Beach Cocktails – Prep Now, Party Later

If you’re not properly prepared, the perfect beach trip is, well, it’s no day at the beach. Not to worry though, Spec’s is here to help you get the most out of the coast with these simple tips and convenient recipes!

Beach Prep Tips

No matter what you’re drinking, you don’t want sand in it. So, bring cupcake liners and place them over the top of your drinks. If you’re using a larger sized cup, aluminum foil makes a quick lid you can punch a straw through, and its reflective surface helps keep your drink cool.

If you’re bringing kiddos, frozen juice cartons make awesome slushies once they start thawing. You can also use a wooden skewer to create frozen grape kabobs. Place about six grapes on a wooden skewer and place them in the freezer in a zip-lock bag, then simply transfer them to your cooler.

For cold refreshing adult bliss, nothing beats the ease of an ice-cold beer. But when you add in the sun and frolicking in the waves, a high alcohol beer can really do a number on you. Look for a good session beer instead, and you’ll be sitting pretty all day. Not to be confused with light beers which are lower in calories, session beers are lower in alcohol meaning you can have several in one drinking session.

(We’re only recommending canned beers as glass at the beach is a no no.)

Session Beer Recommendations:

• Founders All Day IPA
• Dogfish Head Sea Quench Ale, Session Sour
• Karbach Weekend Warrior Pale Ale

When you think of beach drinks, you might be picturing a tropical beverage overflowing with fruity garnish and an umbrella. But in reality, no one wants to drag a full bar to the beach and deal with the hassle of keeping sand out of your mixing area and your beverage. Below you’ll find a collection of cocktails that taste great premixed and kept in a thermos for later.

Piña Colada

Ingredients

• 9 ounces silver rum
• 6 ounces pineapple juice
• 3 ounces coconut milk
• 1.5 ounces fresh lime juice
• 4.5 tablespoons white sugar
• 1.5 ounces water
• 6 small pineapple wedges (optional)

Directions

1. Combine rum, pineapple juice, coconut milk, lime juice, sugar, and water in a blender, and give it a quick whizz.
2. Pour into a sealable container and refrigerate until ready to go.
3. Give the container a hard shake, then pour out into six cups with ice.
4. Add a pineapple wedge to each, if using.

FreezeRita  (Serves 10)

Ingredients

• 1 (12 ounce) can limeade
• 3 (12 ounce) cans water
• 12 ounces of tequila
• 6 ounces of triple sec

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together and place in a gallon jug, thermos, or any sealable container.
2. Freeze until firm and then place it in your cooler covered in ice.
3. Brake or stir the concoction until it becomes a delicious slushy margarita.

The Dark & Stormy

Ingredients

• Dark Rum
• 6 pack of ginger beer
• Lime juice

Directions

1. Transfer the rum into a plastic bottle or thermos and place in the freezer the night before.
2. Then simply fill a cup with ice, pour in 2 parts rum to 3 parts ginger beer, and a squeeze of lime.
3. Enjoy!

Hippie Juice

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of watermelon vodka
• 2.5 ounces of triple sec
• 2.5 ounces of coconut rum
• 4 scoops of pink lemonade mix
• 32 ounces of water
• strawberries for garnish

Directions

1. Mix it all up in a jug or thermos and add it to your cooler.
2. Pour over ice when serving.

Spiked Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients

• 9 ounces vodka
• 4.5 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 4.5 ounces simple syrup
• 6 medium-sized strawberries
• 16-oz bottle sparkling water
• 6 lemon wheels (optional)

Directions

1. Combine vodka, lemon, and simple syrup in a sealable container and stir to combine.
2. Slice strawberries (tops removed) and add to container.
3. Refrigerate until ready to go.
4. Give the container a good shake, then pour out into six cups with ice.
5. Pour 2 ounces of sparkling water on top of each drink.
6. Add a lemon wheel to each, if using.

Mojito

Ingredients

• 9 ounces of white rum
• 4.5 ounces fresh lime juice
• 4.5 ounces mint simple syrup
• 16-oz bottle sparkling water
• 6 mint sprigs

Directions

Mint Simple Syrup

1. Heat up 4 ounces of water until boiling. Pour over cleaned fresh mint and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Stir in the sugar, until dissolved. Strain out mint, reserving syrup, and chill until ready to use.

Cocktail

1. Combine rum, lime, and mint simple syrup in a sealable container and stir to combine.
2. Refrigerate until ready to go.
3. Give the container a good shake, then pour out into six large cups with ice.
4. Top with about two ounces of sparkling water.
5. Add some fresh mint to each.

Spec’s is your pre-beach hot spot with everything you need to rule from your sandcastle while keeping all the people in the kingdom happy and refreshed.

Cheers to Savings!