Summer sip with Chef Noel

“The sun, the sand and a drink in my hand.” Well, if you can’t have the luxury of exploring this euphoric trifecta, let’s see if we can find comfort in achieving two out of the three.

There’s nothing more satisfying than quenching your thirst on a hot summer’s day. Add good spirits to the mix and you can call it a certified party, entertaining the company of white rum, dark rum, vodka or whiskey. Cool down the summer heat with these simple yet delicious tropical cocktails that are perfect for a hot day.

Jamaican-Canadian Chef Noel Cunningham is an expert in the kitchen, but he knows a thing or two about mixing. The summer sips he provided are quick and easy to make. And you don’t need to be a professional mixologist to have a good drink. Muddle, shake, blend and build your way to paradise by trying the mango mojito, pineapple ginger rum punch, boozy Oreo milkshake and blue lagoon for yourself.

1. Mango Mojito

Ingredients

• 1/2 mango, diced

• 5 mint leaves, plus extra for garnish

• 1tsp brown sugar

• 2oz white rum

• Juice from half a lime

• Club soda

• Ice cubes, to fill the glass

Directions: Muddle sugar, mint, lime juice, and mango in a cocktail shaker. Pour in rum and muddle to combine. Fill a highball or Collins glass with ice, pour the mojito over the ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

2. Pineapple Ginger Rum Punch

Ingredients

• 3oz pineapple juice

• 2oz ginger ale

• 2oz black rum

• Ice

Directions: Add ice to a Collin glass, then add pineapple juice, ginger beer and top with rum. You can garnish with a cherry.

3. Boozy Oreo Milkshake

Ingredients

• 2 scoops ice cream, slightly softened

• 6 Oreo cookies, crumbled

• 2oz Baileys Irish Cream/rum cream, (about 1/4 cup) or milk

• 2oz vodka /rum

For serving

• Chocolate syrup, for drizzling

• Whipped cream

• Crumbled Oreo

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy. Drizzle chocolate syrup in a glass, then pour the blended mixture in and top with whipped cream and extra crumbled Oreo.

4. Blue Lagoon

Ingredients

• 3oz Blue Curaçao

• 2oz vodka

• Lemonade

Directions: Pour ​vodka and Blue Curaçao in a shaker with ice, shake well and strain into a highball glass with ice, top with lemonade, garnish and serve.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com