3 Easy, Delicious Summertime Cocktails

We went on our first cruise this past May, and I discovered many different tropical drinks aboard that are both delicious and easy to make on a hot summer day. These are some of my favorites.

Long Island Iced Tea

A good Long Island Iced Tea is my favorite cocktail, and it's especially good in the summer time, when most of us associate iced tea with the summer. If this cocktail is made the right way, you shouldn't be able to taste much alcohol at all, even though it's made with 5 different liquors (28% alcohol). Some people even say that this drink tastes similar to actual iced tea.

1 part Vodka (Absolut is a good brand to use)

1 part Tequila

1 part Gin

1 part Triple Sec

1 part white Rum

1 ½ parts Sweet and Sour Mix

Splash of Coke (Coke tastes best with this drink)

Slice of lemon

Pour all of the ingredients (except for the Coke and lemon) into a shaker and give it a good shake. Pour the mix into a tall glass over ice, add a splash of Coke to the top along with a lemon slice. Serve with a straw and enjoy!

Banana Daiquiri

Many people are familiar with a strawberry daiquiri, but a daiquiri can really be made with any type of fruit you'd like. I enjoyed the banana variation the most, and I think this would be a great frozen drink to enjoy while relaxing on the beach or poolside.

1 cup of ice

2 ounces white Rum

½ ounce Triple Sec

1 whole ripe banana

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1 tsp sugar (to equal out the sourness of the lime)

Cherry for garnish

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender, and blend on low speed until well blended. Pour into a daiquiri saucer, margarita glass, or a glass of your choice. Garnish with a cherry.

Mai Tai (pronounced "my tie")

This drink resembles a fruit punch, and hardly even tastes like an alcoholic cocktail. This drink quickly became my boyfriend's favorite on vacation, and it's one that I'd like to make during the summer months as well.

1 ounce light Rum

½ ounce Triple Sec

¼ ounce Orgeat (almond syrup)

¾ ounce Sweet and Sour Mix

¾ ounce pineapple juice

¾ ounce orange juice

½ ounce dark rum

Crushed ice

Pour all of the ingredients (except for the dark rum and ice) into a cocktail shaker. Add ice to the shaker until it's half full, then shake well. Pour the drink into a tall glass, top with dark rum and garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry. Enjoy!