5 Health-Boosting Summer Cocktails

Whether you’re in need of some mid-week rejuvenation or you’re looking to entertain friends on the weekend, a refreshing cocktail is a great way to beat the heat of summer.

Remember, a cocktail needn’t be a sinful indulgence. We’ve got five health-boosting recipes that are alcohol-optional and rich in fresh ingredients to give you an extra boost.

Start With the Basics

Keeping a selection of fresh fruits, juices, and herbs in your kitchen will ensure you have the necessary basics to whip up a wide array of simple to sophisticated cocktails in no time.

Some of the most ubiquitous summer cocktail ingredients call for the sourness of lemons and limes, the tartness of grapefruit, sweet tropical fruits like mangoes and pineapples, and, of course, the trusty orange. Don’t forget your vegetables either, particularly celery and cucumber.

Quick Tip: Using fresh fruits instead of bottled juices will elevate the flavor of your cocktails and help you avoid all those unwanted additives and preservatives.

Alongside your staple cocktail fruits, you’ll want to have fresh herbs like mint, basil, cilantro, and sage on hand. The best way to know that your herbs are always fresh is to buy potted versions, keep them in a sunny spot in your kitchen, and remember to water them regularly. If you don’t have the time or space for this, make sure to double-check the freshness of packaged herbs before you buy.

Quick Tip: If your herbs were fresh a day or two ago but now seem limp, trim the stems and sit them in a glass of water – they should perk up again within a few hours.

The Recipes

The Cucumber Dream

Recipe by: Nishan Nepulangoda, mixologist at BarFish in Toronto

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Bombay Sapphire gin
• 0.5 oz fresh calamansi juice
• 0.5 oz Aperol
• 2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz falernum syrup
• 3 slices cucumber
• 1 dash lemon bitters
• cilantro and cucumber slice for garnish

Preparation:

Muddle the cucumber, shake all ingredients with ice, and double-strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with cilantro and cucumber slice.

Virgin Version:

Replace the gin and Aperol with another 1 oz of falernum syrup in a tall glass with ice and top with Perrier or soda.

Star Ingredient: Cucumber

Health Benefits:

Cucumbers are roughly 95% water, which means they’re ideal for rehydrating in summer. They’re also rich in B vitamins that can help to ease anxiety and combat stress. Fisetin, the anti-inflammatory found in cucumbers, may help preserve memory and support brain health.http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=19168

The Grapefruit Shrub Spritz

Recipe by: Boralia in Toronto

Ingredients:

• 1 oz grapefruit shrub
• 1 oz Aperol
• a couple of dashes grapefruit bitters
• 2–3 oz Cava or Prosecco
• lemon peel for garnish

Preparation:

Shake grapefruit shrub,http://cocktailquest.blogspot.ca/2012/05/balancing-citrus-and-vinegar-enter.html Aperol, and grapefruit bitters with ice. Strain into champagne flute. Top with Cava or Prosecco. Garnish with lemon peel.

Virgin Version:

Replace the Aperol and Cava with another 0.5 oz grapefruit shrub, top with club soda and ice.

Star Ingredient: Grapefruit

Health Benefits:

Grapefruit is literally dripping with vitamin C; half a grapefruit contains approximately 60% of your daily value. Getting enough of this vitamin can help curb inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and it has been identified as an overall supporter of good health. Grapefruit also contains lycopene, a phytonutrient that may have a cancer-fighting effect.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=25

The British Raj

Recipe by: Pukka in Toronto

Ingredients:

• 1.25 oz Gosling’s rum
• 1.5 oz fresh pineapple juice
• 1 oz almond syrup
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• flower petals for garnish

Preparation:

Shake rum, pineapple juice, almond syrup, and fresh lime juice with ice; don't strain. Pour into rocks glass, let froth settle. Garnish with flower petals.

Virgin Version:

Replace the rum with 1 oz ginger beer syrup (non-carbonated).

Star Ingredient: Pineapple

Health Benefits

Pineapple holds an abundance of vitamin C, which is a good enough reason to eat this wonderful tropical fruit regularly. But it’s also a great source of manganese and thiamin (or vitamin B1), which together are important for energy production and antioxidant defenses.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=34

Mint-Melon Refresher [alcohol-free]

Recipe by: Nicola Brown

Ingredients:

• 2 cups seeded watermelon, cut into chunks
• ¼ cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
• 0.5 oz honey
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• handful of fresh spearmint leaves to taste
• Perrier or soda

Preparation:

Blend watermelon, strawberries, agave syrup, lemon juice, and mint leaves until completely smooth. Shake with ice. Strain into tall glass and top with Perrier or soda. Garnish with a thin slice of watermelon and mint leaf.

Star Ingredients: Watermelon and spearmint

Health Benefits:

This cocktail packs such a health punch because it’s got two star ingredients. At 92% water, watermelons will keep you well hydrated. They also contain 30% of your daily value of vitamin A, which is great for maintaining healthy, moisturized skin and hair.http://www.livescience.com/46019-watermelon-nutrition.html Spearmint, in addition to providing a burst of cool freshness to your drink, can actually help with digestive problems like gas, indigestion, and nausea.http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-845-spearmint.aspx?activeingredientid=845&activeingredientname=spearmint

Apple Business

Recipe by: Steve Nacher mixologist at Harlem in Toronto

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh apple juice
• ½ tsp fresh lime juice
• dash of fresh grated ginger
• cinnamon sugar and apple slice for garnish

Preparation:

Rim a martini glass with cinnamon sugar. Shake gin, apple juice, lime juice, and ginger with ice. Pour into glass and garnish with apple slice.

Virgin Version:

Pour into a tall glass with ice, rimmed with cinnamon sugar. Omit gin and top with Perrier or soda.

Star Ingredient: Ginger

Health Benefits:

Ginger’s spicy kick is a great way to clear the passages and extend that summer warmth into the cool evenings. Ginger is also an excellent remedy for motion sickness if you’ve spent just a bit too much time on the water. As if that weren’t enough, this powerful root has anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and antioxidant properties as well. Taken regularly, ginger can reduce the pain of arthritis.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72

Make It Your Own

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your cocktails. With a kitchen full of fresh fruits and herbs, the easiest way to discover new favorites is to experiment with different flavor combinations. Keep some Perrier or club soda on hand to make virgin versions for your designated drivers and get ready to impress all your guests with these refreshing summer cocktail recipes.