Great Pool Side drinks

So no kids around? Time to bust out your best Tom Cruise impression pool side and bust out some cocktails. Seriously who doesn't love that movie?I think every bartender in the world wishes that a shit was like that.
  OK don't go throwing around bottles or glasses. Or singing "addicted to LURV". I can not be held responsible for what happens. Be it divorce or a trip to the emergency room with a 6 inch slice in your head. Anyway you can make some seriously refreshing cocktails with out all the circus stuff.

Before you start slinging the bottles, you should pick up some tools of the trade.

Cocktail Basic Kit

 BUY NOW $39.99

Measure/Jigger - the most important bit of kit. It might look great to eyeball it , but to much or two little alcohol can ruin a drink.
Cocktail shaker  - used for mixing the drink as well as cooling.
Muddler - for breaking up ingredients such as mint.
Juicer -  not essential but recommended. You can grab a power juicer or an old fashioned hand one. 
Mixing spoon  - you guessed it for mixing
Strainer - yup for straining. Another glass can be used , unless you know what your doing it could be a disaster.

Other essentials you should have around the house.
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Bottle opener

You can pick these up separately or in a kit. My favorite places to shop for these unique kitchen gadgets is www.feedingbubba.com and www.amazon.com.

Bottle pourers will make your life a lot easier and eliminate a lot of waste. And make you look cool. Grab some here.

Ok so you set up ? Lets make some cocktails.

1.) Margarita

 

The classic margarita, so often made terribly. It's such a simple drink to make. Make up a pitcher and invite over some friends.

Ingredients:

1/2 triple sec ( Cointreau if your aiming to impress.)

1 1/2 oz gold tequila

1 oz fresh lime juice

salt to rim the glass ( you can use sugar or sherbet if you have a sweet tooth)

Prep:

Fill your shaker half full with fresh ice
Add the triple sec , tequila and lime juice
Shake well 
Pour all the the contents into the pre salt rimmed  glass
garnish with the lime wedge 
Voila a perfect margarita

If your being a little lazy , substitute the lime juice for 2 oz of margarita mix. To make a frozen version simply add to a bar blender (below) and wiz a couple times.

Be sure not to use a standard food predecessor, crushing ice repeatedly will burn the motor and dull the blades very quickly.  This Jimmy Buffet one is really well build. Get one here. Don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors, try using fresh strawberry, mango, banana etc..

2. Sex on the Beach

Not enough sexual innuendos at your pool party ? This ludicrously named cocktail tastes a lot better then it sounds. There are literally millions of variations out there , featuring all kids of ingredients. The original has just four ingredients, easy to make and delicious.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
2 oz Orange Juice
2 oz Cranberry Juice

Prep:

Fill a 12 tall class with ice
Pour in vodka and peach schnapps
Top up with 1/2 orange juice and 1/2 cranberry juice

Garnish with some kind of fruit and a frilly umbrella if you want. Drink and enjoy.

3.) Mudslide

The ultimate pool side cocktail. You will need the blender pictured above to make them. Be warned , drink nice and slowly other wise before you know it you have drank 6 and you gonna regret it in the morning. As its deceptively more potent then the taste will have you believe.  Also not a favorite for those watching the pounds, each one has approx 1,000,000 calories ( of course I'm joking, but its a lot.).

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz of your favorite vodka
1 oz Kahlua
2 1/2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
Chocolate syrup
Spray whipped cream
Maraschino cherry's
1 cup of Ice cubes

Prep:

Super easy to prepare. First throw the liquor and ice into the blender and set on a high tempo. If you want a extra chocolatey treat add 1tbsp of the chocolate syrup. Now take your class and swirl some chocolate syrup around the glass. Now pour your blended mixture into the glass, it should now be a thick put pourable consistency. Too thick? blend some more! To thin ? add a little more ice and blend again. Top with whipped cream, cherry and a little more syrup. If you havce a steady hand take some more Kahlua and pour down the straw for an extra kick.

Now the most important steps 1.) teach someone else to make it and 2.) make sure your hammock by the pool is ready.

4.) Long Island Ice tea

Another favorite that is defiantly packed with alcohol, defiantly not for the kids or the more lightweight amongst us. So refreshing on a really hot summers day. I would advise making a pitcher in advance as these go very quickly, and are a pain to make. My top tip would be to be mix all the liquor into an empty bottle, so you can just pour the requisite amount when needed.

Ingredients:

3/4 oz vodka
3/4 oz tequila
3/4 oz rum
3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz triple sec 
Sweet and sour mix
Cola

Prep:

Combine all the ingredients over a ice filled glass, barring the cola. Transfer into a shaker and give a couple good shakes before pouring back into a glass. Top up with a splash of the cola and garnish with your preference of lime or lemon. 

5.) Not your Mamma's Lemonade

I discovered this one while on vacation in the Cayman islands. It really does just taste like a regular glass of pink lemonade. After 2 or 3 it become very evident that it is not regular lemonade. 

Ingredients:

1 oz.vodka
1 oz. triple sec
1 oz. peach schnapps
Cranberry juice
Club soda or seltzer

Prep:

Combine everything except for the club soda in to a cocktail shaker full of ice. Give it a good old shake and pour over ice. Top with a splash of club soda and a squeeze of lime. Sit back and enjoy.

I will be sure to update this whenever i try out some more. Let me know your favorite summer cocktails.