Skip to main content

Spice up your summer sipping with these unexpected drink recipes

Exciting riffs inspired by faraway places

Spritz.
Aperol Spritz cocktail in a wine glass on a grey background on a bright sunny day, summer drinks, copy space Sasha_P / Shutterstock

We are well into summer and the dog days are kicking in. That could mean a lot of things, from backyard hosting fatigue to a need for another vacation. Either way, we thought you could use a good cocktail recipe or two to have in your back pocket.

Perhaps you’re tired of Mojitos. Maybe Margaritas aren’t cutting it anymore. Don’t worry, we reached out to some top NYC bars and restaurants for an injection of inventiveness.

Recommended Videos

Read on for some great drinks inspired by the Indian subcontinent that utilize everything from infused spirits to lesser-known liqueurs. They’ll come in handy for your next happy hour or nightcap hang at the house. Test them out at home on your own or batch them up large format cocktail style when it’s time to entertain.

Read on for some great cocktail recipes from eclectic restaurants in the Big Apple.

Malka’s Arak Limonada

Arak Limonada cocktail.
Max Flatow

Hailing from Malka, a kosher restaurant in New York City, this recipe is oh-so-refreshing and takes advantage of Arak, the anise-kissed drink popular in the Mid East.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces Arak
  • 1 ounce mint simple syrup
  • 1 ounce lemon juice
  • Bunch of mint for garnish

Method:

  1. Shake, double strain, and pour into a Collins glass with ice.
  2. Garnish with mint sprigs and a lemon wheel.

Inday’s Dirty Chai Martini

Dirty Chai Martini.
Inday

This Martini riff comes from Inday and is a refreshing spin on the ever-popular espresso version.

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 ounces coffee vodka
  • 1/2 ounce demerara
  • 75 ml Kolkata Iced Oat Chai

Method:

  1. Put all ingredients in tin and shake vigorously.
  2. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with coffee beans.
Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Finally, a way to make your coffee low-acid without giving up taste
Enjoy your usual cup of coffee with less acid
Cup of coffee

Low acid coffee is a must for coffee drinkers with sensitive stomachs, says Ashley Loyd, Co-Founder and CEO of Tamer Essentials. After witnessing the life-changing effects of Coffee Tamer on her parents' health, Loyd set out to help coffee drinkers with sensitive stomachs nationwide enjoy their favorite cup of coffee without giving up taste.

Coffee Tamer, made from natural minerals, can turn your favorite cup of coffee into a low-acid coffee without changing its flavor. Loyd says Coffee Tamer has the potential to help millions of coffee lovers manage acid-related discomfort. Here's what she shared about this innovative coffee product.
Low acid coffee with Coffee Tamer

Read more
Everyday Dose hits Target to help you break up with your coffee jitters
Something new to pick up on your next Target run
Everyday Dose mushroom coffee

Everyday Dose, the brand known for its functional health-focused coffee, is now available in over 1,500 Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com. Known for delivering calm focus, gut support, and sustained energy, without the jitters or crash, Everyday Dose has been a key player in the market as the demand grows for functional, clean-label beverages. With a functional drink market expected to surpass $300 billion globally by 2030, Everyday Dose stands out with a science-backed formula that coffee drinkers can feel great about switching to. If you've been thinking about giving better-for-you coffee a try, now is your time to pick up Everyday Dose on your next target trip.

Founder Jack Savage created Everyday Dose after his own struggle with Adderall burnout and traditional coffee side effects. “I didn’t want to give up coffee—I just wanted it to be better,” he shares. “What started as a personal solution is now helping thousands feel and function better every day.” Though Everyday Dose has been available online, shoppers can now pick up this alternative coffee during their next Target run.

Read more
Take your summer drinks up a notch with these beer cocktails
Beer is the base for these refreshing summer cocktails
Beer Cocktail

It’s the perfect season for an afternoon beer (especially a beer after mowing the lawn). A crisp pilsner, hoppy IPA, or fruity wheat beer is refreshing on a humid summer day. But if you’ve never used your favorite beer to make a cocktail, you’re truly missing out on something thirst-quenching, complex, and seasonally appropriate.

In my decades of writing about alcohol (with a strong emphasis on beer), I’ve tried my fair share of beer cocktails. I understand that the idea of using beer as the base for a cocktail seems a little strange to some drinkers. But didn’t you also think a pickle and peanut butter sandwich seemed like a strange combination? That worked out pretty well, right?
What is a beer cocktail?

Read more