The Best Cocktails For The Spring

The flowers are in bloom, the sun is on your face and you are feeling thirsty. Here are recipes to capture spring in a glass.

Spring has finally arrived and it time to turn your face to the sun. Putting away the heavy coats and enjoying the warmer weather with the blooming of trees and flowers are all great traditions. As the season emerges, the increased sunlight exposure can boost serotonin levels in the brain, acting as a natural antidepressant for many. But what about something fun to sip?  Hear the best cocktails for spring!

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Aperol And Blood Orange Spritz

The Aperol Spritz has been the fun drink of brunches, happy hours and those longing for the Riveria or Italian countryside.  Beautiful, tasty and full of fizz, it is the epitome of la dolce vita.  But what about giving it a spring twist by adding Blood Orange.  March/April is the tail end of their season and they should be rich in flavor.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (4 oz.) Prosecco
• 1/4 cup (2 oz.) Aperol
• 1/2 cup fresh blood orange juice (about 3 oranges)

Create

• Stir together Prosecco and Aperol
• Pour over ice with blood orange juice in a tall glass
• Garnish if desired

Sweet Tea Julep

Perfect for a brunch and day drinking, the Sweet Tea Julep is intoxicating and uplifting. The extra lemon gives it a hint of tartness.  This makes enough to share or to have a nice long morning.

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 2 tablespoons lemon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 mint herbal tea bags
• 1 ½ cups (12-oz.) bourbon
• 1 sliced lemon
• Crushed ice

Create

• Combine water, lemon juice (more if needed), and sugar in a medium saucepan over high, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture begins to boil, about 3 minutes
• Remove from heat. Add mint herbal tea bags. Steep until cooled to room temperature, about 1 hour
• Strain into a pitcher, and stir in bourbon and lemon slices
• Serve over crushed ice, and garnish with lemon

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Hibiscus Martini

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons of hibiscus tea or 1-2 hibiscus tea bags
• 1 cup superfine sugar (not powdered)
• 2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce orange-flavored liqueur
• 1-ounce lime juice (fresh squeezed is best)
• 3/4 ounce hibiscus syrup
• Garnish: twisted lime peel, edible orchid, hibiscus, or other flowers

Create

• Bring 1 cup of water to a boil
• Add hibiscus tea, steep for 10 minutes
• Take the teabag out and add 1 cup of superfine (not powdered) sugar
• Stir until all the sugar dissolves, refrigerate until needed
• Pour vodka and other ingredients into a mixing glass
• Add ice and shake vigorously for 7 to 8 seconds
• Strain into a chilled martini glass
• Garnish with a hibiscus flower or edible orchid

May these spring cocktails put you in a blooming good mood.