One of the duties of my job in the legal field that I truly enjoy is research.  If I am handed a research project, all other projects I have are put aside until the research gets done.  I like being able to find things out that upper management hasn’t been able to (or sometimes just hasn’t had the time to), and that “Ah ha!” moment is a real thrill for me.

The term “research” is a completely different ball of wax when it comes to mixing drinks, however.

I have found that research in the name of creating a perfect cocktail can be slightly dangerous, but also pretty fun.  Expensive, wasteful perhaps, but definitely fun.  I say wasteful because as much as you’d think one wouldn’t mind drinking one’s “research” projects that don’t turn out as planned, sometimes you just have to dump that crap down the drain.

 I had lots of fun this past weekend researching the cocktails for today’s multi-drink post.  I had never tasted any of the drinks here, so I prepared and tasted them all.  That is a LOT of research.

I call them binge-watching drinks because by this point in the summer, I don’t know about you, but I’ve basically given up on yard work and I’m no longer very interested in being outside baking in the sun.  So now I am trying to watch all six seasons of Parenthood on Netflix by the end of August.  And you have to pace yourself if you plan to sit in front of the tube for hours on end.  So below are five cocktails that will get you through that end-of-summer viewing frenzy.  Not too strong, so you can enjoy one per episode.  Unless you sit and watch 15 episodes- then we’ve got a problem.

Country Club

2 oz vodka

1 oz Ruby Red grapefruit juice

Sprite

Fill a glass with ice, then pour in first two ingredients and top with an ounce or two of Sprite.  This drink tastes like a bubbly greyhound with the Sprite adding some sweetness and carbonation to the classic drink.  Very tasty!

Pear Cranberry Bellini

1 oz chilled pear nectar (found in the international foods aisle)

Prosecco (or dry champagne if you prefer)

Cranberry juice (also chilled)

Pour ingredients in order into a champagne flute.  This fancy looking drink is great for binge watching, but is also a lovely drink to serve for special occasions!  And it tastes divine.

French Summer

1 oz Chambord

Sparkling water such as Perrier

Combine the two ingredients over ice- light and refreshing!  This will be the closest I will get to France this summer.

Citrus Sparkler

1-2 oz citrus vodka

Juice of one lemon (2 oz if you don’t have fresh)

Sprite

Fill a glass with ice, then pour in first two ingredients and top with an ounce or two of Sprite.  Fresh juice is best, as always.

Skinny Colada

1-2 oz coconut rum

2-3 oz pineapple juice

Club soda

Fill a glass with ice, then pour in first two ingredients, then top with an ounce or two of club soda.  I prefer this drink without the club soda, but if you like bubbles, you will like it either way.

Now that you have your cocktail choices handy, it’s time to grab that remote and settle in for the home stretch of summer.