On a hot summer day there’s nothing better than a cool refreshing drink (insert the sound of Elvis singing lemonade for the full effect). I’m always on the search for spritzers and mixers – with or without alcohol since we don’t drink much but aren’t teetotalers either. If you’ve got a garden, pop in a batch of mint for garnish but make sure it’s in a container. A serious containment system. I’ve had mint spontaneously erupt from ceramic pots and sprint across the yard in the middle of the night. Invasive falls short of the mark by quite some distance.

Fresh mint in mild tea, crushed with sugar granules, poured over cracked ice is simply exquisite.

Swill at your pleasure.

1. Mint Julep

2. Rosemary Lemonade

3. Orange Earl Grey Ice Tea

4. Sangria Flora

5. Watermelon Rum Punch

Have something to offer? Know an easy hors d’oeuvres for accompaniment? What’s the tastiest combination?