No Need for Beer. It's Fruity Cocktail Time!

Statistics show that each year 90% of American families attend at least one BBQ party during the summer. The BBQ season officially kicks off on Memorial Day, but it is the Fourth of July that sees the most grills fired up for the entire year with 86% of the gas grills in the nation seeing action that day. That is a heck of a lot of hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs you are going to need to wash down. This year, instead of defaulting to the old standby beer, add a splash of color and a burst of fresh fruity taste to your BBQ libations with some refreshing and easy to make cocktails.

SKYY Vodka's award winning line of all natural SKYY Infusions can easily become the centerpiece of your BBQ or poolside party. One way to bring your guests together is with a do-it-yourself cocktail bar featuring the SKYY Starlight, a fun, adult rendition of the icy cool snow cone. Your guests may also want to beat the heat with something that’s equally as bold and refreshing like the favorably tart SKYY Summer Palmer - an jazzy update to the classic Arnold Palmer - or relax before dinner with a more subtle cocktail like the Passion-Politan or the Sweet Lyee Ginger, which features the recently launched SKYY Infusions Ginger. No matter what the occasion, these summer offerings will both impress and satisfy anything one may crave on a hot summer day.

SKYY Starlight
Created by Adam Wilson, Beretta, San Francisco
1.5 oz. SKYY Vodka
0.75 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
0.50 oz. Simple Syrup
1 oz. Hibiscus or Cranberry Juice
Fresh Mint

Muddle all ingredients except hibiscus/cranberry juice in bottom of tall rocks glass. Add half a glass of crushed ice and stir well. Add more crushed ice until tightly packed just over the rim of the glass, and pour hibiscus or cranberry juice over top. Garnish with sprig of fresh mint and serve with a straw.

Passion-Politan
Created by Alex Straus, Suite 700 at the Hotel Shangri-La, Los Angeles
2 oz. SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit
0.75 oz. Orange Liqueur
0.75 oz. Rose Syrup (such as Monin)
0.5 oz Lime Juice
Rosé Champagne or Rosé Sparkling Wine
1 Rose Petal

Combine all ingredients except champagne/sparkling wine in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and add sparkling wine, stir and strain into a martini glass. Float the rose petal on top of the cocktail for garnish.

KYY Summer Palmer
Kathy Casey, Kathy Casey Food Studios
1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Citrus
0.25 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Sweetened Iced Tea
0.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

Combine SKYY Infusions Citrus, triple sec, unsweetened iced tea, lemon juice and ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass with sugar rim as garnish.

weet-Lyee Ginger
Created by Alex Straus, Suite 700 at the Hotel Shangri-La, Los Angeles
1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Ginger
1.5 oz. Lychee Puree*
4 Mint Leaves
0.5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice

Muddle 3 of the mint leaves in a cocktail shaker to release oils. Add the rest of the ingredients to the shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with remaining large mint leaf.

*To make lychee puree, purchase a can of lychees in light syrup and blend well.