Summertime wedding cocktail inspiration

Stone Fruit Sangria by Our Salty Kitchen.

This gorgeous cocktail is refined and restrained in its sweetness and flavours for a super refreshing summer cocktail. We love this sangria because it can easily be made in batches! This cocktail is also featured in our cover photo.

Our Salty Kitchen says: "This stone fruit sangria is refreshing, just sweet enough, and perfect for entertaining on a small or large scale. I like to serve it with a simple cheese platter for an evening happy hour or weekend afternoon gathering with great friends and good times."

Ingredients

1 lb. ripe stone fruit peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, nectarines, halved, pitted, and thinly sliced
1 bottle dry white wine I prefer vinho verde
1/2 c. brandy I prefer Hennessy
1/2 c. simple syrup
1/3 c. triple sec I prefer Cointreau
Soda water

Instructions

Slice the stone fruit. Add the white wine, brandy, triple sec, and simple syrup to a large pitcher and stir. Add the sliced stone fruit, then transfer to the fridge and allow to marinate until chilled - at least 4 hours, and up to 12.
To serve, add a handful of ice to a collins glass and fill the glass 4/5 of the way with sangria. Top with soda water, and an extra spoonful of fruit. Serve immediately.

Rosé Lemonade Elderflower Sangria by Spices In My DNA.

Another sangria, but this time for all you rosé lovers. Does anything say summer like rosé does? Nice, dry rosé punctuated with a lovely, earthy touch of elderflower is right up our alley.

Says Spices In My DNA: "This Rosé Lemonade Elderflower Sangria is the most refreshing summer cocktail! It's super easy to make, only 5 ingredients, and is easily multiplied to serve a crowd! All you need is dry rosé, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a touch of simple syrup for sweetness, elderflower liqueur, and a splash of seltzer. Absolutely delicious and dangerously good!"

Ingredients

5 ounces rosé
1 ounce elderflower liqueur
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce simple syrup
splash of seltzer water
sliced strawberries
lemon slices
fresh mint for garnish

Instructions

Fill a glass with crushed ice. Add a lemon slice and a few strawberry slices. I like to push them down a little bit too. Add the rosé, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup and stir to combine. Add a splash of seltzer water and stir again. Top with more sliced strawberries and a sprig of fresh mint. Enjoy!

Peach Moscow Mule by The Speckled Palate.

For those of us that love the punchy flavour of ginger beer, The Speckled Palate is here! We love this variation for its cinnamon simple syrup. The result is a delectable summer cocktail sure to earn you compliments well past your wedding day.

The Speckled Palate writes: "Celebrate summertime by mixing up a Peach Moscow Mule! Fresh peach puree serves as the base for this cocktail. Mix with ginger beer, vodka, a squeeze of lime and cinnamon simple syrup. Sweet, but not too sweet, this fun twist on a classic Moscow Mule tastes like a slice of peach pie on a hot day. Whether you're serving yourself or a crowd, these Peach Moscow Mules are satisfying, well-balanced and a unique sipper to serve at any gathering!"

Cinnamon-Infused Simple Syrup

½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water
1 stick cinnamon

Peach Moscow Mule

2 oz. peach puree (about ½ fresh peach)
3 oz. ginger beer
1. ½ oz. vodka
½ oz. lime juice
½ oz. cinnamon simple syrup, recipe above
Ice, for serving

Instructions

Make The Cinnamon-Infused Simple Syrup

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, measure out the water and sugar. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
Add in the cinnamon sticks, and cover for 30 minutes to three hours. (The longer the simple syrup infuses, the more cinnamon-y it will become. Proceed with caution.)
When the syrup has finished infusing (and tastes good to you!), strain and pour into a mason jar. Refrigerate until time to make cocktails.

Make The Peach Moscow Mule

In the blender, puree a peach. (If you don’t have a peach and can’t find good ones, feel free to use peach nectar instead! The puree will be thicker, but nectar provides the awesome peachy flavor we’re looking for.) In a copper mug (or your favorite glassware of choice—we aren’t picky here!), measure out the peach puree/nectar, ginger beer, vodka, lime juice and cinnamon simple syrup. Use a spoon to stir up the ingredients. Top with ice, and enjoy immediately.

Summertime is all about making the most of those seasonal fruits! All of these cocktails can be made in batches and served throughout the evening. Perfect for a cocktail hour or a mid-afternoon refresher.

Check out the great blogs we referenced in this post for more of their delicious recipes and gorgeous photography!

What cocktail did you serve at your wedding? Let us know below!

xo D&C