A Toast To Summer: 5 Refreshing Green Drink Recipes

Get ready to celebrate the summer with these five delicious and eco-conscious summer cocktail ideas. All the organic and local ingredients you need are fresh, ripe and ready for summer.

Watermelon Sangria

• 1 bottle of organic or fair trade red wine
• 1 cup of 4 Copas tequila
• 1/2 a cup of fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup of fresh squeezed organic lime juice
• 1/2 a cup of brown organic sugar
• Sliced watermelon to taste

Kiwi Fruit Cocktail

• 2 cups of ice
• 3 large ripe kiwi fruits, peeled
• 3 oz Papagayo Organic White Rum
• 1 lime, finely grated rind and juiced
• 10 oz water (for lime syrup)
• 3 tbs organic sugar
• 1lime, finely grated rind and juiced (for lime syrup)

Make a syrup by combining water, sugar, rind and juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir regularly. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Cool. Pour into a heatproof container and chill. Place the chilled syrup, rum, ice cubes, kiwi fruit and extra lime juice into a blender. Serve immediately.

Pink Lemonade Jello Shots

This clever no-waste recipe is perfect for a summer party!

• 12 whole organic lemons
• 1 cup pink lemonade
• 2 packages plain gelatin
• 1 cup 360 Vodka

Cut the lemons in half. Scoop out the insides. Add the lemonade to a saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the juice. Let it sit for 2 minutes. Heat the lemonade over low heat, stirring, until the gelatin has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Stir in the organic vodka. Pour into the lemon halves and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Spiked Strawberry Iced Tea

• 2 cups local or organic strawberries plus extra for decoration
• 32 fluid ounces of brewed fair trade tea chilled
• 1/3 cup organic white sugar
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 punnet of fresh strawberries
• Organic vodka or rum
• Mint leaves
• Ice

Blend 2 cups of strawberries in a food processor until smooth and strain. Mix together pureed strawberries, tea, desired amount of sugar to taste, and lemon juice. Chill. Before serving add vodka or rum to taste. Decorate and serve with a fresh strawberry (stem removed), ice and a sprig of mint. Serves 4.

Elderflower Spritzer

The perfect drink for a garden party!

• 1 oz Saint Germain
• 8 oz Seltzer
• Flower ice cubes

This light and elegant drink is perfect for a hot day and is a breeze to make. Just add 1 oz of Elderflower liquor to seltzer and serve. For the greenest version make your own seltzer (it is better for the environment and only costs 17 cents a liter!) Serve over flower-filled ice cubes with organic orchids, nasturtiums, pansies, or snapdragons inside.