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Sips of Summer: Long Island's Summer 2013 Mocktail Guide

Written by Sandra Stelmach  |  14. July 2013

If you’re not into cocktails, you won’t want to miss this guide to alcohol-free mocktails!

The Sips of Summer Mocktail Guide will be focusing on juicy drinks and fruit filled refreshments that everyone will enjoy. There’s a sweet summer sip that is sure to suit your palate and help you beat that heat by keeping cool. We’ve got the perfect party recipes for those friendly refreshing drinks perfect for both kids and adults in this year’s Sips of Summer Mocktail Guide!

School’s out and summer is here! Mom is making delicious summer snacks and the lemonade stands are going up and people are getting those bathing suits and towels out for some water fun. But this season’s about more than just swimming in the pool or going to beach - It is also about spending time with family and friends, sharing memories and creating more.

Go down memory lane while indulging in these tasty treats we found to satisfy our sweet tooth!

1. Iced Tea
It doesn’t get any simpler than this. Homemade iced tea may be so good the family may help themselves to a second glass.

For 10 servings:

  • 3- ¾ black tea bags
  • ¼ cup and 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 10 cups boiling water
  • 1 can of frozen lemonade concentrate

In a one gallon pitcher, or jar, place the tea bags and sugar. Then, fill the pitcher with the boiling water. Let the pitcher sit and cool for roughly two hours at room temperature. After, remove the tea bags and stir in lemonade concentrate. Place pitcher in the refrigerator to cool. Best served with ice!

2. Lemonade
This next traditional summer refresher is lemon squeezy easy. Remember, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Of course, you will need more than just lemons.

For eight servings, you will need:

  • 6 ½ lemons
  • 6 ⅓ cups of water
  • ¾ cup and 2 teaspoons white sugar

Take the lemons and juice them. Once the lemons are juiced, combine the lemon juice, water, and sugar in a large pitcher. Keep mixing until the sugar completely dissolves. Store the pitcher in the refrigerator to chill. Then, serve with ice!

3. Island Smoothie
Not going anywhere for the summer? Sit by the pool and bring the beaches to you with this tropical smoothie. (Warning: You may feel like you are in Hawaii.)

For two servings of this beachy drink, make sure you have:

  • 2 cups of ice
  • 4 cups of pineapple juice
  • 1 cup of ginger ale
  • ¼ cup and 2 tablespoons of coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons of white sugar

Throw the ice, pineapple juice, ginger ale, coconut milk, and sugar together in a blender and blend until the mixture becomes smooth.

4. Watermelon Milkshake
As good as watermelon tastes, simply eating watermelon can get boring sometimes. Try this cool way to enjoy watermelon on a new level.

For four servings, prepare:

  • 1 ½ cups of diced watermelon
  • 2 ¼ cups of milk
  • 2 teaspoons of white sugar

In a blender, mix the watermelon and milk together until smooth. Then, add the sugar and blend for a couple of more seconds. Serve instantaneously.

5. Floating Island Punch
For any gathering with family and friends, this punch mix is sure to be a party kicker. Kids and adults will get a kick out of the ice ring while enjoying their drink with sorbet!

For 20 servings, you will need:

  • 2 cups of water
  • 2 cups of white sugar
  • 1 can of frozen lemonade concentrate
  • 1 can of frozen orange juice concentrate
  • 1 pint of orange sherbet
  • 1 liter of ginger ale
  • 1 liter of carbonated water
  • 1 jar of maraschino cherries
  • 1 orange
  • 4 cups of ice

Bring the water to a boil and then add the sugar. Keep boiling the water and sugar mix until the mixture becomes a syrup. Then, put it to the side and let it cool. In a large bowl, combine the lemonade, orange juice, ginger ale and carbonated water. Then add in the syrup that was made and also add in the ice and sherbet. At the end, for a small twist to this punch, add slices of the orange along with the cherries and cherry juice.

6. Strawberry Banana Shake
Enjoy this classic and simple shake. It is even healthy for you!

For one serving, bring together:

  • 1 cup of plain yogurt
  • ¼  cup of strawberry preserves
  • 1 banana
  • 4 ice cubes
  • fresh strawberries

For each additional serving, double the ingredient quantity. Cut the banana into chunks. Blend together the yogurt, strawberry preserves, and banana. Then, add the ice cubes and keep blending the mix until smooth. Pour smoothie into a glass and top it off with a fresh strawberry.

7. Very Berry Shake
From nutrients to minerals, there is nothing better than getting a good dose of vitamins.

For two servings, prepare:

  • 1 ¼ cups of frozen strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons frozen raspberries
  • ½ cup of orange juice

In a blender, pulse together strawberries and raspberries until they are broken up. Pour in half of the orange juice while the blender is running and keep blending everything for about 30 seconds or until the mix becomes smooth and thick. Add orange juice as needed. Serve instantaneously.

8. Lemon Berry Slush
Create a lemonade stand with this drink that is sure to beat all the rest. From sweet to sour, indulge yourself in this new twist on a summer classic with lemon and strawberry.

For two servings, you will need:

  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries (thawed) with juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tray ice cubes

Blend the lemon juice, water, strawberries and sugar. Add ice cubes and keep blending until the mix becomes slushy. Serve in a tall glass.

9. Honey Limeade
Summer is a time when the bees come out. Why not enjoy what these creatures produce for us? Honey! Try this sweet and sour mix! Everyone is sure to buzz about this one!

For six servings, make sure you have:

  • 1 cup lime juice
  • 5 cups water
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey

In a pitcher, pour in the lime juice, water, honey and sugar. Keep mixing until the sugar dissolves. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator to let it cool. Then serve!

10. Iced Cappuccino
We can’t forget about those coffee lovers! Start the morning off by cooling off and waking up with this caffeinated classic.

For two servings, you will need:

  • 1 cup strong brewed coffee
  • 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/3 cup half-and-half cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ice cubes

In a bowl, preferably medium size, combine the coffee and milk. Take that combination and whisk in the half-and-half and the vanilla extract  until the whole mix is well blended. Fill glasses with ice and pour in the cappuccino.



From extravagant to simple sips, there you have it - great mocktails the whole family will love this summer and will never get enough of. Be sure to stop by a local farmers market and stock up on some fresh fruits to make these flavor-filled drinks your own, and add your own creativity into the mix to get the perfect taste for you!

This is the second installment of LongIsland.com's 2013 Sips of Summer Drink Recipes Series - be sure to check out our 2013 Sips of Summer: Cocktail Guide.

Is there another family-friendly summer drink you make in your home? Let us know on our Summer Drinks Discussion Forum!

Whatever you are drinking, remember to always keep yourself hydrated with water!

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