Elderflower-Grapefruit Paloma

Created by Bartender Tobin Shea at Redbird [3] restaurant in LA, this elderflower-grapefruit paloma takes full advantage of seasonal ingredients, making it a drink that tastes exactly like something you'd be sipping during summer holiday. The fresh grapefruit juice makes it ultralight and ultrarefreshing.

Ingredients:

• Ice
• 1 1/2 ounces silver tequila, like Herradura Silver
• 1/4 ounce St-Germain elderflower liqueur
• 1 1/2 ounces grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 2 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
• 2 ounces soda
• 1/2 ounce agave syrup

Directions: Fill a shaker with ice. Add all ingredients, except for soda. Close and shake well. Add soda and strain into Collins glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

LaCroix Pamplemousse Paloma

Since LaCroix has zero calories, it's no wonder this refreshing cocktail made the list! Made with just a handful of fresh ingredients, this delightful LaCroix paloma [4] can be made in minutes.

Ingredients:

• 5 oz. Pamplemousse LaCroix
• 2 oz. tequila
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1 oz. Grand Marnier (or triple sec)
• Kosher salt
• Lime wedge (for serving)

Directions: Prepare the glass by rubbing the rim with a lime wedge. Fill a small plate with salt and dip the wet rim of the glass in the salt. Pour LaCroix into salt-rimmed glass. Combine tequila, lime juice, and Grand Marnier in a measuring glass or cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and stir or shake well to combine, about 20 seconds. Pour over salt-rimmed glass of LaCroix and garnish with lime wedge.

Strawberry Margarita

Take full advantage of summer's best produce offering when you whip up this low-calorie strawberry margarita [5]. Made with fresh berries and a dash of tequila, this is really a dream come true.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 of a pint of strawberries
• 1 cup tequila
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur
• 4 limes, juiced
• Ice

Directions: In a blender, blend strawberries, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Fill a pitcher with ice and pour in the blended margarita. Stir well to ensure that the mixture is combined. Prepare the glasses by rubbing each rim with a lime wedge. Fill a small plate with salt and dip the wet rim of the glass in the salt. Divide margarita into the salted glasses, and garnish each glass with a strawberry and lime wedge. Enjoy immediately!

Cucumber-Mint Gin Cocktail

Shake up the traditional mojito by giving it a drool-worthy gin spin. Since gin only has 73 calories in an ounce, this cucumber-mint gin cocktail [6] recipe is super light and super refreshing.

Ingredients:

• 5 cucumber slices, divided
• 2 sprigs of mint
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 1/2 ounces gin, such as Beefeater 24

Directions: Add three slices of cucumber, the leaves from a sprig of mint, and the simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Muddle. Add the lime juice, gin, and ice, and shake until chilled. Strain into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass. Spank the remaining sprig of mint before garnishing the cocktail with it and the remaining two slices of cucumber.

Coconut Water Margarita

If you're looking for something hydrating and light that will give you a buzz, we recommend this coconut water margarita [7]. The key is to naturally sweeten it with a fresh squeeze of orange juice!

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz of premium blanco tequila (Casamigos used here)
• 0.5 oz of Grand Marnier
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 orange wedge
• 1 splash of fresh coconut water

Directions: Take a lime wedge and use it rub the rim on the edge of a rocks-glass. Then, dip it into some freshly ground pink Himalayan salt. You won't need too much because the saltiness is a very strong flavour. Next, combine all remaining ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Once mixed, pour over fresh ice in your salted rocks-glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!

Aviation Cocktail

The aviation, a classic Prohibition-era cocktail, consists of: gin, lemon juice, crème de violette, maraschino liqueur, and cherries (no, not the glowingly red sort) mingle into an elegant, lavender-hued beverage that you'll likely either love or hate; the only way to find out is to try it for yourself!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3/4 ounces maraschino liqueur
• 1/4 ounce crème de violette (optional)
• Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Directions: Add the gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

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