Just a few of my favorite warm weather cocktails…

It's summertime and the living (and cocktail making) is easy. Long hot days call for cool summer cocktails. Perfect for a summer party, BBQ, or just relaxing poolside…savor them under the sun!

When I’m not hiding from the heat indoors with a chilled drink in hand, you’ll find me floating on a paddleboard, soaking up the views of Mount Hood from my favorite little lake.

Whether you're lakeside, fireside, or somewhere in between, these cocktails are made for sun warmed skin, bare feet in the grass, and the kind of slow, dreamy evenings that stretch on forever.

  • goonies never say die bourbon tiki cocktail

    Goonies Never Say Die

    Because I moved to the PNW and get to visit most of the filming locations whenever I want….I bring you one of my favorite cocktails. 

    Goonies Never Say Die

    The complex Caribbean spice profile from the velvet falernum evokes pirate ships and booty. Also, there's bourbon.


    1.5 oz bourbon
    .5 oz velvet falernum
    .5 oz ginger syrup (by the Ginger People)
    .5 oz fresh lime juice

    Combine all into cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake well. Strain into rocks glass over large cube. Garnish with candied ginger and grains of paradise, if desired.

  • tequila pineapple tarragon cocktail recipe

    The Upside Down

    Sweet agave and pineapple blend perfectly with bittersweet tarragon syrup in this refreshing cocktail. The absinthe adds a lovely touch of herbal intensity.

    2 oz tequila
    1 oz fresh lime juice
    .25 oz pineapple juice
    .75 oz tarragon syrup
    spritz of absinthe

    Add all (except absinthe) to cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake well. Strain over large cube. Spritz with absinthe. Garnish.

  • spring summer bourbon gin old fashioned cocktail recipe

    The O.C.

    An Old Fashioned perfect for poolside lounging or a late summer fire.

    Combining herbaceous gin and sweet bourbon with citrusy rhubarb bitters, this variation is light, floral, fragrant and refreshing.

    1.5 oz bourbon
    .5 oz gin
    4-5 drops citrus rhubarb bitters
    orange slice
    luxardo cherry

    In a mixing glass, muddle orange slice and cherry together. Add in bourbon, gin and bitters. Add ice. Stir well. Strain into old fashioned glass over a large cube. Garnish with an orange twist. 

  • mezcal paper plane last word riff cocktail recipe

    Naked and Famous

    This cocktail is a fabulous play on two famous cocktails; the Last Word and the Paper Plane. Mezcal adds a funky, smoky complexity to this bittersweet cocktail.

    .75 oz mezcal
    .75 oz aperol
    .75 oz yellow chartreuse
    .75 oz fresh lime juice

    Add all to cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake well. Double strain into cocktail coupe.

  • tequila watermelon mint margarita cocktail

    Tequila Mockingbird

    Cool, crisp, and bursting with summer flavor, this cocktail is the ultimate way to celebrate the sunny season!

    1.5 oz tequila
    .75 oz cointreau
    .75 oz fresh lime juice
    .25 oz pom
    1.5 inch cube watermelon
    2 mint leaves (basil works great, too)
    2 dashes of each: ango & ango orange

    Add watermelon and mint (or basil) to shaker and gently muddle. Add everything else, plus ice. Shake well. Double strain into cocktail coupe. I like to freeze cubes of watermelon for garnish.

  • bourbon apricot gooseberry cocktail

    Cape of Good Hope

    Have you ever tried cape gooseberries? They have a unique, high toned flavor with kiwi-like acidity. This specialty fruit can be found at your local farmer's market. They're covered in a beautiful papery, leafy husk that hides the bright golden yellow fruit. They resemble sungold tomatoes (they're in the same genus as tomatillos and the same family as tomatoes). Their flavor is mild with a kick of tartness, and they're extremely versatile.

    This cocktail is aromatic, fruit forward, and perfectly sweet and sour.

    2 oz bourbon
    .5 oz apricot
    .5 oz fresh lime juice
    .75 oz gooseberry syrup

    Add all to cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake well. Strain into cocktail coupe. Garnish with a gooseberry husk.

  • More to come!

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