Summer Drinks

Sangria! Sangria!

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes Ready In: 30 Minutes Servings: 6

"The BEST sangria recipe I've been able to hone to perfection! If you like a sweeter Sangria, use ginger ale in place of club soda."

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brandy 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate 1/3 cup orange juice 1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry red wine 1/2 cup triple sec

1 lemon, sliced into rounds 1 orange, sliced into rounds 1 lime, sliced into rounds 1/4 cup white sugar (optional) 8 maraschino cherries 2 cups carbonated water (optional)

Directions:

1.

In a large pitcher or bowl, mix together the brandy, lemon juice, lemonade concentrate, orange juice, red wine, triple sec, and sugar. Float slices of lemon, orange and lime, and maraschino cherries in the mixture. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor. For a fizzy sangria, add club soda just before serving.

Strawberry-cucumber libation

Bubbles: Sometimes, nothing else will do the trick. Enjoy them (responsibly) with a refreshing, booze-free libation. Sweetened with agave syrup instead of artificial additives or an overdose of sugar, the effervescent cooler combines cucumbers, summer’s ripe strawberries and a hint of lime. And while seltzer gives it the perfect amount of fizz, if you topped the drink with a splash of sparkling wine, well, we wouldn't tell anyone.

Strawberry-Cucumber Cooler
Recipe from the Tasting Table Test Kitchen
Yield: Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons agave syrup or granulated sugar
Juice of 1 lime
Ice cubes
8 medium strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
One 2-inch piece cucumber, thinly sliced
Seltzer water

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, stir together the agave syrup and lime juice. (If using granulated sugar, whisk the liquid until the sugar is dissolved, about 30 seconds.)

2. Fill 4 glasses with 2 or 3 ice cubes each. Divide the strawberry and cucumber slices among the glasses. Add 1 tablespoon of the sweetened lime juice to each glass, top with seltzer and enjoy!