BBQ Boozin' Recipes

Are you throwin' a BBQ this month and want to make cocktails before your guests arrive? Whip up a pitcher of any of these delicious drinks!

BOOZY SWEET TEA

Ingredients
6 cups water
6 black tea bags
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup bourbon (depending on how strong you want your cocktail)
5 sliced orange rounds
6 sprigs fresh mint
lots of ice

Instructions
Bring water to a boil. Turn off water and add black tea bags. Steep tea for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags, place the tea in a large pitcher and let rest in the refrigerator until cold. Place agave, bourbon, orange slices and fresh mint in a medium bowl. With the back of a spoon, begin to muddle (or press together) the ingredients. The oranges will release some juice, the mint will become fragrant, and the bourbon will tickle your nose. It'll smell delicious. Once the mixture is pressed together and the flavors are extracted, add the mixture to the pitcher of tea. Stir well. (Feel free to strain the orange wedges and the mint leaves before pouring into the pitcher of tea, if you'd like.) Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour sweet, boozy tea over ice. Enjoy. Drink it up.

WATERMELON WOW

Ingredients
1/2 of a personal-sized watermelon, cut into chunks
Fresh watermelon juice

Punch
5 cups fresh watermelon juice
12 springs fresh mint
2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup simple syrup
2 cups gin

Instructions
To make the watermelon juice:
Add watermelon chunks to blender and blend until liquified. Pour juice through fine meshed sieve to remove solids.

To make punch:
Add mint to a tall pitcher and muddle to release the oils. Pour in watermelon juice, simple syrup, lemon juice and gin. Stir to mix. Pour over ice and serve.

RASPBERRY/LIME SPARKLER

Ingredients
2 œ teaspoons Stevia powder
Πcup water
1 cup lime juice, preferably freshly squeezed
œ cup vodka
2 cups tonic water
2 cups raspberries
1 lime, sliced
1 bottle Champagne or sparkling white wine