Whether you’re looking for a drink to cool you down on a sweltering August evening, or you’re trying to drown your sorrows surrounding the end of summer, there are plenty of extra-refreshing cocktails being poured across neighborhoods outside the Perimeter to keep your thirst quenched (and you slightly buzzed). Sip on one of these summer spritzers before the end of the season.
1. Tin Lizzy's Cantina (with numerous OTP outposts) and King of Pops have teamed up to create a signature "poptail" featuring Dulce Vida grapefruit tequila, grapefruit juice, sour mix, agave and mint leaves — garnished with a grapefruit mint popsicle and a lime. Part drink, part dessert — yes, please!
Various locations, tinlizzyscantina.com.
2. The Indigo Road's Avalon restaurants — Oak Steakhouse and Colletta — are mixing summer cocktails. At Oak, try the First of the Season (made from Redemption High Rye bourbon, cocchi rosa, strawberries, lemon and basil), or head next door to Colletta for a pretty lavender-tinted concoction called the Butterfly Effect — crafted with Empress Gin 1908, lavender-honey syrup and lemon.
Oak Steakhouse. 950 Third St., Alpharetta. 678-722-8333, oaksteakhouseatlanta.com. Colletta. 900 Third St., Alpharetta. 678-722-8335, collettarestaurant.com.
3. At Sugo in John's Creek, order the Sangalaga (sort of like sangria), made from Malbec, blood orange and apple brandy. They're also pouring a cooling drink called the Street Fighter — featuring Absolut Eylx vodka, pear liqueur, aperol and agave, topped with prosecco — and the refreshing Thyme Crisis, made with gin, Cappelletti, lemon, honey, thyme and soda.
10305 Medlock Bridge Road, John's Creek. 770-817-8000, sugorestaurant.com.
4. What's better than a delicious summer cocktail? One with a good name. Enter the Psycho Ex from Hugo's Oyster Bar in Roswell. The libation is made from Farmer's Organic Gin, pineapple, jalapeno and lime. You'll have just as much fun ordering it as drinking it.
10360 Alpharetta St., Roswell. 770-993-5922, hugosoysterbar.com.
Credit: Elizabeth Sherwin
Credit: Elizabeth Sherwin
5. At Three Sheets in Sandy Springs, cool off with the Spicy Sandia, which is made with Herradura (a type of tequila), watermelon, jalapeno-coriander syrup, lime and cilantro. Spicy, sweet, bright and with a kick, it makes for a killer summer sipper.
6017 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs. 404-303-8423, www.threesheetsatlanta.com.
Credit: Courtesy of Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar
Credit: Courtesy of Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar
6. In Marietta, you can get your pina colada fix with less guilt (i.e., calories) at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar. The Skinny Colada is made from Santa Teresa 1796 rum, Rhum Clément Mahina Coco, Thai coconut milk, pineapple reduction and lime. Another fun summertime drink on the menu is the East Cobb Swizzle, made from St. George Spirits Botanivore, Nolets gin, Lustau Amontillado sherry, cucumber, lemon and bitters. Also in Marietta, Seed Kitchen & Bar has two tropical cocktails ideal for summer — the Jungle Bird and Rumspringa. The first is rum-based, with bittersweet Campari liqueur, lime and pineapple; the second is tequila-based, with citrus and green tea soda — pick your poison.
Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar. 4475 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-635-7641, driftoysterbar.com.
Credit: Courtesy of Marlow's Tavern
Credit: Courtesy of Marlow's Tavern
7. Marlow's Tavern, which has multiple OTP locations, features a blackberry mojito on the menu this summer. Ingredients include Bacardi Light, muddled mint, blackberry syrup, fresh lime and fresh blackberries, for a slight twist on your classic mojito.
Various locations, marlowstavern.com.
Credit: Courtesy of Secreto Kitchen & Bar
Credit: Courtesy of Secreto Kitchen & Bar
8. In Alpharetta, Secreto Kitchen & Bar is pouring a vibrantly colored yellow-orange cocktail called the Southern Passion. Vodka, orange liqueur, falernum (a sweet syrup), passion fruit, agave and lime combine for a fruity, summery drink.
6195 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta. 770-752-0922, secretokitchen.com.
Credit: Courtesy of Ray's at Killer Creek
Credit: Courtesy of Ray's at Killer Creek
9. Another orange-hued cocktail — dubbed the French Quarter and created by Zachary Hulsey — is on offer at Ray's at Killer Creek in Alpharetta. The cocktail combines gin, cognac, blood orange liqueur and sparkling rosé, garnished with orange blossom and mint. Smooth, light and almost too pretty to drink — almost.
1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta. 770-649-0064. raysrestaurants.com/raysatkillercreek.
10. Calling all cucumber cocktail fans! A multitude of cucumber-infused sippers are available across town. At King Barbecue in Alpharetta, the cucumber Moscow Mule is an extra-fresh take on the classic cocktail. Stoli cucumber vodka, Cock & Bull Ginger Beer and fresh-squeezed lime juice combine to create the beverage. At Eleanor's at Muss & Turner's in Smyrna, the 'Cuke Joint is a bright and light cocktail made from Cathead vodka, cucumber juice, basil, lemon and green chartreuse (an herbal liqueur). At Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails in historic downtown Crabapple, fresh cucumber and basil from the restaurant's very own garden out back are used to make their cucumber martini (created by Olivia Naeger, assistant general manager at Milton's). Ingredients include Effen Cucumber vodka, St. Elder elderflower liqueur, a splash of fresh lime juice and thin slices of fresh cucumber — shaken and strained, then garnished with a slice of cucumber and/or a basil leaf. Cheers!
Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails. 800 Mayfield Road, Milton. 770-817-0161, miltonscuisine.com.
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