Masselow’s creates array of summery cocktails

Light and fruity, mixed with berries and fresh herbs, these new summer sips from Masselow’s feature the bounty of the season.

Created by bartenders at the steakhouse and bar at Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights, the drinks aim to capture the flavors of summer while focusing on refreshment.

“You won’t find them in a book,” said Eric Cook, dining room manager at Masselow’s Steakhouse. He’s particularly fond of the Lake Country Tonic. “It’s refreshing. It doesn’t taste like there’s any alcohol in it.”

“So,” he said – if you’re going to make them – “please be careful.”

Here, he shares it as well as recipes for this summer’s other signature drinks at Masselow’s.

Lake Country Tonic

1 3/4 ounces Tanqueray gin, or gin of your choice

4 to 5 basil leaves

2 cucumber slices

Tonic, for topping

Lime wedge and cucumber slide, for garnish

Lightly muddle first three ingredients in tall pint glass with ice. Fill with tonic. Garnish with lime wedge and/or slice of cucumber.

Blueberry Bourbon Cocktail

1 3/4 ounces Buffalo Trace bourbon or bourbon of your choice

5 to 7 mint leaves

1 slice ginger

10 to 12 blueberries

1 ounce sour mix

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Soda, for topping

Lime wedge and fresh blueberries, for garnish

Muddle ingredients through simple syrup with ice. Strain over ice into bucket glass. Top with a splash of soda. Garnish with lime and fresh blueberries.

Elderberry Mojito

1 1/4 ounces Bacardi

1 ounce St. Germain or other elderflower liqueur

1 ounce sour mix

10 mint leaves, plus more for garnish

Soda, for topping

Lime wedge, for garnish

Muddle ingredients through mint with ice in a tall pint glass. Fill with soda. Garnish with lime wedge and mint leaves.

Silk Road Lemonade

1 ounce Absolut Hibiskus vodka

3/4 ounce Pama pomegranate liqueur

1 1/2 ounces sour mix

Sierra Mist, or other lemon-lime flavored soft drink, for topping

Lemon wedge, for garnish

Shake first three ingredients over ice. Pour into pint glass. Top with Sierra Mist. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Blackberry Margarita

1 3/4 ounces Patron Silver tequila, or tequila of choice

1/2 ounce Triple Sec, or other orange-flavored liqueur

1/2 ounce Chambord raspberry liqueur

1 ounce sour mix

1/2 ounce orange juice

4 to 5 blackberries, plus additional blackberries for garnish

Soda, for topping

Lime wedge, for garnish

Muddle ingredients through blackberries with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed pint glass over ice. Top with soda. Garnish with lime wedge and blackberries.

Strawberry Blonde

1 ounce Absolut Citron, or other lemon-flavored vodka

3/4 ounce strawberry purée

Splash lemon juice

Splash simple syrup

Prosecco, for topping

Lemon peel, for garnish

Shake first four ingredients over ice, then strain into a flute glass and top with Prosecco. Garnish with lemon peel.

Angelica

1 ounce 360 Georgia Peach Vodka, or other peach-flavored vodka

1 ounce Malibu Mango, or other mango-flavored rum

3/4 ounce strawberry purée

3/4 ounce orange juice

3/4 ounce cranberry juice

Orange slice, for ga rnish

Strawberry, for garnish

Shake ingredients through cranberry juice over ice in bucket glass. Top with a splash of soda. Garnish with orange slice and strawberry.

Champagne Margarita

3/4 ounce Patron Silver, or other tequila

Splash lime juice

1/4 ounce Cointreau, or other orange-flavored liqueur

Veuve Clicquot, or other Champagne, for topping

Lemon twist, for garnish

Shake first three ingredients over ice, then strain into a flute glass. Top with Champagne. Garnish with lemon twist.