Squeeze out the rest of summer with lip-smacking citrus cocktails.

Few things can cut through the sweat of mid-summer like the sharp pucker of a citrus cocktail. A little sweet, a little sour and served well chilled, citrus really is the standby summer thirst quencher. Readily available in fruit, juice and frozen form, citrus blends easily with other flavours, it’s rich in vitamins and it goes great with almost any booze from wine to tequila. Even citrus cocktails are versatile; they can be served frozen, prepared ahead in batches or steeped for days. If we haven’t convinced you to rediscover the world of citrus, don’t worry, there’s still hope. We’ve deconstructed some classic cocktails to help understand what makes a good citrus cocktail work. Take this power, use it wisely, we suggest experimentation, perhaps invent a new signature cocktail, then name it, (after yourself of course).

Embrace the bloom in your next cocktail

There is a garden party renaissance afoot. Floral print dresses, wide brimmed hats and a newfound nostalgia for classic summer cocktails transports us to a seemingly simpler time. Aromas of lavender, orange blossom, elderflower and rose water are once again coming from your drink in hand — not just the surrounding garden. So delight your guests at your next sticky summer gathering with a refreshing and fragrant cocktail inspired by some of nature’s most alluring scents.

Bitters have inspired cocktails for nearly 200 years — and now they’re back in vogue.

It’s that little bottle with the ill-fitting label that’s wedged into the darkest corner of your liquor cabinet. You’ve probably looked at it a thousand times and long since forgotten what the heck it’s for. But, before you toss it as part of an advanced strike on spring-cleaning, be aware that the little bottle of bitters is getting some big attention. Bitters have been around for nearly 200 years and have found their way into the cocktails of yesteryear as a signature bartender ingredient. Today, as part of the emerging speakeasy retro-trend, bitters are seeing a surge in popularity along with some of the most classic cocktails of all time.

Aptly named for its face-puckering flavour, it’s no coincidence that bitters came to the mixologist’s kit bag from the world of pharmacy. Classified as a tincture (alcohol base), bitters consist of various blends of herbs, roots and other pseudo-medicinal ingredients that have their properties extracted into the booze.