Sunshine, warm breezes, and good company — your favorite season is here and there’s no better time to enjoy a few refreshing drinks and connect with friends.
At Birch Road Clubhouse, we love exploring the flavors and techniques defining the latest libation trends. Here are some of our favorite drinks of the season, plus tips to brighten up any beverage this summer:
Spritzes
That drink you’ve been enjoying on the patio of your favorite bar? Super easy for you to make at home or the club too! Plus, spritzes make a great low-ABV cocktail that you can sip on all day long and not get wrecked.
There are so many ways to make a delicious spritz. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Get the mini bottles of La Marca Prosecco. Prosecco makes a great topper for any spritz, but you only need a splash. Luckily these cute little mini bottles are readily available at Target or via Instacart!
Pick an amaro or Aperol as your base spirit. These low-ABV liqueurs mean your cocktail won’t be too high octane for the day on the boat or on the patio. If you love the bitterness, go for Aperol or Amaro Montenegro. If you prefer something slightly sweet, look for something lighter like Amaro Nonino or a flavored liqueur. Have fun with a grown-up lemonade and pick up some limoncello as your base. There are endless options in the flavor palette, but everything is enhanced with that splash of sparkling wine.
Don’t skimp on the garnish! There’s nothing more beautiful than an oversized wine glass spritz filled with slices of orange, lemon, or rosemary sprigs. The aromas definitely enhance the cocktail and make it 100% Instagram-worthy too!
Oleo-Saccharum
Every home mixologist will start by making their own simple syrup. It’s an easy process that gives you an infinite amount of flavor enhancers for your cocktail. But if you’re ready to take it to the next level, create your own oleo-saccharum. Latin for “oil sugar,” think of oleo-saccharum as a brighter, more robust version of simple syrup.
Making this culinary secret weapon is easy. Pick your favorite citrus (lemon, orange, and grapefruit are all great options). Slice large sections of peel off 6 whole fruits, getting as little of the white pith as possible.
In a sealable container, pour 4 cups of white sugar and add the citrus peels. Mix it gently with a spoon so the peels are buried in the sugar and let sit overnight. The oils in the citrus peel will seep out into the sugar creating a thick and densely flavorful syrup that can be added to many different base spirits for a fantastic cocktail!
White Malbec
It’s not every day that an entirely new wine is invented, but not too long ago a winemaker in Argentina did just that. As many of you may know, most red wine does not start red. The juice of a red grape typically runs clear (red grapes with red juice are known as teinturier grapes and are less common than you think). What makes the red wine red is the amount of skin contact it gets during the wine-making process.
Now who was first to attempt this is definitely up for debate. But more recently the Trivento White Malbec has gained commercial success. It began as a project with a social purpose, that is, to raise funds to provide scholarships through the Student Scholarship Fund (FonBec), and in a few years it has become one of the winery’s most successful wines.
This wine is growing in popularity because it has all the makings of the perfect summer wine, it is refreshing, affordable, and yet has a depth and complexity that you would expect of a red wine. Even better, the Trivento still promotes a good cause and raises funds that finance 50 annual scholarships for students from all over Argentina, articulated through the FonBec foundation.
Argentina is the home for Malbec so if you’re shopping for a white Malbec that’s usually the section you will find them. You might have to special request this wine at your local shop, but trust us, you will not be disappointed!
Something for Every Palette
The world of summer beverages is rich with possibilities, from the effortlessly elegant spritz and the surprisingly delightful white Malbec to an array of craft cocktails elegantly flavored with herbs, fruit, and hand-crafted syrups.
Learn About The Latest Libation Trends at Birch Road
Birch Road is the perfect place to explore your palette, sharpen your mixology skills, and entertain your friends.
Where did we learn these tips for summer?
Birch Road events, monthly bottle shares, and from other Birch Road members! Birch Road offers a wealth of information and opportunity for any cocktail enthusiast.
As a Birch Road Clubhouse member, you’ll enjoy private lockers for your favorite wine, liquors, and apéritifs, as well as a stocked pantry, glassware, decanters, and all the tools you need to enjoy the summer’s best sips — schedule your private tour today!
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