It’s summer time and the living is easy.  This time of year was made for slowing down, for kicking back with friends, and of course for sipping ice-cold summer cocktails.

For this week’s Patch Picks, we stopped into some local restaurants and bars in search of the perfect summer cocktails.  Some were spicy and sweet, others tangy and light—all delivered the perfect sip for a hot summer’s day.

Want to try some at home? Check out the recipes below, shared by Pour owner Anthony Colasacco.

Pour Café & Wine Bar’s Kisco Summer Cocktail and Golden Rose Cocktail

The aptly named Kisco Summer, which is made with lavender (syrup) and violet (Crème de Violette), and served up in a cocktail glass garnished with cucumber, really does tastes like refreshing glass of summertime.

If you’re in the mood for a beer cocktail, definitely try Pour’s Golden Rose beer cocktail.  Made of Captain Lawrence Golden Delicious beer and apple jack, this is a light, refreshing summer drink.

Willy Nicks Blueberry Lemonade and Peach Iced Tea

This established Katonah restaurant takes advantage of summer’s bounty, incorporating fresh berries and herbs into two of its top cool cocktails. The blueberry lemondade is a mix of Stoli blueberry vodka and lemonade infused with just a drop of blue curacao for color, topped with a handful of blueberries and garnished with a slice of lemon.

Mint lovers should order the iced tea, which combines Absolut peach vodka with simple sugar and a generous handful of crushed mint, also garnished with a lemon. Front porch swing not included.

Village Social’s Cantaloop Cocktail

Although some summer cocktails are too sweet and fruity for the manly-man, Village Social has the perfect unisex drink.  Made of Herradura Silver Tequila, Cantaloupe, serrano chili peppers, and black pepper, the Cantaloop is spicy, just the right amount of sweet, and refreshingly delicious.

353 Restaurant’s Pomegranate Martini

Since the pomegranate has become the “it” fruit, we would be remiss if we didn’t include at least one pomegranate-themed summer drink.  Our favorite, 353’s Pomegranate Martini, is made of the ever-popular pomegranate juice, raspberry vodka, and triple sec.  This martini is light and sweet, full of anti-oxidants and still manages to pack a powerful punch!

Recipes

Kisco Summer

2oz. Berkshire Ethereal Gin

3/4 oz. Royal Rose Lavender Syrup

1/2 oz. Crème de Violette

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

Golden Rose

4oz. Captain Lawrence Golden Delicious beer

1/2 oz. lemon juice

3/4 oz. Royal Rose Tamarind Syrup,

1 oz. Domaine De Canton,

1/2 oz. apple jack

build over ice and top with ginger beer

Patch editor Lisa Buchman contributed to this report.