Hot summer days are made for cool and refreshing drinks. If you find yourself by the pool about to let the heat drive you back indoors, an icy beverage is guaranteed to extend your sun time! Perfect for pool parties or backyard get-togethers, there are multitude of summery cocktail recipes out there to choose from. To narrow the playing field, I’d suggest starting with your liquor of choice and working from there. You may also want to consider ease if you are serving a large crowd – something like a Sangria or spiked lemonade are great choices, as they can easily be made in large batches.  For blended concoctions, be prepared to spend a lot of time behind the blender if you are having more than a few guests. For some inspiration here are a few recipes to get started!

5 tablespoons rye whiskey

3 tablespoons honey liqueur (such as Bärenjäger)

1/4 teaspoon orange bitters

Ginger ale

2 orange twists

Combine whiskey, honey liqueur, and bitters. Pour over ice between two glasses. Top off with ginger ale and garnish with orange twists.

RUM: Rum Punch