3 Cocktails to Celebrate Great Summer Produce

The fixings for a Cucumber Martini

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This sponsored article is brought to you by Atlantic City Bottle Company.

Summer has many charms: long warm days, backyard barbeques, walks on the boardwalk—to name a few. It’s all punctuated by the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables hitting their peak as Labor Day approaches. While they most certainly liven up your dinner plate, they are equally at home in your glass. Make a stop at the liquor store on the way home from the farmers market and mix up one (or all!) of these!

Summer isn’t complete without watermelon. So how do you know if a watermelon is ripe? Pick it up and see if feels a little heavier than it looks. Now all you’ll need are a couple of limes, fresh blueberries, simple syrup, silver tequila and some mint sprigs to complete this recipe from Bobby Flay. Break out your food processor, throw in chunks of watermelon and blend until smooth. While you strain out the solids, leaving only the juice, put the rest of the stuff in a pitcher and muddle with some ice. Finally, add the watermelon juice and tequila, pour over ice and garnish with some mint. Refreshing!

Watermelon Plata Tequila Cocktail
Watermelon Plata Tequila Cocktail

Want to be as cool as a cucumber? Cucumbers are another summer staple and they can be, in fact, up to 20° cooler than the surrounding air temperature. How about taking a nice simple-but-elegant martini and adding a twist? No, not a twist of lemon! A twist of cucumber, of course. (See this classic martini method link.) Muddle some sliced and peeled cucumber in a shaker or pitcher with ice. Next, add gin and vermouth and stir (or shake, if you must) until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass and drop in a couple of cucumber slices to complete the picture.

The fixings for a Cucumber Martini
The fixings for a Cucumber Martini

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And really, summer drinks list just wouldn’t be complete without peaches. When you’re picking them out, make sure there’s no green around the stem and that they are just a little soft.

Fresh fruit and mint for a Whiskey Peach Smash.
Fresh fruit and mint for a Whiskey Peach Smash.

How does a Whiskey Peach Smash sound? Put sliced peaches, lemon wedge, mint, water, and simple syrup in a shaker and muddle with ice. Then, simply add whiskey, shake and strain into a glass. Save a peach slice for a garnish and enjoy in the last of the summer sun as you contemplate the cool, crisp fall air that is on the way.

A Whiskey Peach Smash is the perfect for the Summer to Fall transition.
A Whiskey Peach Smash is the perfect for the Summer to Fall transition.


paul with wine glass
Paul Tonacci
 is Managing Partner of the Atlantic City Bottle Company, which has a seasonal menu, small-plate restaurant helmed by Chef Kevin Cronin, and a packaged-goods store specializing in wine, whiskey, craft beer. The specialty spirits store is Taste In or Take Home. Voted Atlantic City’s Best Restaurant by Trip Advisor. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter.