6 Summer beverages with a boozy twist

With social distancing becoming the norm, it is quite clear that there will be no pool parties and evening summer soirees this year. But that does not mean that you can't have a little sundowner of your own within the safety of your home. To get you in that summer state of mind here's a list of refreshing beverages sporting a heady touch of booze to lift your spirits (pun intended).

1. Tipsy Nutella Shake

Ingredients:

• 175 ml vodka
• 1/3 cup Nutella
• 3/4 cup skim milk
• 3 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
• Whipped cream- optional

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
• Pour into two large glasses and top with whipped cream. Serve immediately.

2. Heady Fruity Frozen Slushie

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups chopped strawberries, frozen
• 1 ½ cups chopped kiwi, frozen
• 3 tablespoons simple sugar syrup, divided
• 8 fresh mint leaves, divided
• 90 ml rum, divided
• 3 ½ cups crushed ice, divided
• Strawberry and kiwi slices, to garnish
• Mint leaves, to garnish

Instructions:

• In a blender, combine the 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries, 1 1/2 tablespoons syrup, 4 mint leaves, one shot of rum, and 1 3/4 cups of crushed ice (if you have whole cubes, crush them in the blender first). Blend until well combined and slushy-like.
• Pour the strawberry mojito into 3 glasses, filling half-way.
• Rinse out the blender jug and combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups chopped kiwi, 1 1/2 tablespoons syrup, 4 mint leaves, shot of rum, and 1 3/4 cups crushed ice. Blend to desired consistency.
• Pour the kiwi mojito over the strawberry mojito.
• Garnish with kiwi, strawberry, and mint. Serve immediately.

3. Irish Iced Coffee

Ingredients:

• 118 ml strong coffee, chilled
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup
• 40-50 ml Irish whiskey
• 2 tbsp. heavy cream

Instructions:

• Combine the coffee, syrup, whiskey, and cream in an ice-filled cocktail shaker or a sealable jar. Shake vigorously until very cold, about 30 seconds.
• Strain into an ice-filled pint glass and enjoy.

4. Dirty Mango Lassi

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 cup cold water
• 1 heaping cup chopped mango
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt
• 60 ml vodka or white rum
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 8 ice cubes, crushed (about 3/4 cup)
• Crushed pistachios or nuts of choice, for garnish- optional

Instructions:

• In a blender, combine the water, mango, and yogurt and puree until smooth. Add the liquor, sugar, and crushed ice cubes and blend again.
• Serve chilled in a tall glass and top it up with chopped nuts, if desired.

5. Spiked Watermelon Slushie

Ingredients:

• 1 small seedless watermelon, halved
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 60 ml white rum
• 1 tbsp. honey

Instructions:

• Scoop out rounded tablespoons of watermelon until watermelon half is mostly hollow. Arrange scoops on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, about 3 to 4 hours. Reserve any accumulated juices, strain, and set aside.
• When watermelon is frozen, add to a blender along with coconut milk, lime juice, white rum, and honey. If you have trouble blending, slowly add some reserved watermelon juice. Blend until smooth and slushy.
• Serve in hollowed out watermelon rinds.

6. Boozy Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 whole banana
• 60 ml. coconut milk
• 30 ml. tequila
• 1 tbsp. honey

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth.
• Pour into a chilled glass and serve.