These warm weather sippers belong on your summer bucket list — with fresh ingredients and local distillers, you can sip well into the dog days. Enjoy!

The Chilly Rickey – Heretic Spirits

The Gin Rickey was created over a century ago in a shipping town much like Collingwood. When sailors came to port, they often craved citrus which was known to fend off scurvy. Bartender Joe Rickey added a healthy splash of gin to wash down the vitamin C, making this healthy concoction an instant hit! 

INGREDIENTS

2 oz Heretic Spirits Gin 

1/2 oz lime juice 

1/2 oz simple syrup (optional) 

1/2 cup fresh watermelon 

fresh basil leaves 

rock salt 

METHOD

Cut watermelon into 1-inch cubes and fill standard size blender 1/4 full of ice. Add Heretic Gin, lime juice, syrup and watermelon. Blend on high until fully liquid. Pour contents into glass. Roll 2-3 basil leaves together and stick into slush and sprinkle a small amount of rock salt on top (emphasis on small). Serve and enjoy. 

The Black Basil – Hounds Black Vodka

The Black Basil is the perfect drink for summer sunset sipping—this delicious poolside treat combines tarte lime, smooth cucumber and a hint of basil. Add award winning Hounds Black Vodka and you have yourself a fresh and tasty cocktail to enjoy well into the dog-days of summer. 

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 oz Hounds Black Vodka 

1 oz fresh lime luice 

1-1/2 oz simple syrup 

4 leaves fresh basil 

6 slices cucumber 

METHOD

Combine all ingredients into shaking tin filled with ice. Shake and fine strain over fresh ice into a Collins glass. Garnish with a basil leaf. 

The Bee’s Knees – Freshwater Distillery

The Bee’s Knees is simple a Parisian cocktail dating back to the 1920’s. Freshwater Distillery is sharing this classic summer sipper to honour the volunteers at Pollinate Collingwood who have successfully advocated for a bee friendly community. 

INGREDIENTS

2 oz Clearwater Gin 

3/4 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed 

1/2 oz honey syrup* 

garnish with lemon twist 

*We recommend using a local apiary and for the honey syrup to keep it local—just add 1/2 a cup honey to 1/2 cup of boiling water. Allow it to dissolve, cool and then store it in the fridge.

METHOD

Add gin, lemon juice and honey syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.