Six Easy Big-Batch Cocktails for Summer Gatherings

Ingredients

• 750 ml vodka (For the Freezer Door Lemon Drop)
• 0.5 cup fresh lemon juice (Strained; for the Lemon Drop)
• orange liqueur (Cointreau or Triple Sec; amount not stated, add to the bottle before topping with water)
• simple syrup (Equal parts sugar and water, preferably slightly richer with more sugar than water; amount not stated)
• water (A splash/top-up for the Lemon Drop)
• sugar (For rimming serving glasses)
• 1 L tequila (Pour off the excess if using a one-liter bottle; for the Margarita)
• 0.75 cup fresh lime juice (Strained; for the Margarita)
• 0.5 cup triple sec (For the Margarita)
• 3 tbsp agave syrup (For the Margarita)
• salt (A pinch in the Margarita)
• club soda (Optional topper for the Margarita)
• 0.5 lb strawberries (For the strawberry syrup; overripe berries work well)
• 1 cup sugar (For the strawberry simple syrup)
• 0.75 cup water (For the strawberry simple syrup)
• 1.75 cup vodka (For the Strawberry Cosmopolitan)
• 0.75 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec (For the Strawberry Cosmopolitan)
• 0.5 cup fresh lime juice (For the Strawberry Cosmopolitan)
• 0.5 cup strawberry simple syrup (Prepared above, or use store-bought strawberry syrup)
• 1.25 cup watermelon (Purée and strain to make watermelon juice; amount of fruit used to obtain juice is not stated)
• 3 cup limeade (Pour out three cups, then replace with the cocktail ingredients)
• rum (Fill the remaining space in the jug; quantity not stated)
• fresh mint (A handful, amount not stated; bruise or tear the leaves)
• lime (Sliced for garnish; amount not stated)
• grapefruit juice (Fill the jug; exact quantity not stated)
• 1.75 cup gin (For the Italian Greyhound)
• 0.5 cup Aperol or Campari (For the Italian Greyhound)
• simple syrup (A little, to balance the bitterness; amount not stated)
• rosemary (A small sprig for aroma and garnish; do not infuse for a long time)
• 7 cup sweet tea (For the Boozy Arnold Palmer; use approximately seven cups)
• 3 cup bourbon (For the Boozy Arnold Palmer)
• 6 cup lemonade (Top off the Arnold Palmer; approximately six cups)

Steps

1. 1

   For the Freezer Door Lemon Drop, use a bottle of at least 750 ml. Add the vodka, strained fresh lemon juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.

2. 2

   Add a splash of water, then top off the bottle as needed. Close it and toss it into the freezer until icy cold; it may develop ice shards as it freezes.

3. 3

   To serve the Lemon Drop, rim a glass with sugar and pour the chilled cocktail directly into the glass. No cocktail shaker is required for serving.

4. 4

   For the Freezer Door Margarita, use a one-liter tequila bottle and pour off enough tequila to make room, reserving the excess for another use.

5. 5

   Add the strained fresh lime juice, triple sec, agave syrup, and a pinch of salt. Shake or toss the bottle enough to help dissolve and disperse the agave.

6. 6

   Store the Margarita in the freezer for extra cold, or keep it in the refrigerator. Because it is concentrated, plan to shake each serving with ice to dilute and froth it; add club soda or lemon-lime soda if further dilution is desired. Serve over ice.

7. 7

   For the Strawberry Cosmopolitan syrup, cut up the strawberries and combine them with the sugar and water in a saucepan.

8. 8

   Bring the strawberry mixture to a boil, stirring and gently pressing the berries. Continue for about 20 minutes, avoiding excessive mashing so the syrup does not become cloudy.

9. 9

   Strain the syrup and reserve one-half cup for the cocktail. Cool it before mixing if necessary.

10. 10

    For the Strawberry Cosmopolitan, use a one-liter vodka bottle and pour off one and three-quarter cups of vodka, reserving it for another use.

11. 11

    Add the Cointreau or Triple Sec, fresh lime juice, and one-half cup strawberry syrup. Fill the remaining space with water, then close and mix the bottle.

12. 12

    Store the Strawberry Cosmopolitan in the freezer. If it freezes more than desired, let it thaw for about 10 minutes, shake, and pour.

13. 13

    For the Watermelon Mojito, pour three cups of limeade out of a jug, leaving room for the remaining ingredients.

14. 14

    Purée watermelon and strain it to produce about one and one-quarter cups watermelon juice. Add the juice to the jug.

15. 15

    Fill the remaining space with rum. Bruise or tear the mint leaves to release their oils, then add them to the jug along with lime slices.

16. 16

    Refrigerate the Watermelon Mojito. Before serving, shake the jug well, then pour the cocktail over ice and garnish with lime and mint.

17. 17

    For the Italian Greyhound, pour grapefruit juice into a jug, leaving room for the spirits.

18. 18

    Add one and three-quarter cups gin, one-half cup Aperol or Campari, and a little simple syrup to balance the bitterness. Mix well.

19. 19

    Add a small amount of rosemary for aroma, but do not leave it infusing for a long time because it can become overpowering. Refrigerate or keep in a cooler and serve over ice. Salting the rim would turn it into a Salty Dog.

20. 20

    For the Boozy Arnold Palmer, use a large jug and start with approximately seven cups of sweet tea, or drink the tea down until it is just below the handle.

21. 21

    Add three cups bourbon, then top the jug with approximately six cups lemonade. The finished mixture should contain slightly more tea than lemonade.

22. 22

    Chill the Boozy Arnold Palmer briefly, shake the jug, and serve over ice.

Notes

The transcript does not provide exact quantities for the Lemon Drop orange liqueur, Lemon Drop simple syrup, Lemon Drop water, rum, grapefruit juice, mint, lime garnish, or Italian Greyhound simple syrup; those amounts are therefore estimates where needed for nutrition. The cocktails are presented as separate batches rather than one combined recipe. The three freezer cocktails are intentionally concentrated and should be shaken with ice or otherwise diluted when served. Drink responsibly.

Nutrition per serving

• drink
• cocktails
• big-batch
• make-ahead
• summer
• party
• freezer-friendly
• refrigerator-friendly