Labor Day – summer’s last hurrah – is around the corner with a crisp autumn ahead. Take advantage of the sun-soaked days by hosting your friends for a delicious Belvedere Vodka or Don Papa Rum cocktail during the holiday weekend. Featuring refreshing, seasonal ingredients such as citrus fruits, mango and cucumber, these delicious cocktails will be the perfect addition to a backyard barbeque or rooftop soiree.

Prepared with Belvedere Vodka or Don Papa Rum, fresh mixers and beautifully garnished with fresh herbs or fruits, these cocktails are both flavorful and simple to create making them perfect for summer entertaining.

BELVEDERE CUCUMBER SPRITZ (above)

Ingredients:

1oz Belvedere

1oz dry vermouth

2 cucumber ribbons

Method: Combine all ingredients in a Belvedere Spritz glass filled with ice, topped with equal parts of sparkling water and tonic water

BELVEDERE STRAWBERRY SHRUB

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Belvedere

¾ oz. Fever-Tree Naturally Light Indian Tonic Water

½ oz. Shrub & Co. Strawberry with Meyer Lemon Shrub

2 oz. soda water

Method: Add Belvedere Vodka, tonic and shrub to a highball glass and fill with ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a strawberry and cracked black pepper.

MODERN GREYHOUND

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Belvedere Vodka

½ oz. Aperol

3 oz. Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

1 oz. tonic water

Method: Combine all ingredients in a tall glass filled with ice. Roll contents and garnish with a grapefruit slice and a dash of salt.

DON DAIQUIRI
Ingredients:

2 oz. Don Papa rum
1 oz. fresh lime juice
½ oz. simple syrup

Method: Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake vigorously and strain into serving glass (no garnish needed)  

MANGO MAI TAI

Ingredients:

½ oz. Don Papa Rum

½ oz. fresh lime juice

½ oz. orgeat syrup

1 oz. mango nectar

Method: Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with 2 cups of crushed ice. Shake well. Pour everything (do not strain) into glass. Garnish with a lime shell sunk into the ice and a sprig of fresh mint.

PAPA RUM SOUR

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Don Papa rum

¾ oz. lemon juice

1/6 oz. simple syrup

Egg white

2 dash angostura

Method: In a cocktail shaker, (in order) add lemon juice, syrup, rum, angostura, and then the egg white, shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds to emulsify. Then add ice and shake again for 10 seconds, strain in a rocks glass over ice.  Garnish with orange twist or cherry.