Our Most Fashionable Summer Cocktails

It is the summer season and no season sparks our desire more to see and be seen. And it should be noted that while the perfect sundress is important when out for a sizzling summer night on the town, what is almost equally important is the drink we’re holding while we’re wearing it! It may seem oh-so-trivial, but the perfect cocktail can be a conversation starter, and you never know when the hot guy next to you needs an excuse to lean your way, and ask “what are you drinking?” Here are a few of the standouts…

•The Icepick—this one is old school for the classic Southern Belle fashionista. Vodka and iced tea sounds completely dull, but with the onslaught of new and exciting flavored vodkas, this classic has become completely revitalized. Like our grandmother’s vintage brooches, a new spin can turn something elderly into something extraordinary. My personal fave is Stoli Strasberi (that’s “strawberry” in laymen’s terms), but peach, raspberry or even blueberry flavored will do in a pinch. They’re refreshing, easy to drink, and you can request them, as I do, in a tall or a pint glass, ensuring that they take just a little longer to drink. Plus, using unsweetened iced tea as the mixer means that you avoid all those pesky mixer calories, and can save all of them for your liquor, and what girl doesn’t love that?

•The Mojito— most certainly for our “muy caliente” fashionistas, and one of the more controversial of the summer classics, but who doesn’t love a little scandal? . There is no clear origin of this invigorating rum concoction, but many bestow credit upon a feisty English pirate named Richard Drake, who frequented Cuba often. Whoever was ultimately responsible, this beverage is decidedly Cuban. Rum, muddled mint and sugar (simple syrup is the easiest and most efficient) and a splash of soda water is my most loved version.

•White Port with tonic—for the decidedly European fashionista. This effervescent summer treat is for the girl who loves white summer dresses, for there is no fear of stains! An added perk: it is lower in alcohol, so if one is a light drinker, they can enjoy with abandon…

•Sangria—for the adventurous fashionista who loves variety. Sangria is the most versatile cocktail on this list. Every mixologist seems to have a new and exciting twist! Traditionally, sangria is a wine “punch” that originated in Spain, and can be made with brandy, red or white wine, simple syrup or honey, and a assortment of fresh summer fruits. The best part? It is the best way to spice up your cellar’s cheapest and lousiest wine!

•The Gin Basil Smash—for the bohemian fashionista. Nothing screams earthy independence louder than the Gin Basil Smash. The cocktail has been claimed by Le Lion Bar de Paris in Hamburg, Germany, but it is popping up everywhere in the hands of women who seem to live by their own sets of rules. A dry gin muddled with simple syrup, lemon and fresh basil and served shaken and strained, straight up. What could be more decadently simplistic than that?

•The Caipirinha—for our worldly fashionista. The young woman who orders this drink is one who is well traveled, for it is easily the most obscure of our list. Hailing from Brazil, the Caipirinha is as difficult to attain as it is to pronounce, but if you come across it, you must be bold and sip slowly! Made from Cachaca, a rum-like liquor made from fermented sugarcane juice, fresh squeezed lime and simple syrup, this cocktail is uniquely South American. Close your eyes and you can almost smell the crisp sea air!

•Sparkling wine—for the sophisticated fashionista. Nothing is more fun in the sun than a flute of bubbly. Whether you enjoy a sweeter cocktail (prosecco or moscato d’asti are the right choice) or a dryer cocktail (cava or brut are sensational selections), sparking wine will suit any tastes. Throwing an intimate summer party? Buy a few different flavors of sorbet and a small ice cream scooper, and add a scoop to the flute before you pour over the sparkling. You’ll get a cold delicious glass of sparkling completely personalized to each guest, and you’ll look like the summer’s most fabulous and innovative hostess!