The prospect of coping with the humidity and heat of August has me thinking of some thirst quenching beverages that will help keep me from complaining about the soaring temperatures!

Mojitos definitely come to mind, have been popular for several years and now you can have just about any flavor mojito you can think of. Flavors that range from a fruit base such as raspberry or pomegranate to herbs and vegetable based such as basil & cucumber.  We offer a Berry Cherry Mojito at Wildfire that features Cruzan Black Cherry Rum, lime, simple syrup and mint- a real crowd pleaser! This cocktail has "summer appeal" and remains a favorite among the wait and bar staff.

Most people know that margaritas are universally enjoyed and consumed no matter what the temperature is outside, however, there is something about sipping cold margaritas on a patio in the middle of summer that screams "sign me up"!! The key to making or ordering a really great margarita is not always necessarily the tequila, although a high quality tequila always helps the overall taste.  It's actually the sour mix that can either destroy or make the margarita. If you use fresh lemons, water and sugar to make a homemade sour mix then you will find that your margaritas are way more refreshing and appealing than margaritas made with a store bought sour mix. Are there pre-batched, store bought sour mixes out in the market that are better than others? Yes, but I would still lean towards ordering or making a margarita using a homemade sour mix recipe any day. Once you get used to the homemade sour mix in your margaritas, it will be very tough for you to settle for the store bought version! The recipe I linked above is one that I use at home for social gatherings, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Even though I consider myself a wine and champagne guy, the one beverage that I can honestly say "hits the spot" on a really hot day is an ice cold beer! I remember being at a Cubs roof top game a few years ago where the temperature was in the 90's but, it really felt like it was 100 degrees plus! I was dripping with sweat and I was in desperate need of something that would cool me off internally and I was finally given an icy cold bottle of Coors Light.  I shamelessly have to admit that at the moment in time I thought it was the "best beer I'd ever tasted"! Due to the fact I was so hot, miserable and sweaty I think that my desperation for something, anything to quench my thirst added to my overall reaction. But in the end, it's about what tastes good to you in the moment. Lately I've really been enjoying some buzz-worthy craft beers from breweries like Three Floyds, Flying Dog, Great Lakes and Bells. Here's to finding the summer beverage of your choice that helps you "beat the heat". Cheers to you, Brad Wermager