Community Corner

Fresh Summer Drink Recipes From a Master Mixologist

Fresh and easy to make summer cocktails from Los Angeles mixologist Shane Croughan.

Written By John Schreiber

The heat seems to have arrived in Los Angeles and with the summer in full swing, refreshing cocktails using fresh, seasonal ingredients can only help to cool off a bit. 

Mixologist Shane Croughan of the South Bay's Chez Soi A Modern Cafe shared with Patch three summer drink recipes that are both easy to make and also use a variety of fresh ingredients such as peach, grapefruit and cucumber. 

Thyme for Peaches:

  • 1 ripe peach half, skin on
  • 1 spring of fresh thyme
  • 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 oz. simple syrup
  • 2 oz. Famous Grouse blended scotch
  • 1/2 oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur
  • Ice

Muddle peach half with skin on in a shaker glass along with the fresh spring of thyme, lemon juice and simple syrup. Add blended scotch, the St. Germain and ice cubes and shake. Strain into a chilled couple or champagne saucer glass. 

"Garnish the cocktail with another thyme sprig for a nice herbaceous nose, and enjoy," Croughan said.

Summer in Peru:
  • 6 lime wedges
  • 4 cucumber slices
  • 3/4 oz. simple syrup
  • 2 oz. Macchu Pisco
  • Ice
  • Salt 

Muddle the six lime wedges, four cucumber slices and ¾ oz. simple syrup in a shaker. Add the 2 oz. of Macchu Pisco and ice cubes then shake in a shaker for a few seconds. Pour the drink into a double old-fashioned glass, rimmed with salt. Garnish with lime and cucumber slices, and serve.  

Grapefruit Syndrome:
  • 3/4 oz. lime juice
  • 1/2 oz. grapefruit juice
  • 3/4 oz. simple syrup
  • 1/4 oz. Aperol
  • 1 1/2 oz. Titos Vodka
  • Club Soda
  • Ice

This drink uses a bit of the Italian aperitif Aperol. Pour the lime juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, Aperol, and vodka into a shaker with ice and shake. Pour drink into a Tom Collins glass, top with club soda, more ice (if needed) and a grapefruit wedge for garnish.

- Shane Croughan is the official mixologist of Chez Soi, located in Manhattan Beach at 51 D Manhattan Beach Blvd.. For more information on Croughan and Chez Soi, visit the restaurant's website.


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