Don’t put your swimsuit away just yet. This September, as your hot Sensational Summer winds down, you can still indulge yourself and enjoy the last poolside parties of the season with these drinks whose ingredients you can pre-order and pick up at the airport. Here some sensational drink ideas you can also hold on to when you travel to…
Travel Destination: New York City
The city that never sleeps might not be the first place you would think of for sensational summer pool parties but think again. As anyone who has ever watched Sex and the City knows, NYC is the perfect place to party away the last month of summer.
Whether you’re in New York or travelling elsewhere, you can taste Manhattan wherever you go.
Drink: Manhattan
As the name suggests, the drink is original from Manhattan, New York. We love it made with Jack Daniel’s Whiskey. Sweet vermouth and bitters, this is a fantastic mix to enjoy as you lounge on a rooftop and dangle your toes into a fresh pool while the DJ takes you away.
You need:
- 50ml Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
- 20ml Sweet Red Vermouth
- Dash Angostura Bitters
Get mixing
Pour Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, sweet red vermouth and a dash of Angostura bitters over a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve straight up, without ice.
Drink: Flirtini
This sexy drink is as gorgeous as it is delicious. Like the summer, you’ll never want it to end as you enjoy sipping it by the pool or just about anywhere you want to get your flirt on.
You need:
- 30ml Beluga Noble Vodka
- 15ml Orange Liqueur
- 30ml Pineapple Juice
- 30ml Champagne
- 2 Pieces Fresh Pineapple
- 1 Maraschino Cherry
Get mixing
Muddle the pineapple pieces and orange liqueur at the bottom of a mixing glass. Add the Beluga Noble Vodka and pineapple juice and stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with champagne. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Travel Destination: Nice
If you travel to the South of France – okay, anywhere in France – you can soak up the last relaxed moments of summer from sunrise to sunset.
Drink: Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary is the perfect drink to start a brunch party by the pool or the Mediterranean. There are many theories on the origins of this popular drink – the French give credit to Fernand Petiot who claimed to invent it in 1921 at the New York Bar in Paris. Ernest Hemingway who moved to France that same year became one of the drink’s most well-known fans.
You need:
● 45ml Beluga Noble Vodka
● 90ml Tomato Juice
● 15ml Lemon Juice
● 2 to 3 Dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
● Tabasco
● Celery Salt
● Pepper
Get mixing
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass and stir gently. While stirring, slowly pour all ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a celery stalk and lemon wedge if desired.
Or follow the advice of Hemingway himself: “Keep on stirring and taste it to see how it is doing. If it gets too powerful weaken with more tomato juice. If it lacks authority add more vodka.”
Drink: Boulevardier
As your day transitions into night, take the party a step further and enjoy a Boulevardier. Similar to a Negroni, the Boulevardier is the cocktail equivalent to the transition of the Negroni towards autumn. It is your perfect date on a Sensational September summer evening.
You need:
- 30ml Campari
- 30ml Sweet Vermouth
- 30ml Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye
- 1 Orange Peel
Get mixing
In a mixing glass, add the Campari, sweet vermouth and Jack Daniels Whiskey. Stir to combine, pour over an old fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange peel or a cherry.
Travel Destination: New Orleans
If your Sensational Summer travels take you to the southern U.S., you are in luck (September is the absolute best time to visit – beyond Mardi Gras!). There are so many delicious Southern pool party drinks it to choose from, but you’ll not want to leave without trying out the two amazing classics: the Green Tomato Bloody Mary and the Mint Julep.
Drink: Green Tomato Bloody Mary
This drink takes more time than the classic Bloody Mary (see above). Think of it as its spicy Southern cousin. And remember, all good things come to those who wait. So join the slow-travel movement and enjoy every sip.
You need:
- 4 medium-size green tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lb.), cored and quartered
- 10 fresh tomatillos (about 15 oz.), husks removed and cored
- 2 green onions
- 237ml Beluga Noble Vodka
- Handful Loosely Packed Assorted Fresh Herbs
- 15ml Lime Juice
- 44ml Green Hot Sauce
- 1 Garlic Clove, Minced
- 1tsp Celery Salt
- 1/2tsp Salt
Get mixing
First, take four medium-size green tomatoes, core and quarter them. Take 10 fresh tomatillos and remove the husks and core as well. Mix the green tomatoes with the tomatillos and boil them in salted water for 3 minutes. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process and drain into a food processor.
Mix the tomatoes, tomatillos and green onions along with the rest of the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Strain over a pitcher and serve over ice. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
Drink: Mint Julep
Last but not least, make sure to treat yourself to the fragrant bouquet and refreshing taste of a true Southern Mint Julep. This is one of our favourite summer drinks of all time. You can sip it poolside daytime, night-time or all the time – okay, maybe not all the time. Done right, you’ll pick up a Southern accent by the time you finish your glass.
You need:
- 60ml Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
- 4 Mint Leaves
- 1tsp Powdered Sugar
- 2tsp Water
Get mixing
Gently muddle the mint, sugar and water in a highball glass. Fill the glass with cracked ice, add Jack Daniel’s Whiskey and stir until the glass is frosted. Garnish with a sprig of mint.