Summer Drinking

First of all, if you do not own a beverage conveyance known as a "stemless wine glass", I suggest you pay a visit to your local glassware purveyor and procure some.  My in-laws got us a set of these lovely glasses for Mother's Day and they have quickly found their way into heavy rotation.  I don't know the exact genealogy of this wonderful thing, however I imagine it was probably European in nature, and probably French.  Likely some clumsy vintner named Pierre LaRouche was meandering past his oak barrels, wine glass in hand (natch) and caught the stem and base of said glass on the side of a barrel.  Swearing to himself (in French, of course, and probably taking a drag of a cigarette to boot) he was suddenly struck by inspiration, and stumbled off to his friend Jean Louis the glassblower down the lane.  

Now.

Mrs VCH and I like to enjoy a beverage of the adult nature on a regular basis.  In the summer, such refreshments that are too "boozy" can become problematic.  The solution?  Mixing up cocktails that are both easy on the alcohol and heavy on the refreshment.

Like tonight's:

About half a glass' worth of dry white wine, ice, a can of seltzer water, some fresh mint (conveniently growing by the back door for such purposes as this) and a couple of teaspoons of lime juice.  Were one to be fancy, and prepared, fresh lime would be even better.  

This may be my new favorite drink for the sunny, warm months.  What all've you got?

I just use a highball glass. My fav summer drink is mojitos, preferably with tequila.

I'll pass on the mojito variations y'all are posting, but on the glassware discussion, I'm always looking for what I call "roly poly" glasses. My parents have them. They maybe hold two shots and an icecube, very small. Look nice though. I like them for my bourbon.

I do sweet tea and blueberry vodka but I'm a hillbilly and borderline alcoholic.

I like the stemless wine glasses, when we’ve visited friends with them, and eventually needs to get a set. 

As for summer beverages, I thought this was the original summer stemless beverage holder:

Isn't the whole point of the stem to keep your hand heat from warming up the drink?

Grizz said:

Isn't the whole point of the stem to keep your hand heat from warming up the drink?

Exactly.  I fail to see an improvement by removing the stem of the glass.

i switch from Porters and Stouts to Pale Ales and even Pilsners when the weather gets warm.  TM can’t tolerate white wine (weird Asian thing) so we stay with reds year round. By bourbon still goes in a highball glass with some ice.

I find that a nice bourbon or scotch served neat is a refreshing beverage no matter the season!

My wife does red wine plus a bit of triple sec and then sparking water and orange juice. It’s pretty good! If she’s feeling feisty she throws in a bit of Campari. I like Campari but don’t find it to be a good addition to the house made wine cooler. 

wae said:

I find that a nice bourbon or scotch served neat is a refreshing beverage no matter the season!

Sipping on a 1792 Single Barrel right now (selected by local liquor store).  Very nice.

I don't do "spirits" so if it isn't a Negra Modelo with a lime wedge jammed down the neck of the bottle or the good old Sierra Nevada pale ale it is probably a sparkling water with a dash of bitters and a twist of lime

I make gin and tonics by the quart, and use a large thermal tervis style mug. Sometimes i use a lime edys fruit bar instead of ice. 

In reply to Jumper K Balls :

Mmmm, I do love me a Negra Modelo. Gonna have to pick some up now. 

This explains the shaft shortening thread.

Count me in the highball glass.

Stemless wine glasses are the devil, especially if you work in a restaurant that uses them. Extra slippery, hard to get out of the machine racks, just blah. That said I have heard great things about home use.

This summer's drink of choice is a bit different for me. Frost top brand vanilla caramel creme soda. It's like liquid creme brulee, and highly addictive. If you're near Columbus(where it's made) or Uniontown rural king (where I bought it) pick some up. 

Been on the stemless wineglass train for a few years. Love those things.

Best summer drink ever; Lemon Drop Martini.  If you use my portions of 1.5 oz for the  Vodka and 1.5 oz for the Tripple sec, it fits nicely into the stemless wine glass. 

It goes down like fresh lemonade on a hot  day. The first one is just the advertisement for the second one and then the day is done.

Place Vodka, Triple Sec, lemon juice and sugar into a cocktail shaker with 4-5 ice cubes and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Run the lemon twist around the edge of the chilled martini glass and dunk in a small amount of sugar for a coated rim. Pour the strained martini into the chilled glasses and serve.

I wish I could find Southern Tier Crème Bruûée on the regular around here.

I find Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy quite refreshing on a hot day. My friends make fun of me for it but I don't give a E36 M3.

In reply to volvoclearinghouse :

I would wager that Pierre La Rouche uttered "Sacre bleu". I have personally  had a couple of cold Grolsch tonight, well perhaps half a dozen. I do like the lowered wine glasses for a true aperitif. I like a Cherry Carrie, vodka, Cherry juice, soda or seltzer water and a lime slice add fresh mint if available. It was the drink of choice for my late fiancee, Carrie. I have started drinking my beer out of a harbor freight yeti style cup. I had to get some after Logdog did the scientific research on them. I am very pleased with their ability to keep my grolsch chilly

It makes it harder to MAZEL TOV!

I'm not a fan of mixed drinks but will have the occasional Gin and tonic or Caipirinha (national drink of Brazil) also referred to as the green bastard.

Though you can use white rum it's not that same as  cachaça.

This is one of the best threads since "What are you Listening to Right Now," or Bravenrace's Friday afternoon classic "Well that didn't take long." Anyway I love this one. Annie and I have been growing spearmint and peppermint for the past few years, and with which we love to muddle. That sounds wierd, but it works great for an alcoholic drink, especially including Beefeater gin.  I love to muddle fresh mint. Very good. The vessel doesn't matter. When I drink Bordeaux, I prefer a particular type of glass. But for vintage gin drinks, I really don't care about the vessel. It's all about the ingredients.

Summer substantially means mostly a move toward beer away from Manhattans, but when I think "summer drink", I tend to think Campari and soda. Light, refreshing, tasty.

A bit of lemon peel is traditional, I think, and nice, but not by any means necessary.

Ever since our trip to Britain, my wife and I have enjoyed hard cider.  Most of the brands available here in the south aren't to our taste, but we found that Gumption really is our favorite. 

When the summer group is large: Beergaritas

ver 4: trailer trash and truck show party 2015

Large Pitcher
4-12oz Hamms very cold
1.5 cup tequila from freezer 
1 can limeade concentrate

0.25 cup OJ
Lime wedges small enough for a cup, and a few squeezed into the pitcher,
No ice, pour over only

Kosher salt for rimming