Robin Laub, a Life Stylist

Casual Chic Cocktails

When the weather heats up, it’s time for a drink! I have five refreshing, casual-chic cocktails both non-alcoholic and alcoholic that I’d like to add to your summer drink list.

1. Sangria. Add loads of sliced oranges, lemons, apples, and some Chipotle peppers for a zinger to the Zinfandel! For a non-alcoholic version of this famous drink, simply add a splash of soda water along with regular water. And as an added bonus, Sangria is a good source of Vitamin C! Trust me.

2. Mint & Limoncello Coolers. Put these in small size jelly jars and serve them with paper striped straws. Garnish with fresh mint and lemon slices. I make my own limoncello from a recipe given to me by my Italian grandfather, but store-bought is tasty, too. Fantastico!

3. Pink Lemonade. For this classic beverage, use colossal ice cubes and serve the glasses of lemonade from an old wooden box. Whimsical, tasty and cold!

4. Tokyo Tea. Combine TY KU Soju with unsweetened iced tea, a squeeze of lemon, lime or orange, then shake with ice and strain into a glass. It’s a great low-calorie cocktail to sip on a lazy summer afternoon. Konnichiwa!

5. Raspberry Champagne. This is a different change from a peach Bellini. It’s fun, fashionable and fresh!

Here’s how to make this fizzy treat with muddled raspberries…

What you’ll need:

  • A bottle of champagne. Veuve it up! Need I say more?
  • A nice glass flute
  • Fresh raspberries
  • A wooden muddler (I use a Dawa stick!)

What you do:

Muddle the raspberries in a bowl until they’re all smashed to a pulp. Keep all the seeds for the texture and to retain the antioxidants.

Place a dollop of muddled raspberries in the bottom of a flute and pour very cold champagne over the mixture.

If you need recipes for these or any other cocktails, Just Ask!