SUMMER IN A GLASS
Pictured clockwise: Lidia Pittsburgh’s Smallman Mule, Blackberry-Thyme Margarita and Mint Mojito. Find these drink recipes and more,
When it comes to a cold adult beverage, I almost always opt for a hopheavy pour of India pale ale. It’s a learned taste, to be sure, but one that never seems to disappoint.
But when Pittsburgh’s steamy, sticky weather rolls around, making T-shirts stick to your ribs like a damp shower curtain, I thirst for a drink that’s a bit crisper, more refreshing, and lends itself to slow sipping while hiding from the sun under the shade of an umbrella.
Nothing hits the spot when it’s hot outside like a summer cocktail. Often effervescent and almost always fruity, these alcoholic-mixed drinks cool you down like nobody’s business. Plus, they’re prettier than a pint of beer and feel more celebratory, too, not to mention an art form if you’ve ever watched a really good bartender prepare one of the specialty artisanal cocktails that are all the rage now. Composed of fresh ingredients such as citrus juice, fruits and herbs, housemade syrups and small-batch bitters, hand-crafted cocktails have flair.
Best when shared, cocktails are pretty easy to make at home so long as you’ve got the basics: alcohol, simple syrup (bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil in a small pan, stir until sugar has dissolved, then cool) and plenty of ice. This time of year, you’ll also want to introduce some sort of fresh fruit for flavor.
The best summer cocktail is one where the flavors blend well, and it goes down smooth — so smooth, you could sit with friends and drink one after the other and not even realize it.
“When you’re outside in the sun, you want a drink that’s refreshing on a hot day,” says Scott Schaffer, general manager at Lidia’s Pittsburgh in the Strip District, which this month opened a new outdoor lounge featuring a small plate menu and signature cocktails.
Cooling bourbon-based drinks are always popular in summer, along with mules, a light and fizzy hot-weather cocktail made with ginger beer, citrus juice and a jigger or two of alcohol. Lidia’s version, dubbed the Smallman Mule, pairs chamomile-infused vodka with limoncello, pomegranate liqueur and ginger beer.
During the dog days of August, cocktails are perfect for entertaining, or when you just feel like chillin’ on the back porch. Cheers!