Barbecues aren't just about burgers and sausages. You need something to wash all that tasty food down with, after all. You could go down the easy route and stock up on beer and mixers, or you could do something slightly fancier and make some cocktails. You don't need to be Tom Cruise to whip up something tasty for your friends and family: you just need a few simple ingredients.
Of course, it's easy to get carried away when you're planning a get together with friends. There are lots of complex cocktail recipes out there, all calling for a range of weird and wonderful ingredients. If saving money is your goal, avoid them. If you're having trouble keeping track of your entertainment budget, give our budgeting software a shot. It makes it easy to keep an eye on how much you're spending and can help you understand how to save money by showing you where you need to cut back.
We firmly believe that you don't have to splash a lot of cash to be the host with the most. These cocktail recipes are quick, easy, and use every day items that can be picked up on the cheap from your local supermarket.
1. White wine sangria
Sangria is the ultimate summer cocktail. It's usually made with red wine, but this recipe uses a refreshing and tangy white.
Ingredients:
- 1 x bottle of white wine: choose a dry wine such as sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or riesling so that the cocktail is crisp and not too sweet. Don't splash out on a pricey bottle: most of the flavour will be masked by the other ingredients
- 200g of sugar
- 250ml fresh orange juice
- 1 sliced lemon
- 1 sliced lime
- 1 sliced orange
- 2 oz. Sherry
- 500ml ginger beer
Pour the wine into a pitcher and add the orange juice. Squeeze in the juice from the lemon and lime wedges, and toss the rinds in. Also add the sliced orange. Stir in the sugar and sherry, and chill the mixture overnight. Add the ginger beer just before serving.
Frozen pina colada
One sip of this and you'll think you're on a beach in Barbados, rather than a backyard in Blighty.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts coconut rum
- 1 part vanilla ice cream
- 1 part pineapple juice
- 1 small tin of pineapple cubes
- some crushed ice
Pop everything in the blender and whizz it up on medium until you have a nice slushy texture. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
Beer Margarita
It's just not a barbecue without lashings of beer, and this fun cocktail recipe takes boring old lager and adds a summery twist.
Ingredients:
- 1 part lime cordial
- 1 part tequila
- 1 part lemonade
- 1 part beer
- A few lime wedges for garnish
- Sugar (to taste)
Pour the cordial, tequila, lemonade, and beer into a large pitcher. Taste it and add sugar if necessary. Add plenty of ice, and serve with a wedge of lime.
Posted by Money Dashboard
