Maybe you’re stuck in a rut of drinking the same flavor of sparkling water every day, or perhaps you’re looking for the perfect signature drink to serve at your post-pandemic party you’re about to host. Whatever the reason you’ve decided to read this article, rest assured, you’ll have a few ideas of drinks to add to your Summer Repertoire by the time you reach the end. 

The Best Part of Waking Up…

We all know how the jingle ends. And while the Old Faithful brands of coffee are delicious, with a local shop on virtually every other corner, our tastes in coffee have come a long way, baby. But, our need for caffeine in the morning is almost universal. Suppose you’re one of the unicorns that can wake up and not almost immediately crave that morning buzz; good on you. But, the rest of us have come to rely on our caffeine. Ideally, it would be best to use a french press to get that perfect cup of hot coffee in the mornings (or afternoon, or evening).  For your iced coffee, consider swapping it out for Cold Brew. Not only does cold brew taste better than iced coffee, but it also lacks the acidity of iced coffee. 

Homemade is Better

When it comes to sparkling and flavored water, homemade is just downright better, it is. Sparkling water is having a moment and has been having a moment for several years now. With good reason – it’s healthy, zero calories, natural flavoring. Not to mention, it’s absolutely delicious. They say we should be drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, and your LaCroix, Aha, and Waterloo habit are really getting you there. Try making these at home. At under $100, a Sodastream is an investment you’ll never regret. You can tweak the amount of flavoring you add to your sparkling drinks and have a lot of fun with it. When hosting, make sure to garnish with the same fruit you’re adding the flavor of and toss in a bit of liquor if it’s that kind of party.

Superhost

You’re undoubtedly familiar with the phrase because of Airbnb, but you want to be a super host of your own when it comes to entertaining. An easy way to do this is to concoct a signature drink of your own with a name that people will always associate with you. If you’re the friend group’s clown, you can go funny with the nickname, but ideally, you want something classy that embodies you and the way you entertain. If you’re out of college, it’s time to come up with a signature drink or at least a signature ingredient that’s always in the drinks you serve. Splash of Campari, anyone?

Countless Classics

This year we see a massive return of the classics, and with good reason. These drinks stood the test of time, made it through prohibition, Studio 54, and are still served at clubs worldwide. Start incorporating drinks like the Mint Julep, Tom Collins, and a Whiskey Sour. If you don’t know how to make these drinks, do a quick internet search or order a book online about the classics. If it’s within your budget, you want to make sure you go top shelf all the way on these. It’s not only about getting the most out of the cocktails you make for guests but for yourself as well. If you’re putting in the time to make them, you want them the best they can be. You will definitely see returns on your investment here. 

Ferment Frenzy 

After a year that is known almost exclusively as the worst year in everyone’s collective memories, we’re moving out of 2020 into 2021 more health-conscious than ever. We can keep a lid on our immunity and health by what we’re hydrating ourselves with, enter ferments. Not only do they taste bubbly delicious, drinks like kombucha pack some profound health benefits. You can even opt for a “hard kombucha” to catch a little buzz while simultaneously catching stronger gut bacteria. You should also try Water Kefir, and they boast more strains of probiotics than the traditional kombucha, offering you aid in digestion as well as boosting the immune system.