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Spice up your summer sipping with these unexpected drink recipes

Exciting riffs inspired by faraway places

By Mark Stock Jul 14, 2025 8:08 AM

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.

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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:

Shake, double strain, and pour into a Collins glass with ice.
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:

Put all ingredients in tin and shake vigorously.
Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with coffee beans.

Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since… Read Full Bio

The tequila-based cocktails you need to learn this summer

Espolòn Tequila

While there’s no wrong time of year for tequila-based cocktails, summer just might be the best. Also, when it comes to warm-weather spirits, it’s hard to beat the appeal of agave-based tequila, with flavors like citrus, vanilla, vegetal agave, cracked black pepper, and other spices. Aging only adds to the nuanced flavor profile, making tequila a great choice for warm-weather mixed drinks like the Margarita, Paloma, and more.

While I’ve sung the praises of gin-based cocktails during the summer months, I have the same affinity for tequila. There’s something special about sitting on a deck (or dock) overlooking a pond, lake, or river while you sip a tequila-based cocktail on a warm, humid afternoon. When you’re sipping your drink and taking in the picturesque view, there are no deadlines and emails waiting for response. You’re in the moment and just going with the flow as jet skis, pontoon boats, and sailboats glide by.

Classic golf course beers you’ll want to drink this summer

Dale’s Pale Ale

If you’re anything like me, you’re going to spend at least another day or two on the golf course before the end of summer. You might not notice it, but the days are growing shorter, and fall is lurking on the horizon like a pumpkin spice-fueled monster. Your chances of spending sunny, humid days on the links are quickly dwindling. And while where you’re golfing and who you’re with is important, so too is what you’re drinking.

In my years of golfing and drinking, I’ve encountered myriad golf course cocktails, and I’ve found that while you can’t beat the classic flask of whiskey, there’s nothing better than a crisp, refreshing beer on a warm summer day spent enjoying 18 holes. Who cares if you’re hitting eagles or double bogeys left and right if you have a nice beer to sip?

Who needs decanters? The future is wine from a pump box

Alcohol, Beverage, Bottle

Mark West, the official wine sponsor of Major League Baseball, is putting a working wine dispenser disguised as a ketchup pump into a cornfield in Iowa, and honestly, I respect the commitment to the bit.

The “Top Up Dispenser,” as they’re calling it, will show up outside the diamond at next week’s MLB at Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa — the annual matchup played next to the actual field from the 1989 movie.