Beat the heat with these 5 summer drinks recommended by Appleton Post-Crescent readers

Katy Macek, Appleton Post-Crescent
·4 min read

APPLETON − With highs in the upper 80s to low 90s in the forecast over the next week, we're all gonna need a few ways to cool off.

Fortunately, Post-Crescent readers have shared some tasty summer drinks to try, most of which can be made at home or you can ask your local bartender. Thanks to those who shared some clever tips and unique recipes.

While many of these drinks feature alcohol, most would be just as tasty if made without. For more options, stop by one of the establishments our staff picked as favorite spots for outdoor seating or peruse The Buzz business reporter's local coffee shop guide — and, if the cafe has it, might I recommend asking for lavender syrup in your iced latte or lemonade?

Here are five reader favorite summer drinks, plus a smattering of tips from the Post-Crescent's Facebook page comments.

Add basil for a twist on lemonade.
Add basil for a twist on lemonade.

Classic lemonade with a garden twist

Laurie Friedman Fannin of Hortonville said her favorite summer drink is a classic take on lemonade: A "tall glass of Basil Lemonade" made with a basil-infused simple syrup from her garden, freshly squeezed lemons and water.

For those so inclined to make their own simple syrup, a recipe from liquor.com calls for a ½ cup of boiling water, ½ cup of turbinado sugar and a ½ cup of packed fresh basil leaves.

Bring the water to a boil, add the sugar and stir until it's dissolved. Then, add the basil leaves and steep for 15 minutes. Strain into a clean container. The syrup can be refrigerated up to two weeks.

Sip on a fruity lemonade with a splash of vodka

Michelle Swanson of Appleton offered "Country time lemonade" as a "nice refreshing drink." Here's her recipe to make one 16-ounce cup:

  • 1 to 2 oz. strawberry or peach syrup (Swanson recommends the Rose's brand)

  • 2 to 3 oz. Grey Goose vodka

Shake or stir and enjoy over ice.

Hop aboard the Aperol spritz trend

An Aperol spritz made with Aperol, prosecco and club soda is a refreshing drink for a summer day.
An Aperol spritz made with Aperol, prosecco and club soda is a refreshing drink for a summer day.

Pat Teague of Appleton said you can't go wrong with an Aperol spritz, a popular Italian cocktail the New York Times declared the 2018 drink of summer thanks to a Campari campaign. It also saw a resurgence post-lockdown in summer 2022.

Perhaps it's just deserving of its place on the menu. Teague certainly thinks so.

It "tastes like summer in a glass," Teague said.

Most bartenders will be able to make one, or if you'd like to make one at home, here's a recipe from Liquor.com:

  • 3 ounces prosecco

  • 2 ounces Aperol

  • 1 ounce club soda

  • Orange slice for garnish

Add the prosecco, Aperol and club soda to a glass filled with ice and stir.

Try white rum instead of gin in a tonic

Ken Vander Heiden of Appleton stumbled upon his favorite summer drink in a Bacardi magazine advertisement many years ago.

"Thanks to my father-in-law introducing me to Bacardi, I gave it a try and was hooked," he said. "I get some strange looks from the bartenders when ordering."

He swears by it as a "refreshing, easy-drinking beverage anywhere on a sunny hot day."

Here's how to make it at home:

  • 2 ounces Bacardi white rum

  • 5 ounces tonic water

  • 1 or 2 dashes of lemon bitters (optional)

  • 1 lemon wedge

More: Bona Fide Juicery is opening a Neenah location this summer: The Buzz

More: A new restaurant and bar with a rooster theme opened in downtown Menasha and plans a future rooftop bar: The Buzz

Iced tea gets a kick from Crown Royal Peach

Pat and Tom Faley of Little Chute shared a drink they've named the "Ken Foster."

"It’s made with iced tea, either sweet or unsweetened, and then a shot of Crown Royal Peach over ice," Pat Faley said in an email. "We heard about this drink while on vacation in Alaska, and it has become our favorite."

Faley said she and her husband make it at home but will order it while dining out if the restaurant has the ingredients to make it.

Still thirsty for more? Here are a few tips from our Facebook comments:

  • Donna Rodwell-Van Grinsven of Appleton: "Peach sangria is very good and it's a great way to use up fresh peaches."

  • Beth Palmbach Nemecek of Neenah: "Strawberry rhubarb martini at Sturgeon Spirits in Oshkosh."

  • Barb Ketter of Appleton: "Grasshoppers by the pail: 1 pail vanilla ice cream, 1 8 oz. whipped topping, 1 cup creme de menthe, 1 cup creme de cocoa and blend altogether. Scoop up as needed and enjoy."

Katy Macek is a features editor based at the Appleton Post-Crescent. Contact her at kmacek@gannett.com or 920-426-6658. Follow her on Twitter @KatherineMacek.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Aperol spritz, lemonades and other summer drinks readers recommend