When the sun is shining and the temperature is hot there is no better way to celebrate the sunnier side of nature than to gather a load of friends and family together for a BBQ. Now we all know that food is the king at any BBQ, especially the meat. But BBQs also serve as the perfect opportunity to accompany food with cocktails to make the most out of a party and to keep your guests refreshed with interesting flavors while they munch on chicken wings. Here are a number of cocktails that are perfectly suited to such an occasion.

There are a couple of rules that should be followed when combining cocktails with a BBQ. For example always serve tall glassed cocktails, for they are supposed to serve as a refreshing accompaniment to the food. Secondly, don’t make them too strong, for the BBQ will be during the day so people will be drinking for a long time, no need to let the party get ahead of itself. Finally, the golden rule for a BBQ, stock up on and serve plenty of ice. If your having a BBQ then the hope is its going to be a warm and sunny day, so keep the folks refreshed and in good spirits with plenty of the cold stuff.

There is perhaps nothing better suited to a BBQ on a sultry summer day than a Pimms No.1 with lemonade in a jug. To really add a summer twist to this drink and give some balance to all the meat that is going about then you can add a mixture of chopped up oranges, apples, lemons, and cucumbers to the jug to finish it off. It is also a great idea to collect all the fruit that is left at the bottom of the jug once it has been finished to serve as a desert with perhaps yogurt. There is no better way to top off a BBQ than with some fruit that has been marinated in Pimms.

The next cocktail that will be your best friend for any BBQ is a Mojito. Born in Cuba, this cocktail is perfect refreshment during a BBQ and moreover it packs a punch so your food will go down with extra relish. To make a Mojito first add a generous amount of lime juice, sugar, and mint leaves into a tall highball glass, then squeeze the mixture with a muddler to get all the juices flowing and mixing, once this mixture is nicely muddled then add two shots of rum and stir. Finally finish off this drink with soda water to the top of the glass, add crushed ice, and garnish with lime wedges and mint leaves. Nothing can beat this classic when the weather is hot so why not try it out with your next BBQ.

Another fruity addition you can make to your BBQ to balance out the excess of fatty meat with something both healthy and refreshing is the Tequila Sunrise. To make this fruity addition to a BBQ first fill a highball glass half way with ice, add one shot of tequila and top up with orange juice to just below the rim of the glass, finally add grenadine for sweetness. There you have it, a cocktail that is sure to brighten up a BBQ even if the sun decides to not stay for the duration.

So next time you have a BBQ why not go a little further than serving the same old beer and wine and try and top off the food with some summery cocktails which are both fruity and refreshing to compliment the food and the heat.

Author Bio: Cocktail Zen provides cocktail recipes and vodka drinks to any one with a web connection.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: mixed drinks, cocktails, cocktail recipes, vodka drinks, vodka recipes