In the garden, by the pool, with sea view or at home we all await the green light to unleash the dances, fill the glasses and toast to the future. Yes, but with what? In the first warm days we just want to quench our thirst and refresh ourselves, and so, why not elevate this physiological need to a mere moment of enjoyment? The art of mixology also in this case helps us, balancing the need for lightness with the fragrances of the new season and allows us not to give up the pleasure of summer cocktails.
The best fresh cocktails: the four alcoholic recipes not to be missed
These are the fresh summer cocktails par excellence to be enjoyed with the right amount of ice.
COSMOPOLITAN
Now in the limelight thanks to the famous series Sex and the City, the Cosmopolitan is a cocktail born in the States in the 80s and owes its name to the iconic magazine Cosmopolitan that first cited it amongst its glossy pages. Sweet, fresh and fruity, it is the perfect aperitif with friends.
The NIO Cocktails recipe designed by Patrick Pistolesi includes:
- Family made Vodka Ketel One
- Cointreau
- Blueberry syrup
- Organic citric acid
Tips for enjoying it at its best: Just like the Daiquiri - which we’ll see shortly, the Cosmopolitan is more enjoyable when served in an ice-cold tumbler, so be sure to prepare it before pouring the cocktail. Shake, open the NIO box, pour on the ice, garnish with a lemon peel, let it rest for a minute and...taste it, great!
Try Cosmopolitan by NIO Cocktails
DAIQUIRI
The favourite cocktail of Hemingway, the Daiquiri was probably born at the end of 1800s in the heart of Cuba, Havana, from the lucky encounter of its three original ingredients:
- White rum
- Lime juice
- Sugar
Its freshness and drinkability make it the perfect cocktail for summer aperitifs, but it can also be a valid alternative for an after dinner cocktail. The drink, which has long been included in the 30 Unforgettables of the International Bartenders Associations (IBA), is among the easiest to prepare, but among the most refreshing and invigorating.
Our recipe for Daiquiri includes:
- Rum Pampero Blanco
- Organic citric acid
- Liquid sugar
- Natural dyes
Tips for enjoying it at its best: As already mentioned with the Cosmopolitan, the Daiquiri is best if poured into an ice cold tumbler. The garnish recommended by Patrick Pistolesi is a simple slice of lime. Shake, tear the coloured corner of the box, pour on ice, let it rest for a minute and enjoy without worries.
MARGARITA
A great classic of mixology, an incomparable pillar, Margarita is a cocktail whose flavour and sweetness meet to release all the flavour of Mexico, the country of which it is native. The ideal to start the summer evenings, stands out among the NIO Cocktails designed for summer.
The original recipe of Margarita includes:
- White Tequila
- Agave syrup
- Filtered lime juice
- A pinch of salt
Patrick Pistolesi signed the Margarita recipe for NIO Cocktails, his interpretation with only high quality ingredients:
- Josè Cuervo Tequila
- Toschi Agave Syrup
- Organic citric acid
The result? An exotic drink with incomparable freshness, ideal as refreshing cocktail when it’s hot.
Tips for enjoying it at its best: soak the edge of the glass with lime juice and dip with salt because it will give a real boost to the flavour of the drink. The perfect garnish is a slice of lime to insert into the drink and let stand for a minute.
Try Margarita by NIO Cocktails
MAI TAI
With the fresh Mai Tai cocktail we take a dip in the Tiki culture that, in the '40s, conquered the American West Coast to become a cultural and a mixology symbol. His creation is contested between two Californian adventurers, the first to open a series of Tiki bars with straw and Polynesian masks at the time. The original recipe provides:
- Two types of rum, both light and dark
- Orange Curaçao
- Fresh lime juice
- Barley syrup
The Mai Tai recipe, signed by Patrick Pistolesi, includes:
- Ron Colon Rum
- Cointreau,
- Monin Orgeat Syrup
- Lime Citric Acid
A balance of flavours that guarantees both body and extreme freshness, a great classic that will become the protagonist of summer.
Tips for enjoying it at its best: double the garnish, using both a mint leaf and a generous orange clove to maximise the flavour.
ESPRESSO MARTINI
A wonderful gift of the 80s, created to give an energising alternative to a model tired of the usual cocktails, the Espresso Martini is a concentrate of flavours that quench and give a discharge of energy. Its original recipe includes:
- Vodka (an 80’s must) as the main ingredient
- Coffee liqueur
- A cup of espresso
- Sugar
Patrick Pistolesi designed the Espresso Martini recipe for NIO Cocktails using two simple ingredients, both with an important story worthy of premium mixology:
- Ketel One Family Made Vodka
- Borghetti Espresso Liqueur
Very simple, but surprising: a concentrate of intense aromas that, together, reach the perfect harmony for a refreshing aperitif or an after-dinner as at the bar.
Tips for enjoying it at its best : as a garnish add 3 coffee beans to the drink and...cheers!
Perfect refreshing summer cocktails at your fingertips
Worried about making a mistake? The perfect drinks are available to everyone with NIO Cocktails. If, after reading these fresh and traditional recipes, you are afraid of being able to go wrong some procedure that could sabotage your summer evenings with friends, maybe it is the case to rely on the experts: Build your box of NIO Cocktails and receive at home the cocktails signed by our ambassador Patrick Pistolesi. You don’t need shakers or professional equipment: you just have to shake the cocktail, tear out the coloured corner and enjoy with ice. What's easier than that?!
Build a box with your favourite cocktails. Cheers!