Refresh Your Summer Party Lineup
Summer is a hot time for parties, so we have a cool idea for you: a cantaloupe cocktail party! Summer gatherings come in all shapes and sizes from a back yard hangout to a full-on poolside pants-off dance-off. Two things every good party needs no matter what the occasion, are plenty of irresistible drinks, and a perfect playlist to set the mood.
We have done it all for you. We’ve hired a local mixologist and beverage expert, Dave Seva, to craft four new cocktails that infuse the bright and cool flavors of cantaloupe into every sip. Dave was a professional bartender in Sacramento, CA for ten years and now works for Youngs Market Company distributing his favorite distilled and fermented beverages across the western United States.
Like your guests, each cocktail has a unique personality so there is something for everyone. With a few fresh ingredients paired with the right spirits, you will create restaurant quality drinks in your own backyard. Dave mixes and muddles with fresh seasonal fruits, herbs and vegetables to ensure his cocktails have the most flavor. He likes working with cantaloupe because of the melon’s cooling effect. Cantaloupes are actually a close cousin to cucumbers, known for their chilling, soothing qualities. Both are members of the Cucurbitaceae botanical family. In other words, cantaloupes are as cool as a cucumber.
And of course, you’ll need some tunes to keep the party moving. We’ve created a playlist with songs inspired by each cocktail, so you can leave the music mixing to us and focus on mixing drinks for your guests.
Let’s dive in! We are delighted to introduce four refreshing cantaloupe summer cocktails that will reinvigorate your usual summer lineup.
1. Mellow Melon Collins
Cantaloupe takes the flavor of this simple and sparkling classic up a notch. View recipe.
Dave’s Notes: The cantaloupe mixes with the cucumber/rose notes of Hendricks Gin and the cooling effect of Chareau aloe liqueur to create something akin to spa water.
Mellow Melon Collins inspired tunes: Don’t Stop Me Now, Queen | Put Your Records On, Corinne Bailey Rae |, American Teen, Khalid | You Are the Best Thing, Ray LaMontagne
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2. Poolside Sangria
A bright and refreshing drink perfect for enjoying by the pool. Made by the pitcher! View recipe.
Dave’s Notes: Why Avua Cachaca? The grassy, funky and floral notes in Cachaca add really nice depth and complexity to otherwise primarily fruit flavors in the Sangria. It’s the secret ingredient that will have your guests trying to guess, “What’s in there?” However, you could really experiment with any unaged spirit here (tequila, white rum, pisco, etc). I’d stay away from brown spirits to keep it bright and fresh.
Poolside Sangria inspired tunes: Bamboleo, Gipsy King | Dov’e L’amore, Cher | Barcelona, Ed Sheeran | I Like It Like That, Pete Rodriguez
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3. Fiesta Cooler
Zesty, sweet and cool, this summer cocktail will quench any thirst on a hot day. View recipe.
Dave’s Notes: Why it works? Cantaloupe and mint add a nice cooling effect to a classic margarita format here. Partida Blanco is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, which gives it signature fresh tropical fruit/bright citrus notes and plays perfectly here.
Fiesta Cooler inspired tunes: Con Calma, Daddy Yankee | La Bamba, Los Lobos | Havana, Camila Cabello
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4. Central Valley Whiskey Sour
Cantaloupe adds a subtle sweetness to this silky smooth cocktail and pairs nicely next to the bold flavors of whiskey and citrus. View recipe.
Dave’s Notes: Why Elijah Craig Bourbon? A whiskey sour is a rich cocktail that requires a bold spirit to stand out. Elijah Craig Small Batch is a blend of barrels that have been aged between 8 and 12 years. Four years is a common age for many bourbons on the market. It’s elevated 94 proof will also ensure it won’t get lost in your whiskey sour.
Central Valley Whiskey Sour inspired tunes: Summer, Calvin Harris | California Gurls, Katy Perry | I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Whitney Huston | All American Girl, Carrie Underwood | Friends in Low Places, Garth Brooks
Looking for a non-alcoholic drink to serve at the party? Try our Cantaloupe Agua Fresca!
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