The only way to beat the heat is to meet it head-on and take it by the horns, swing it around, or maybe shake it with ice, pour it into a chilled glass, and serve it with an appropriate garnish. Wait, I think I went off-track there.
Or did I? Summers are the inevitable near future, and thanks to climate change, they are literally getting hotter every year!
So how do we mortals—who barely manage to exist once the mercury is on the higher side of 90 degrees—find a way to combat all this heat without having to resort to living in underground bunkers? Life must go on, and we must find a way to stay cool while doing it.
The answers, like most of my philosophical ponderings, should come from within. And nothing cools from within better than a chilled drink that’s all ice on the inside and all sweat outside.
Here are my five favorite spirits and what they mix well with—beyond the ice, of course.
White Rum
Even if dark rum gives off cozy winter vibes, white rum is especially perfect for summer. I favor mojitos—which happen to be the biggest-selling cocktail in the world—during this season, and I muddle some brown sugar and lemon chunks in a glass before I add lots of ice and the rum. Instead of topping it with a sweet lemon-based aerated drink, I sass it up with some sweet sparkling wine.
Whisky
Many will tut-tut me for even imagining that an oak-aged beverage can work with anything during the summer, let alone daytime. Well, to those naysayers, I implore you to try a bourbon with some sparkling sweetened green tea. Yes, it is a curious choice of mixer, and it took me a few tries to find the right one. Once you get the balance right, you will be surprised at just how fast pitchers of the stuff run out!
Cognac
Almost nobody says cognac and summer in the same breath, and yet, here we are. The mixer I nominate with this earthy, sweet beverage is a good old-fashioned ginger ale. The two mix just like water and oil don’t.
Tequila
Tequila is all the rage at the moment, and it’s quite a versatile spirit. Good tequila deserves better than being consumed solely in shots, and in the summer, serving it up with pineapple juice is the ideal way to enjoy this Mexican marvel.
Gin
Light and crisp, this quintessential summer spirit is possibly one of the most agreeable drinks for hot climes. Gin works best with lemonade, and the less sweet, the better, as it lets the natural botanicals of a fine gin shine through. Sure, you can have it with tonic, but to avoid being overwhelmed by artificial flavors, skip the flavored ones that make a classic G+T feel like carnival cotton candy.
