Hey, Reader, it’s Erin.

With our kitchen in renovation mode and Texas heat doing its thing, drinks have become my love language. They're something I can make with minimal setup (blender, pitcher, maybe a shaker if I feel like actually cleaning it after the fact), many don't require any cooking AND they make everything feel a little more special... even when we're living out of a toaster oven and a grill.

So today I'm sharing my favorite summer drinks — the ones I make in batches to have on hand, the ones I mix for a crowd and the ones that come together in minutes when you just need something cold and refreshing.

Here are my go-to sips for beating the heat...

Sips to make ahead:

Brown Sugar Lemonade

My entire family loves lemonade and lemonade pitchers to make for various occasions. You can make lemonade and let it hang out in your fridge for days on end and enjoy individual glasses whenever you like. 10/10 recommend.

Blackberry Gin Slush

This fruit-forward slushy drink is a dream. Use frozen blackberries so that everything comes together quickly and make that mint simple syrup in advance so that it is not hot when you pour it into the blender with the other ingredients.

Homemade Grape Shrub

I have gotten really into making shrub syrup over the last couple of years. Yes, I know it sounds excessive and fancy, but I promise you that it is not that much work. This grape shrub syrup can be made well in advance and kept cold in the fridge to add to various sippers. I love splashing it in a tall glass of my favorite sparkling water to make it feel special.

Recipes to Share:

Mojito Pitcher

Put that flourishing mint plant in your yard to use by mixing up a mojito pitcher. This recipe is crisp and refreshing and perfect to enjoy poolside or outdoors.

Blueberry Lemonade

This large batch blueberry lemonade recipe has been a family favorite since it was first developed. It has been made and shared at baby showers, Easter, and various gatherings, and it is always a hit. Mix it in advance and keep it cold in the fridge so that it's nice and crisp when it's served.

Pimm's Punch

As someone who is obsessed with Pimm's cups, let me tell you that this Pimm's Punch is a fun twist on that classic. It's fruity and bubbly and a little bit tart and perfect for sipping all summer long.

Drinks to make... just because

Homemade Cherry Limeade

Homemade limeade with fresh cherry syrup? I'm in! I spent a year of my life "attending" Happy Hour at Sonic several days a week (because I deserved a little treat; always and forever) and can confirm that this homemade cherry limeade is just as good as, if not better, than the drive-in's.

Blackberry Red Wine Spritzer

Who doesn't love a spritzer? This one is incredibly simple to put together and calls for some excellent seasonal ingredients.

Strawberry Tea

Infused fruit tea is something so special and is actually really simple to do at home. My girls and I love this recipe, and we actually got our former nanny into it, as well. Click through to see why it's so special.

Some tools you need to make these summer sippers:

• What's one thing you need for a lot of drinks to share (or keep cold in your fridge) all summer long? A nice pitcher. We received this one and this one as wedding presents more than 15 years ago. Both are still well-loved in our kitchen!
• Get a tool to help with the juicing. Real talk: trying to squeeze juice out of citrus with your bare hands is a challenging and frustrating endeavor. While I don't have an electric juicer, I swear by this stainless steel one. I also love this wooden one, but definitely recommend using a fine mesh strainer to separate seeds and pulp from the juice.
• Shake it up. A good cocktail shaker is a wonderful thing to have. Take it from me... someone who had a cocktail shaker that leaked every time she touched it, let alone made a drink in it, for years. I love the color of this one, as well as this more traditional one from a favorite brand.
• Store them in style. I love a mason jar, but I love these decorative syrup bottles even more to keep syrups and other liquids chilled in style in the fridge.

Cheers to you and to mixing some refreshing sippers this month!

If you ever need help finding the right one, just hit reply. I'm always happy to help.

Bye y’all!
Erin

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Howdy! I'm Erin. At The Speckled Palate, you'll find easy recipes and drinks that call for simple, fresh ingredients that hopefully inspire you to invite your people into your home for super low-key gatherings. Buy me a cup of coffee. take me to the blog

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