As summer winds down, we all want to hold onto these long days and this warm weather as long as we can. And what better way to extend the feeling than a refreshing cocktail that celebrates the tastes of the season? To help you maximize these final days, we found the best cocktails in Fort Collins to salute the summer and welcome the fall.
Get your tastebuds ready and make plans to visit one of our favorite Fort Collins hotspots!
Social
Photos courtesy of Social
When Doves Cry
Ingredients: Tequila, habanero tincture, fresh grapefruit, fresh lime, sea salt, grapefruit soda
Social adds a kick to the classic drink, La Paloma, to create When Doves Cry. Normally made with tequila, grapefruit and lime, they add house made habanero tincture to spice things up without overpowering the citrus taste of the grapefruit. Sip it in their inviting, speakeasy inspired atmosphere — one of the most fun places to be in Old Town on any night of the week!
The Mayor of Old Town
Photos courtesy of The Mayor of Old Town
Strawberry Basil Mule
Ingredients: Ketel One Vodka, fresh strawberry puree, basil, ginger beer and lime juice
Moscow Mules are inherently refreshing, made with crisp ginger beer and lime juice. At The Mayor of Old Town, they make the drink even more summer-focused with fresh strawberry puree. Basil balances out the taste, making the perfect drink to enjoy on their patio in the late summer sun.
RARE Italian
Photos courtesy of RARE Italian
The Negroni
Ingredients: Boodles gin, Contratto Vermouth Rosso, Contratto Bitter and Aperitif
The Negroni is a classic Italian drink, but RARE puts a little extra into theirs with a barrel aging process. It has a pleasing bitter flavor, like most Negronis, with soft notes of caramel and vanilla from the barrel. This drink combined with the classic Italian touches of the restaurant — including exposed brick and big windows — will make you feel right at home.
Nick’s Italian
Photos courtesy of Nick’s Italian
Watermelon Martini
Ingredients: Citrus vodka, simple syrup, lime juice, pulverized watermelon and watermelon garnish
The Watermelon Martini at Nick’s Italian is built in a shaker with real watermelon and pulverized to create a flavorful and refreshing drink that is light and not overly sweet. Sip it outside on their gorgeous patio or, as the weather cools down, inside amongst the warm and welcoming decor.
Mainline Ale House
Photos courtesy of Mainline Ale House
The Great Escape
Ingredients: Fireside Peach Whiskey, apricot syrup, lemon juice, champagne with a mint garnish
Champagne makes the perfect addition to any summer outing, and Mainline makes the perfect champagne cocktail to celebrate the season. The Great Escape combines the bubbly beverage with peach, apricot and lemon, adding crisp and bright tastes to an already refreshing drink. Mainline is the perfect spot to start with a refreshing cocktail and end with a delicious craft beer.
Old Fashioned
Ingredients: Buffalo Trace bourbon, sugar and bitters
If champagne isn’t your thing, you can still keep the cocktails coming with Mainline’s classic Old Fashioned — the perfect drink to welcome cooler weather at the end of summer. This classic, simple drink focuses on the bold bourbon taste, proving that you don’t need a lot of fancy additions to achieve perfection.
CopperMuse Distillery
Photos courtesy of CopperMuse Distillery
Sparrow’s Song
Ingredients: Cardamom infused vodka, housemade vermouth, fresh squeezed lemon, simple syrup, rose water, Peychaud’s bitters
Sparrow’s song from CopperMuse has so many flavors working together to make each sip exciting and interesting. Cardamom infused vodka adds a sweet and spicy kick followed by rose water to soften the taste. This cocktail is definitely a must-try in town. And we suggest making an afternoon of it! Stop in to enjoy a drink their patio and take a tour to learn about the distillation process!
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Try each of these refreshing cocktails and let us know which one is your favorite! Have your own go-to summer drink? Share it in the comments below, on Facebook or Twitter!
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