This episode we highlight some fun and refreshing cocktails to be enjoyed with family and friends over the 4th of July. Recipes are below.

Bourbon Cowboy (Gone with the Gin, by Tim Federle... also author of Tequila Mockingbird. :))

4 basil leaves (divided)2 dashes Angostura bitters

2 oz bourbon

1 1/4 oz iced teas, sweetened to taste

1/2 oz lemon juice

Muddle 3 basil leaves and the bitters in a shaker.  Add the remaining ingredients and ice, and shake well.  Strain into a julep cup (or a rocks glass) filled with freshly shaved ice and garnish with a basil leaf.

Halekulani Cocktail (Smuggler's Cove, by Martin Cate w/ Rebecca Cate)

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz fresh orange juice

1/2 oz pineapple juice

1/4 oz Demerara Syrup

1/2 teaspoon Grenadine

1 1/2 oz bourbon

1 dash Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked or cubed ice.  Shake and double-strain into a chilled couple and garnish with an edible orchid on the edge of the glass

Honi Honi - variation of a Mai Tai

1 2/3 oz bourbon

1/3 oz Triple sec liquor

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

1 tsp Orgeat syrup

1 tsp rich simple syrup

Shake all ingredients w/ ice and fine staring into a glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple wedge, luxardo maraschino cherry and mint sprigs

Blackberry Bramble

1/2 cup fresh blackberries

1 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

2 oz dry gin (we're submitting with Huckleberry vodka)

1 oz blackberry liquor

1 oz simple syrup

Sparkling water

Steps: Muddle blackberries with fresh lemon juice in a shaker and fill with ice
Add gin and simple syrup and shake well. Strain and pour over ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with fresh blackberries lemon twist and mint

Strawberry Rye Whiskey Slushy SLB Drinks (YouTube)

1 oz simple syrup

1 oz fresh lemon juice 

2 oz Rye whiskey

1-1 1/2 cups ice

Combine all the ingredients into a blender and mix until ice is crushed. Garnish with fresh strawberry

Summer Sipper Bourbon Cocktail

1 1/2 oz bourbon

1/2 oz Campari

1 oz pineapple juice

1/4 oz strawberry syrup

1 orange peel

Muddle 1/2 of a strawberry with the orange peel in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake, shake, sake and string into a rocks glass. Garnish with strawberry slice and mint