Beat the heat with these 5 summer drinks recommended by Green Bay Press-Gazette readers
GREEN BAY − This hot and humid weather certainly calls for an ice-cold beverage to cool down.
Fortunately, Green Bay Press-Gazette readers have answered that call by sharing their favorite summertime drinks. Most of these recipes can be made at home or ordered at a local establishment.
If you're looking for more, check out our staff's picks for local outdoor seating and our Streetwise business reporter's downtown Green Bay coffee shop guide.
Here, our readers offer a twist on a Summer Hummer cocktail, a year-round frozen drink inspired by Culver's and more options to try next time you need to cool down.
You can't go wrong with a minted classic
Mary Butterfield of De Pere first tasted her favorite summer drink while spending time in southern Florida: A classic mojito.
The popular rum-based cocktail made with mint has been her favorite since. Ask for it at most bars, or make your own with this recipe from Liquor.com:
3 mint leaves
½ ounce simple syrup
2 oz white rum
¾ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
Club soda, to top
Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel
Muddle the mint with the simple syrup in a shaker. Add the rum, lime juice and ice, then shake and strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
Top with the club soda and garnish with the mint sprig and lime wheel.
Sip on a Summer Hummer with flavored vodka
Mikki Beno of Green Bay said to mix up the vodka when making a classic Summer Hummer and go for cucumber-flavored instead. The classic is made with equal parts vodka and lemonade and two times that amount of a lemon-lime carbonated beverage, served with ice.
"Many years (decades?) ago while at Fox Harbor Pub I noticed a bottle of cucumber vodka behind their outside bar," Beno said. "I thought hmmm, bet that would be good with lemonade! It was, and I started asking for it wherever I went."
Pro tip from Beno if you're making it at home: "Freeze lemonade into ice cubes ... and garnish with a cucumber spear."
An icy treat inspired by Culver's Lemon Ice
Sharon Baumgartner of De Pere said her favorite drink is inspired by the summer lemon ice treat Culver's is known for and a case of mangos she bought that she didn't want to spoil.
"I wanted something on the order of Culver's ices, which they only serve in the summer," she said. "Mine will be year round."
The nonalcoholic mango slushie is combining mangos, lemon juice, lime juice and water in a blender. Then, Baumgartner said to pour into a container to freeze.
Once frozen, she recommends cutting it into cubes and storing in a freezer bag. Then, a single drink can be made by taking one of those cubes, adding water and agave necter to taste and re-blending.
Serve over ice.
A grandmother's twist on a gin and tonic
Gail Busse of Suamico's favorite summer drink is inspired by her five grandaughters and one grandson, who call her "GG."
That inspired her own personal concoction, a twist on the classic gin and tonic, called "a GG."
"It's comprised simply of gin and ginger ale with a twist of lime over ice," Busse said. "It's effervescent on a nice, hot summer day!"
Hit the McDonald's drive-thru for an iced coffee
Jan Deneys of Green Bay said her favorite drink involves a trip to McDonald's for a vanilla, sugar-free iced coffee.
"The colder, the better," she said. "I always ask for an extra cup of ice."
Katy Macek is a features editor for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Contact her at kmacek@gannett.com or 920-426-6658. Follow her on Twitter @KatherineMacek.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Mojito, gin and tonic and more summer drinks readers recommend
