Three-Ingredient Cocktails For Spring / Summer Patio Hangs

I still remember the cocktail book at my parents’ restaurant. The sticky pages, the spiral coil, the colourful drinks. I’d flip through it daily and memorize the ingredients as if an exam were to follow. Like many raised in the restaurant industry, it was just a way for me to pass the time. Fast-forward a few decades and I still know some of the recipes by heart. But one thing has changed: I now get to drink my concoctions — YIPPEE!

I like to “shake things up” (see what I did there?) and make a complicated drink once in a while, but in general I usually stick to the simple variety. They take less time, produce less waste and taste just as good! Here are five of my favourite three-ingredient cocktails…

5 Simple, Three-Ingredient Cocktails To Try This Spring / Summer

1. Sparkling Rose Slushy

Yes way frosé! This little recipe came to life in my kitchen as I was blending up frozen strawberries for my little guy. I had a handful left over and caught a glimpse of these beautiful Pelee Island Lola Sparkling Blush Rosé cans on my bar. You can guess what happened next — a little bit of this, a little bit of that… and voila!

I actually like this more than other frosé recipes that call for rosé to be frozen and sugar to be added because it still allows the flavours of the wine to shine through.

Fun fact: Did you know that Pelee Island Winery is Canada’s southernmost estate winery? Yup, and she’s a beaut! I’ve been to this VQA winery on Pelee Island and highly recommend a visit when it’s safe to do so. A leisurely lunch on their patio is a must.

Ingredients

1. Sparkling rosé – I used Pelee Island Lola Sparkling Blush Rosé cans. They’re perfect because you don’t have to open up an entire bottle just for one drink! You can use regular rosé too, but bubbles are more fun.
2. Frozen strawberries – I used PC Frozen Strawberries
3. Strawberry garnish (optional)

Recipe Prep

I blended up half a cup of frozen strawberries and one can (250 ml) of sparkling rosé with a hand blender (no lid = no explosions). Adjust proportions according to the size of your glass and preferred consistency!

2. Disoronno Fizz

You guys know I love my Disaronno cocktail recipes so when I heard of this simple fizz, I had to give it a try. She’s a keeper! The flavours of vanilla, almond and fresh lemon make this the perfect spring sipper.

Fun fact: Did you know that Disaronno is the original amaretto and has been made in Saronno, Italy using the same recipe for the past 500 years?! I love that it’s all natural, velvety smooth and has no artificial flavours. 

Ingredients

1. 1.5 oz Disaronno
2. Soda or sparkling water
3. Fresh lemon juice

Recipe Prep

Pour Disaronno over ice, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and top up with soda water. Stir and garnish with lemon zest!

3. Moscow Mule

A refreshing vodka drink with a kick! Although it’s not complex, the Moscow Mule is quite possibly one of my favourite cocktails ever…

Fun fact: Contrary to popular belief, the Moscow Mule was invented in the United States (not Russia). It’s also almost always served in a copper mug — great for aesthetic reasons and maintaining temperature, but make sure your mugs are lined with another metal on the inside (like nickel or stainless steel) as a copper interior can potentially harm you.

Ingredients

1. 2 oz vodka – I used Iceberg Vodka which is made here in Canada
2. 4 oz ginger beer – I usually use Fever-Tree or Old Jamaica Ginger Beer
3. 1 lime wedge

Recipe Prep

Add the vodka and ginger beer to a copper mug or highball glass filled with ice, squeeze in the lime and stir.

4. Aperol Spritz

One sip of an Aperol Spritz and I’m right back in Italy. That’s the beauty of our tastebuds: they can transport us, even if it’s just for a few minutes…

Fun fact: Aperol was launched in 1919 at the Padua International Fair. Created by the Barbieri brothers, the original recipe hasn’t changed and is still kept a secret to this day. According to Campari, approximately 300,000 Aperol Spritzes are consumed daily in Veneto (the homeland of the Spritz)!

Ingredients

1. Aperol
2. Prosecco
3. Soda Water – I often just make sparkling water in my SodaStream

Recipe Prep

Play around with the ratio until the Aperol spritz suits your palate. Most people prefer the 3-2-1 method (three parts prosecco, two parts Aperol, and one splash of soda water). I usually fill my wine glass with ice, pour prosecco halfway up, add Aperol halfway from the prosecco to the rim and then top with sparkling water. Throw in a couple of orange slices if you want to get really fancy.

5. Margarita

It’s refreshing, it’s easy to whip up and it’s kinda perfect. The salt rim on the glass, the sweetness of the agave, the earthy flavours of tequila and the sour lime all combine to form a beautifully-balanced cocktail…

Fun Fact: Although margaritas are often thought of as the quintessential Mexican cocktail, they’re actually not commonly found in Mexico (trust me, I’ve looked). The genesis of the cocktail is also highly-contested with many claiming they came up with it first (including a very wealthy Texan)!

Ingredients

1. 2 oz tequila blanco – I use Tequila Tromba
2. 3/4 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
3. 3/4 oz agave nectar or simple syrup (optional)

Recepe Prep

Run a lime slice around the rim of your glass. Fill a bowl with kosher salt and dip the rim. Add tequila, lime juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Shake shake shake (a dance is optional). Fill your glass with ice, pour in mixture and enjoy. Some people also like to add an orange liqueur (like Cointreau) so definitely experiment if you have some. Cheers!

Some of the alcohol brands mentioned above gifted me their products. As always, reviews and opinions are my very own. Let me know if you try any of these three-ingredient cocktails!