Fourth of July rings in the unofficial start of summer with picnics, parades, fireworks and steady flow of fun and laughter.  Keep everyone’s thirst refreshed with cocktails that utilize fresh fruits of the season and the sparkling colors of Red, White & Blue to correspond with Independence day celebrations.

Twisted utilizes a diet peach flavored water, but has no diet connotation in the drink.  The taste is fresh, light and definitely slurp worthy.

Twisted – created by Cheri Loughlin

Twisted - created by Cheri Loughlin - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin6 Fresh Raspberries

2 Fresh Pineapple Spears (1 inch x 3 inch)

1-1/2 ounce Peach Rum

2 ounces Welch’s Diet Peach Twist

1 ounce Club Soda or Brut Champagne

Muddle fresh fruit in bottom of mixing glass.  Add peach rum and Welch’s Diet Peach Twist with ice.  Shake to blend and chill.  Strain into highball glass or goblet over fresh ice.  Top with club soda or brut champagne according to preference.  Stir.

Pearl is an adaptation of the Perfect Margarita.  The real hook for Pearl is the garnish; olives.  Usually saved for classic martinis, the olive becomes the surprise find for this margarita.  My version pops up the heat with jalapeno stuffed olives. Nix the olives if they don’t float your boat, but definitely take this margarita out for a spin.

Pearl – created by Cheri Loughlin

3 ounce Blanco TequilaPearl - created by Cheri Loughlin - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

3/4 ounce Agave Nectar

1/4 ounce Cointreau

Salt for Garnished Rim

Queen Size Jalapeño Stuffed Olives Garnish

Rim cocktail glass with salt and set aside.  Combine all liquid ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously to blend and chill.  Strain into cocktail glass over ice or even better, serve straight up.  Garnish with skewered jalepeno olives.

When I think of blueberry vodka or blueberries in general, the old television series Happy Days and Richie singing “I found my thrill on blueberry hill…” starts jingling through my head.  Thrilled brings in the beautiful flavor of blueberries while allowing the sweetness of fresh pineapple to interweave into the mix.  Depending upon your sweet tooth, vary the simple syrup.  Fresh egg white adds a little froth and complexity to the drink, but isn’t necessary for a thrilling good time.

Thrilled – created by Cheri Loughlin

2 Fresh Pineapple Spears (1 inch by 3 inch)Thrilled - created by Cheri Loughlin - photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

2 ounce Blueberry Vodka

1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

1/4 to 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup (according to taste)

1 Egg White – optional

Muddle pineapple and simple syrup in bottom of mixing glass.  If adding egg white, do so at this point and dry shake.  Add vodka, lemon juice and ice to mixing glass.  Shake to blend and chill.  Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Red, White & Blue Cocktails
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