During the good ol’ days, we would beat the menacing heat of summer by devouring a Slurpee, Icee, or if you’re Dominican growing up in Washington Heights, a “Frio Frio.” Childhood is over, by why should we give up on our favorite cool treats? For this steamy seaon, chill out with a sexy, more sophisticated ice-blended drink with enough alcohol to provide a feel-good buzz. As the nights heat up, throw a fiesta and serve artic-cold cocktails that’ll have everyone celebrating until sunrise. The key to a successful summer soiree is serving frosty, easy-to-make drinks featuring trendy, thirst quenching ingredients. This year’s popular spirit is X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, a sensuous blend of smooth French vodka mingling with juicy blood orange, mango, and passion fruit. Experience summer in style and relive those cherished memories with our top tempting chillers. Blended or cubed, these icy numbers are the perfect addition to the scorching season!
Top Tempting Chiller: Blood Orange Freeze
Succulant slivers of ripe blood oranges easily quenches one’s thirst on a sticky hot day. When you incorporate the summery treat in a frozen liqueur, you won’t be able to resist it’s cool look. A Blood Orange Freeze, created by Dave Grimes at the Mattison Park in New Jersey, is a crimson-hued delight, a union of light rum and Grenadine for a jewel-hued elixir that satisfies with every drop.
Ingredients
3 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
1 oz. Light rum
½ oz. Grenadine
1 Blood orange slice
Preparation
Blend ingredients in a blender with ice. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.
Top Tempting Chiller: Racer X
Who needs salad when you can indulge in a cucumber cocktail? Cucumbers are available all year round and its clean, neutral flavor can be enjoyed by anyone. However, it’s a delicious deciever as it easily masks the taste of alcohol, leading to mayhem if you aren’t careful. Be daring and try a Racer X, created by Kevin Baker at the Isla Cantina in West Hollywood. The Racer X will have your heart pumping from its bold, invigorating taste of fresh peeled cucumber, juicy grapes, and icy vodka. This summer, don’t be afraid to go wild at the bar!
Ingredients
2 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
2 Slices of peeled cucumber
12 Red seedless grapes
Preparation
Blend all ingredients with ice in a blender. Garnish with slices of cucumber.
Top Tempting Chiller: Rosarita
You know it’s summertime when everyone at the bar is ordering a Margarita, but why settle for the same concoction every year when you can spice things up? If you’re looking for new a signature drink, make it a Rosaria by John Coyne at New Jersey’s Pub 17. Blood oranges are a major trend in the world of cocktails right now because they give any bland recipe a glorious, sexy shade of bright rojo, along with a cooling, zesty taste that’s not teeth shattering sweet or lip puckering sour. Add some French liqueur to your tequila and you have an instant fiesta in your cup.
Ingredients
1 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
1 oz. Tequila (We used Cabo Wabo Tequila)
2 oz. Sour mix
2 oz. Blood orange puree
1 Lemon slice
1 Lime slice
Preparation
Blend ingredients in a blender with ice. Garnish with a slice of lime and lemon.
Top Tempting Chiller: Pink Pineapple
Tropical elixirs are in season and even if you can’t hop on a plane for Maui, you can still have a sweet escape. Barbi Caruso at Luau in Beverly Hills, is giving patrons an instant getaway with a Pink Pineapple, a twist on on the typical tiki cocktail. It skips out on coconuts and instead, focuses on golden pineapple chunks soaked in aromatic vodka. Forget the little umbrellas and go straight to gulping this baby.
Ingredients
2 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
2 oz. Pineapple-infused vodka (We used SKYY Infusions Pineapple)
4 Pineapple slices
Preparation
Blend all ingredients with ice for 20 seconds. Garnish with a pineapple slice.
Top Tempting Chiller: Smooth Fusion
For those preferring a creamy cocktail, why not try a spiked smoothie? Smooth Fusion, created by mixologist Derwayne Chesterman, is a yummy dessert for adults. The bubble gum-hued drink features bananas and strawberries, but a few slurps will also reveal plenty of liqueur. You can customize the Smooth Fusion to be as milkshake thick or North Pole cold as you desired, making it a must-have for any day or night.
Ingredients
2 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
2 oz. Half & Half
1 ¼ oz. Simple syrup
¼ oz. Banana
1 Strawberry
1 Scoop of ice
Sugar
Grenadine
Preparation
Blend all ingredients and pour into wine glass. Rim glass with pink sugar (dip some Grenadine in the sugar). Place a strawberry on the rim of glass and serve.
Top Tempting Chiller: VolcaniX
We just celebrated National Pina Colada Day, but why end the festivities? Make any evening this summer a tribute to one of our favorite Latin cocktails and savor this unique spin on the beloved classic. VolcaniX, featuring swirling creamy coconut and bone chilling white rum, is the ideal cocktail to drink when you crave for a different kind of Pina Colada. Designed by Chesterman, the rich, bold taste of VolcaniX will blow you away and shatter everything you know about Pina Coladas.
Ingredients
1 Scoop of ice
1 oz. White rum
3 oz. Pina Colada mix
1 Wedge of Pineapple
Preparation
Put all ingredients in a blender. In a frozen Hurricane glass, pour a dash of blended ingredients into the bottom of the glass and then add an ounce of the liqueur. Pour more of the blended cocktail to halfway up the glass and then add 1 oz. of liqueur. Top off the glass with the rest of the blended cocktail. The effect should be a swirl of pink throughout the glass.
