Summer Drinks for The Guys, Ladies Can Enjoy Too

For this special gentlemen’s awards issue of élite magazine, I turned to my husband Eddie (an award-winner in my book) to ask: What are your go-to drinks this time of year? This got us reminiscing about some of the places we’ve traveled to over the summer months, and the cocktails we enjoyed at each. And, ladies, if you can keep up with your man – maybe not drink for drink but at least be adventurous – these drinks are for you too.
Vacationing in Italy: Aperol Spritz
On one trip to Venice, Italy during a hot summer we noticed several men and women drinking what looked to be an orange colored wine with ice. Come to find that the cocktail, a Spritz, was very popular in the summer, and easy to make with Aperol, Prosecco, and club soda.
Vacationing in Hawaii or other tropical destinations
Nothing beats the refreshing icy cold Mai Tai when you are traveling somewhere tropical. Men love the drink as it packs a punch with two rums and fruit juice, and while the men don’t stir the drink, women tend to if they are trying to dilute it a bit with the ice. I do it the man’s way, you?
Vacationing in the UK or Spain: Gin and Tonic
You think you know a Gin and Tonic? Sure, in England it’s served pretty much the way it is here in the colonies…but in Spain, oh my, they match the gin to the perfect flavored tonic and garnish. I had a strawberry-infused gin with strawberries and juniper berries for the garnish. Delish. And for the men, or the women that want more, search out the bar in Spain that we found: they just leave the gin bottle on the table next to your giant wine goblet and tonic.
Vacationing in Portugal: Port Tonic aka Porto Tonico
Another cocktail like the Aperol Spritz we didn’t know about stateside but discovered in Portugal one summer is the Port Tonic. Easy to make: just add four ounces of tonic to two ounces of port, preferably a white port, and garnish with a slice of citrus.
Cruising: The Martini
Are we the only ones that still smuggle liquor in our luggage when cruising? Maybe that’s why we got into the habit of just bringing vodka (for him) and gin (for me) and having a Martini on the balcony of our room before dinner.
Vacationing in the wine regions in Europe
You simply must drink the local wines in say Champagne, The Rhone Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Cognac in France; Tempranillo, Rioja, and Garnacha in Spain; Port, Madeira, and Touriga Nacional in Portugal; Chianti, Prosecco, Barolo, and Brunello in Italy – just to name a few!
Vacationing in your Santa Clarita Home
While any of the cocktails and wines I listed above can be enjoyed at home, we tend to start with a refreshing white wine on our front porch before dinner. We especially enjoy a white Rhone as other more popular wines like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc sometimes go better food. The delicate fruit in a white Rhone on a hot day just seems perfect all by itself.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

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