Berry Rose Sangria

This was a bit of an ad-hoc Sangria, as I think most Sangrias are. It started with overbuying on berries at the Farmer's market, some of which I turned into strawberry syrup that I've been using in cocktails and with red wine vinegar to make salad dressing. The weekend was the hottest so far this summer and I needed a ready-made drink for the pool. Then a lackluster rose ᷎᷎᷎᷎᷎᷎that purports to be "dry and crisp" is really flat and boring. Sangria was the weekend zeitgeist!

I made this batch with the majority of a dry-ish bottle of rose᷎᷎, so you will have to adjust the sweet sugar syrup according to taste. I believe that Sangria improves with time, so allow it to rest in the refrigerator for several hours if not for a full day. Since this is an ad-hoc Sangria, feel free to use any fresh berries you have on hand. You don't need to have strawberries or strawberry syrup, but don't use a dark colored syrup like blueberry, which will change the color. Simple syrup will work in a pinch.

• 1 bottle of rose᷎ wine
• 1 cup of assorted berries (raspberries, blueberries and strawberries used)
• 1 oz. strawberry or simple syrup
• 3 lemon slices
• 2 oz. triple sec

Combine all ingredients in a large container with a lid and refrigerate at least one hour before serving. Serve on ice ladling berries and fruit into glasses.

Apple Rum Rickey

A Rickey is a Rickey--unless it is this apple rum thing. First of all, what is apple rum. It's not a thing, actually. Or maybe it is no different from apple whiskey, which is also known as apple brandy. So that still doesn't make it a thing. What you can do to make this drink is use a rum with some real sugar flavors as sweetener (Rickeys have no added sugar) to the apple brandy like mine that is made with winesap apples.

This Rickey is strange in that you are supposed to taste the brandy and rum and not lime juice. The twist is there as only a suggestion of lime. The drink is dry and doesn't mess around despite it's lower alcohol content. Very good on a hot day.

• 1 oz. apple brandy
• 1/2 oz. light rum (Vitae Platinum Used)
• sparkling water (Perrier used)
• lime twist

Combine rum and apple brandy in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled highball glass full of fresh ice cubes. Top with sparkling water and stir gently. Garnish with the lime twist. 

Country Club Cooler

This is almost an aptly named cocktail in that it is something mildly alcoholic, a little glitzy and European, and perfect for early afternoon drinking in the summer. I'm not sure which country club this drink is associated with or why, but the reasons above are about as good as any.

First off, the alcoholic part of the drink is Lillet Blanc, which is a great Bordeaux spirit flavored with bitter oranges and sugar. It doesn't need grenadine for sweetness, but I like the color it gives. It is all packaged in this orange spritzer with a twist that make it rather tempting and more refreshing than potent.

• 4 oz. Lillet Blanc
• 1 tsp. grenadine
• sparkling water (Perrier used)
• orange twist

Build drink with chilled Lillet Blanc and grenadine in a Collins glass full of fresh ice. Top with sparkling water and stir gently. Twist orange peel over the glass and drop it in.