There are very few things that you can enjoy about Delhi summers. The one that hits the top of that list is fruits. The variety of fruits that we get in the summer is amazing and we really need to celebrate them a lot more than we do. Now since the lockdown has made most of us (read: all of us) create a closer bond with alcohol, these spritzers were bound to happen. Here are four ways that you can make the most out of this dreaded summer with some boozy summer spritzers! Do make these drinks and if you are short on tropical treats, there is a formula here: lemon juice and vodka as the base + a fresh herb as aromatic element + Fresh fruit!

Jamun Lavender Spritzer

Lavender is a very difficult ingredient to work with because it seems to leave the palate with a soapy texture. But an infusion with Jamun, a fruit that has a greater mouthful makes this the perfect combination!

Ingredients

4-5 pieces of Jamun

1/2 teaspoon of dried lavender

Juice of 1/2 lemon

30 ml Vodka

100 ml soda water

Method

1. In a bowl, muddle lavender and Jamun. Add the mixture to a tumbler (with the seeds)

2. To the same tumbler add vodka, lemon juice, and few ice cubes. Shake well and strain.

3. Fill the remainder of the glass with soda water

Watermelon Mint Spritzer

Mint and watermelon are a flavour combo as good as ham and cheese! Plus making this drink gives you a reason to cut up a giant watermelon and make the cutest little balls of fruit haha.

Ingredients

3-4 pieces of watermelon, balled

Juice of 1/2 lemon

30 ml Vodka

60 ml tonic water

Handful fresh mint leaves

Method

1. Use a 1/2 teaspoon and scoop out balls of watermelon

2. Slap mint leaves to release oils and to a tumbler

3. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon, vodka, and some cubes of ice. Shake well.

4. Strain into a glass, add your watermelon, pour tonic water to the brim

Cherry Basil Lemonade

Cherries in general don’t have a whole lot of flavour, but if you add some acid to the fruit and that classic cherry flavour seems to bloom beautifully. Pro tip: Make the lemonade a day in advance and you will get this beautiful pink hue plus a more concentrated flavour!

Ingredients

3-4 cherries, pitted

Juice of 1/2 lemon

30 ml Vodka

60 ml tonic water (optional)

Handful fresh basil leaves

Method

1. In a tumbler add cherries, vodka, lemon juice and ice

2. Gently slap some basil leaves on your hand to activate the oils and add them to the tumbler as well. Shake well and strain into a long-stemmed glass

3. Add some tonic water to add some fizz.

Lychee Rosemary Spritzer

By far one of the coolest fruits of the summer is lychees. Eating lychees is like a task. It’s sticky, difficult to peel and its seeds look like cockroaches (I used to scare my mom by leaving them all over the house. She would then beat me when there were ants everywhere). The Rosemary adds an aroma of a grown-up drink. It’s not the most common flavour pairings but IT WORKS!

Ingredients

6-7 lychees pitted

Juice of 1/2 lemon

30 ml Vodka

60 ml tonic water (optional)

Handful fresh rosemary leaves

Method

1. In a tumbler, add lemon juice, vodka and ice.

2. Slap rosemary leaves to activate the oils and add to the tumbler. Shake well.

3. In a highball glass, add lychees and muddle well. Add the mix from the tumbler, garnish with some rosemary and enjoy!