Summer cocktail recipes

Cherry Smash

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen (thawed) cherries
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, plus 4 sprigs for garnish
• 8 teaspoon(s) sugar
• 3/4 cup dark rum
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 3 cups cherry-flavoured soda water

Directions

Divide cherries, mint leaves, and sugar among 4 glasses. Mash everything together with the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in rum and lime juice. Fill glasses with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Cucumber-Lemonade Chiller

Ingredients

• 3 large cucumbers
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, plus 4 sprigs for garnish
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup gin
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons agave syrup

Directions

• Cut 12 thin slices of cucumber for garnish.
• Peel and chop the rest of the cucumber; transfer to a food processor, add rosemary, and puree. Pour the puree through a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl or large measuring cup. Press on the solids to extract all the juice. Add water, gin, lemon juice, and agave syrup to the cucumber juice; stir until the agave is dissolved. Divide among 4 ice-filled glasses. Garnish with cucumber slices and rosemary sprigs.

Monkeylada

Ingredients

• 2 very ripe bananas
• 1 cup diced fresh pineapple, plus 4 wedges for garnish
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 3 cup ice cubes
• 3/4 cup light rum

 Directions

Puree bananas, diced pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk, and ice in a blender. Stir in rum. Divide among 4 glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges.

Source: www.delish.com