze all the juice that way the mess is out of the way.  Sometimes, instead of using regular oranges, I'll juice blood oranges, clementines, **red grapefruit and even use can **pineapple juice in place of the orange juice.  It's just a great basic, fresh tasting margarita.

Makes 4 small glasses 

INGREDIENTS:

Kosher salt, for the glass rim

8 oz (1 cup) freshly squeeze orange juice

4 oz (1/2 cup) freshly squeezed lime juice

2 oz (1/4 cup) Triple sec

4 oz (1/2 cup) Silver, Anejo or Reposado tequila (*use a good quality)

2 tablespoons sugar (use less to taste)

Ice cubes

METHOD:

1.  Rim the glasses with salt.

2.  In a pitcher combine the orange juice, lime juice, triple sec, tequila and sugar.  Stir well until the sugar dissolves.  Can make ahead and keep in fridge until ready to serve.

3.  Fill the glass with ice and pour the margarita over.  Enjoy!   

*I really like Patron tequila but lately for the price we've been buying the Costco Kirkland brand and like it a lot.  

**If using pineapple juice use less sugar and if using grapefruit juice you may need to use more sugar.