With July 4th just one day away, it’s time to start thinking about drinking.  So we here at Hungry in Brooklyn decided pair the season’s freshest ingredients with what else? Liquor! Check out our step-by-step lesson for three refreshing summer cocktails: The Classic Cuban Mojito, Shea’s Bluberry Gin Sparkler, and Spiked Strawberry Lemonade. They’re so delicious, they’re almost as dangerous as those fireworks your neighbor bought across state borders!  And the best part is, each of these drinks can be batched for parties, so watch the clip and check out the recipes below. 

CLASSIC CUBAN MOJITO

Ingredients

• 2 sprigs of mint (leaves removed from stem)
• ½ oz. simple syrup
• Juice of 1 lime (about 1 oz)
• 1 ½-2 oz. Rum
• 6 oz. Soda water
• 2 dashes bitters

Steps

First, add mint, syrup and lime juice to a glass, then muddle.  Then, add rum, soda water and bitters.  Finally, add ice cubes and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

Ingredients for a batch of 6 Drinks: 

• 12 sprigs of mint (leaves removed from stem)
• 3 oz. simple syrup
• Juice of 6 limes (about 6 ounces)
• 1 ¼ cup rum
• 4 ½ cups Soda water
• 12 dashes bitters

Read more for Shea’s Blueberry Gin Sparkler and Spiked Strawberry Lemonade…

SHEA’S BLUEBERRY GIN SPARKLER

Ingredients: 

• 2 TBSP bluberries 
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• Juice of one lime (1 oz) 
• 1 1/2-2 ounces Gin 
• 6 oz. soda water

Steps: 

First, add blueberries, syrup and lime juice to a glass, then muddle.  Next, add the gin and soda water.  Fill the glass with ice and stir.  Garnish with a lime wedge. 

Ingredients for a batch of 6 Drinks: 

• 3/4 C blueberries
• 3 oz. simple syrup
• Juice from 6 limes (approx. 3/4 cup)
• 1 1/4 cup gin
• 4 1/2 cups soda water 

SHEA’S SPIKED STRAWBERRY LEMONADE

Ingredients:

• 4 organic strawberries 
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• juice of 1 lemon (about 2 oz) 
• 1 1/2 - 2 oz. good vodka 
• 6 oz. soda water 

Steps: 

First, add strawberries and simple syrup to your glass.  Muddle the strawberries until very broken up.  Add the lemon juice, vodka, and soda water.  Top with ice, stir and garnish with a strawberry. 

Ingredients for a batch of 6 drinks:

• 1 cup halved small strawberries
• 3 oz. simple syrup
• juice of 6 lemons (about 1 1/4 c. lemon juice)
• 1 1/2 cups vodka
• 4 1/2 cups soda water 

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