Summer is my favorite time of the year and nothing beats a great steak on the grill and a large glass of something refreshing. We all have our summer favs which I list but there are also a few new ones that my friends and I  have come to love. If I've left out some of your favorites, my apologies in advance. I know how you hubbers get when it comes to lists:)

Reverse Martini - 2 tablespoons of gin, 2 tablespoons of dry vermouth, one strip of lemon zest. Pour vermouth and gin over ice, strained into chilled glass, twist the lemon zest and drop into glass.

Electric Lemonade - 1 1/4 oz. Vodka, 1/2 oz. curacao, 2 oz. sweet and sour, 1 splash of 7 Up. Combine all ingredients except 7 up. Shake up and then add soda.

Sex on The Beach - 1 1/2 oz. Vodka, 1/2 Peach Schnapp's, 2 oz. cranberry juice, 2 oz. orange juice. Add all ingredients into a highball glass with ice.

Tom Collins - 2 oz. gin, 1 oz. lemon juice, 1 tsp. superfine sugar, 3 oz. club soda, 1 maraschino cherry, 1 slice orange. In shaker half filled with ice, combine gin, lemon juice and sugar. Shake well, strain into a collins glass half filled with ice. Add club soda. Stir and garnish with cherry and orange slice.

Margarita - 1 1/2 oz. Tequila, 1/2 oz. Triple Sec, 1 oz. Lime juice. Rub rim of glass with lime juice, dip in salt. Shake together all ingredients with ice. Strain and serve.

Sangria - One bottle of Red Wine, one lemon cut into wedges, 1 orange cut into wedges, 2 oz. of sugar, 01 shot of Brandy, 2 cups of Ginger Ale. Pour all ingredients together. Add Ginger Ale just before serving.

The Fuzzy Navel - 1 1/2 oz. Peach Schnapp's, orange juice to fill. Pour both ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice.

The Tequila Sunrise - 2 oz. tequila, 4 oz. orange juice, 1 oz. grenadine. Build the drink over a highball glass. Tequila first, grenadine then orange juice.

Strawberry Daiquiri - 1/2 oz. strawberry schnapp's, 1 oz. light rum, 1 oz. lime juice, 1 tsp of sugar (some use powered sugar), 1 oz. strawberries. Blend and serve in a cocktail glass. Garnish with fruit.

The Mojito - 1.25 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, 12 mint leaves, 1 tbsp. sugar, 0.5 oz. lime juice, 2 oz soda (Sprite). Place mint leaves in the bottom of the glass. Add crushed ice, rum, sugar and lime juice. Add soda and garnish with mint leaves.

 Here are some unique drinks that I have come across over the years and have enjoyed.

Chocolate Covered Cherry (shot) - 1/2 oz.Kahlua, 1/2 oz. Amaretto, 1/2 oz. white cream de cacao, drop of grenadine. Fill mixing glass with ice, add kahlua, amaretto and white cream de cacao. Shake and strain into a shot glass. It tastes just like a chocolate covered cherry.

Frozen Mint Julep - 2 oz. Bourbon, 1 oz. lemon juice, 1 oz. sugar syrup, 5 or 6 mint leaves. Mix bourbon, lemon juice, sugar syrup and mint over ice.

Baby Ruth (shot) - 1/2 oz. Frangelico, 1/2 oz. vodka, (you can add peanuts to the bottom of glass.

Snuggler - 1 1/2 oz. peppermint schnapp's, hot chocolate. Pour schnapp's into mug, fill with hot choclate. Top with whipped cream.

Teddy Bear (shot) 1/2 oz. root beer schnapp's, 1/2 oz. vodka