In my weekly hunt to find something cool and refreshing with which to end the long hot work week, I came across this variation by theblondcook.com It just sounds happy, no? I mean, you could almost put an umbrella in this one. Anyway, this one looks easy to put together and not terribly difficult to consume, either. Indeed, Blondie, whoever she is, addresses the high drinkability rating of this drink: "I’m sharing one of my favorite 5 o’clock porch drinks:  cherry beer margaritas.  They’re so dainty and refreshing, but don’t let ‘em fool you.  They will slap you in the face when you’re least …

Finally! One of our readers has treated us to a favorite of hers! Angela K. recently emailed to say, "My favorite drink is Tokyo Tea.  It is a green variation of the Long Island Ice Tea.  There are several variations…here are two." Angela K.'s Tokyo Tea Ingredients ½ oz vodka ½ oz rum ½ oz gin ½ oz tequila ½ oz triple sec 1 oz Midori melon liqueur Directions Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Shake, strain into a small highball glass filled with ice. Serve. Angela also included a version from Food Network's Guy Fieri: Guy Fieri's Tokyo Tea Ingredients 2 cups ice cubes 3 cups lemon…

Omni Hotels & Resorts, headquarted in Texas, created the Flying Squirrel cocktail in honor of the 2012 Olympic games. The resort chain, which has 47 properties in North America, emailed the recipe to Patch in response to last week's summer cocktail recipe for an Ouzo Special. The Flying Squirrel is being served at all Omni properties through the remainder of the games. What we'd really prefer is to know what YOU love to drink in the summer. Send your favorite cocktail recipes to mariella.savidge@patch.com and we'll feature them in the long, hot weeks to come! Flying Squirrel Cocktail Recipe …

History buffs or those married to Greeks may be aware that the first modern Olympic games were held in Athens in 1896. This week’s cocktail recipe pays homage to the Hellenic parentage of this global sporting extravaganza. Ouzo is Greece’s national drink, made only in Greece. It is made with grapes, herbs and spices, especially anise. Greeks most often drink ouzo mixed with water, ice or straight up. It is pretty much always served with appetizers known as mezedes. What we'd really prefer is to know what YOU love to drink in the summer. Send your favorite cocktail recipes to mariella.savidge@…

The tasty combination of salty and sour come together and the sweetness of  sugar and tequila make for a real summer favorite when combined in a classic margarita. What we'd really prefer is to know what YOU love to drink in the summer. Send your favorite cocktail recipes to mariella.savidge@patch.com and we'll feature them in the weeks to come! Sure, salt's not good for you, but some people, myself included, like it anyway. And is it wrong of me to sip all the way around the glass to get every last grain of salt? But I never really knew how to make one, but the folks at epicurious.com very …

The Patch research team learned something this week. Though the term "highball" is certainly a reference to an adult beverage, in our research we saw the term used in describing a variety of drink recipes. It's just one of those words that you kind of know the meaning of, but you could be wrong, right? Everyone from Esquire and Bon Appetit magazines to several other lesser known sources, seems to define a highball as an alcoholic beverage served in a tall -- at least 12-ounce -- glass with a shot or two of hard liquor and the rest with mixer. And two or three ice cubes. What's your favorite …

Let me be clear: you'll feel cooler just reading about this. But drinking one is the ultimate goal. There's nothing more refreshing on a hot summer evening than a watermelon dessert, and at the end of a hot week, a watermelon margarita is the perfect way to separate yourself from the stress of the work week. What's your favorite summer cocktail? Tell us in the comments or email ideas to mariella.savidge@patch.com. From delish.com we have a really easy recipe for a drink that's -- dare I say -- umbrella worthy. Watermelon Margarita Ingredients 1 1/2 ounce(s) Tequila 1/2 ounce(s) lime juice 1/4…

Our source this week, allrecipes.com, calls this potent potable a "punch-packer," and we couldn't agree more. Holy summer cocktails, Batman, this is for folks who seriously like a lot of alcohol. At the end of the week, if you're in a rush to relax, this is the vehicle that will take you there in a hurry. What's your favorite summer cocktail? Tell us in the comments or email ideas to mariella.savidge@patch.com. The research team here in the East Penn Patches has never had the courage to order or whip up one of these, but we hear they taste so good. And go down so easy. Consider yourself …

Ok, it's hot. And it will only be getting hotter over the weekend. You need something that will cool you from the inside out and we have just the ticket from our friends (and getting friendlier) at allrecipes.com. Seriously, this recipe had me at "scoop into tall glass": Frozen Summer Slush Ingredients 2 cups white sugar 7 cups water 4 tea bags 2 cups boiling water 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate 2 cups gin Directions Put 7 cups water in large saucepan, and heat on high until boiling. Add sugar and stir until dissolved…

Journalists sometimes have the best job in the world. For example: did you know that the mojito is the official cocktail of Cuba? Neither did we, but we're now ready for that Trivial Pursuit question. Our Patch research team has been searching far and wide to find ways our readers can beat the heat this summer, ergo, this is the first of a  series of Friday columns intended to put the "happy" in happy hour. What we'd really prefer is to know what YOU love to drink in the summer. Send your favorite cocktail recipes to mariella.savidge@patch.com and we'll feature them in the long, hot weeks to …