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Summer Cocktails Cookbook Review + Kentucky Mule Recipe

Published on June 9, 2015 By Emily. Updated on August 8, 2020

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Remember in February when I wrote a glowing review of Winter Cocktails ?  Well, the awesome people at Quirk Books have done it again, publishing Summer Cocktails by Maria Del Mar Sacasa.

Summer Cocktails

This book is every bit as good as it’s winter counterpart and it’s opened me up to a whole bunch of new ideas, as well as provided me with recipes for traditional favorites all in one place.  Brian and I have been working our way through the margaritas, martinis and lemonade.  I’m looking forward to making some of the shrubs (Blackberry-Basil! Strawberry-Rosemary!) later this summer and one of the sangria variations – there’s a red and a white – for Brian’s birthday later this month.  Actually, I’m looking forward to trying most of the recipes in the book, but I’m trying to take things one recipe at a time.

dill cucumber and black peppercorn gin

I did made a batch of the dill, cucumber and black peppercorn (though I used mixed peppercorn) infused gin.  In addition to looking great in the jar while infusing, the spice of the peppercorn is balanced by the cooling flavor of the cucumber, bringing our gin and tonic to a wider flavor profile.  Infusing liquor is fun and I love the inspiration that Summer Cocktails provides.

summe cocktails inside

As with the first book, the illustrations are lovely.  The book also features several appetizer recipes at the end of the book, including fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, sliders and breakfast tacos.  The recipes don’t appeal to me quite as much as the ones in Winter Cocktails, but that’s personal preference for sure.

My favorite recipe so far is the Kentucky Mule, which is not unique to Summer Cocktails, but was new to me.  Quirk Books was kind enough to allow me the opportunity to share the book’s recipe with you.  In my opinion, the slices of fresh ginger make the drink and are totally not optional.

Kentucky Mule Cocktail

Quality ingredients are never more important than in recipes made with only a few of them. To make this mule from Kentucky, use your favorite bourbon, squeeze fresh citrus, and make a run to the market for ginger beer—its sharpness and fragrance make all the difference. For extra kick, slip in slices of fresh or candied ginger.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Servings 1 serving

Ingredients
  

  • Ice cubes
  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • Juice of 1 lime or more to taste, plus lime wedge for garnish
  • Ginger beer chilled, to top
  • Fresh ginger slices or candied ginger for garnish optional

Instructions
 

  • Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Pour in bourbon and lime juice and stir to combine. Top with ginger beer and garnish with lime wedge and fresh or candied ginger, if desired. Serve.

Notes

MULE-TY TALENTED (Variations)
1. Moscow Mule - Substitute 2 ounces vodka for the bourbon.
2. Sippy Cup - A mule is traditionally served in a copper mug. Though the clothes don’t make the man, this traditional vessel adds a historical note and keeps the drink chilled.
Recipe, notes and variations from Summer Cocktails by Maria Del Mar Sacasa. Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books.

Get the book: Summer Cocktails

Summer Cocktails was provided to me for review by Quirk Books.  As always, my opinions are my own.

Related Posts

Don’t Be Wasteful: Make Beer Bread
Lime Sugar Cookies with Pumpkin Seeds
A Visit to Glass Bottom Brewery in Lee, MA
Highlights: For Your Summer Cocktail Party
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Filed Under: books, drink, recipe Tagged With: alcohol, books, review

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Emily
Last week Brian and I finally got around to hiring Last week Brian and I finally got around to hiring a sitter for a rare night out. We went to dinner at @publicna and took advantage of the opportunity with drinks, appetizers and dessert.

Pictured:
- Citrus Braised Beef Tacos
- "Chicken and Waffles"
- House Fries with Garlic Aioli
- Fried Chickpeas
- Blood Orange Cheesecake
It was no surprise that Public was close to full on a Wednesday night - everything was so good. 

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#igers413_food #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #PublicEatAndDrink
New year, new theme word! This year's word is "enr New year, new theme word!
This year's word is "enrich" and I'm really excited about it.

I've written more about this year's theme on the blog. Click in the link in my profile or follow the link below to read the post.
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https://www.relishments.com/blog/my-2023-theme-word-enrich/
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#YearlyTheme #MyOneWord #2023 #enrich2023 #NewYearsResolution
It's not New Year's Eve without a Top 9 post. It's It's not New Year's Eve without a Top 9 post.
It's almost all #Berkshires content this year, which is great.
1. A pasta salad reel that took longer to create than the recipe took to make.
2. A reel from North Carolina where I could have watched birds all day.
3. The @thelazygenius book giveaway.
4.@plantconnector 
5. @berkshiremuseum 
6.@sculpture.now at @themountlenox 
7. @massmoca 
8. @mountainviewfarm413 
9. The #AshuwillticookRailTrail
New on the blog: My 2022 reflections on last year' New on the blog: My 2022 reflections on last year's theme word - resume. 

I was able to get back to many activities that were meaningful to me this year and I'm calling this theme a success. Follow the link below or click the link in my profile to read more.
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https://www.relishments.com/blog/reflections-on-resuming-in-2022/
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#resume2022 #newyearsresolution #myoneword #yearlytheme
New on the blog: My Favorite Recipes of 2022. For New on the blog: My Favorite Recipes of 2022.

For the fourth year, I've recapped the best new (to me) recipes I made this year in the hope that they'll give you some new dishes to try. This year's list is short, but delicious. It includes @budgetbytes My Favorite Recipes of 2022
Published on December 30, 2022 By Emily. Updated on December 30, 2022

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is basically behind us. Though overall this year found me getting back to the person I want to be (post-babies and “post”-pandemic), I did not try nearly as many new recipes this year as I used to. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I’d made note of any new-to-me recipes I wanted to share in this post. This year’s list is short, but delicious. It includes recipes from @budgetbytes, @smittenkitchen and @howsweeteats.
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Read the post by visiting the link in my profile or 
https://www.relishments.com/blog/my-favorite-recipes-of-2022/
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#RecipeRoundUp #BestRecipes2022 #FavoriteRecipes
@coastalmainebotanicalgardens continues to be one @coastalmainebotanicalgardens continues to be one of the highlights of all my return trips to Boothbay and their annual Gardens Aglow event continues to impress. It was great to be back to walking the gardens instead of the pandemic drive through and there seemed to be more lights than ever.  I'm already looking forward to next year.
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#Boothbay #BoothbayMaine #CoastalMaineBotanicalGardens #GardensAglow #BotanicalGarden #MidcoastMaine
It has been a while, but there is finally a new CS It has been a while, but there is finally a new CSA menu plan on the blog! Visit the link below or in my profile to see how I plan to make use of some of the @mightyfoodfarm produce seen here.
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https://www.relishments.com/blog/welcome-to-winter-farm-share-csa-menu-plan-148/
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
Fall in the Berkshires is always incredible, but t Fall in the Berkshires is always incredible, but this year we've had weather that has also been outstanding. The past 2 weekends have included time at Jaeschke Orchards, the Greylock Glen, and the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail as well as stopping to photograph any random foliage I see. 
Check out the last slide for video of some feathered friends we saw on a walk.
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#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #FallFoliage #FallColors #autumn #AshuwillticookRailTrail #JaeschkeOrchards #GreylockGlen
@freshgrassfestival continues to be one of my favo @freshgrassfestival continues to be one of my favorite events each year, and it doesn't hurt that it's just minutes away from home. Enjoying the festival with my kids is definitely a different experience than without, but it's still a good time. The weather was especially cooperative today which was great for all the laps I did around the @massmoca campus pushing a stroller. I'm already looking forward to next year.
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