Refreshing cocktails that turn any day into a getaway.

Escape is just a glass away. This month we’re toasting to wanderlust with two vacation-ready cocktails crafted right here in the Lowcountry. One captures the sunbaked spice of the Southwest with a citrusy kick and a hint of peppered intrigue. The other evokes the romance of coastal Italy with fresh strawberry sweetness and a sparkling Prosecco finish. 

Palmetto Bluff Club 

Recipe: Spiced Oasis

Let this cocktail carry you west, where adobe-colored sunsets stretch across the sky, and the air is spiced with citrus groves and desert bloom. Crafted by Gene Castellino, beverage director at the Palmetto Bluff Club, this drink channels the heat and brightness of a perfect summer day in the Southwest. A zesty mix of citrus and tequila sets the tone, while a kick of black pepper adds intrigue. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces black pepper-infused reposado tequila (Agave Loco, Ghost, etc.) 

1 ounce Licor 43

1 ounce grapefruit juice

3/4 ounce lemon juice

Directions

[1] Combine ingredients with ice in a rocks or Collins glass. [2] Top with Topo Chico. [3] Garnish with a lemon wedge.

 Nunzio Restaurant + Bar 

Recipe: Strawberry Rossini 

Imagine yourself perched at a seaside café, the Mediterranean breeze tousling your hair and the clink of glasses echoing across a sun-dappled piazza. This recipe from Nunzio Restaurant + Bar captures that carefree Italian spirit in every sip. Bright, bubbly and bursting with fresh flavor, it’s a dazzling blend of strawberry purée, crisp Prosecco and a splash of soda water. 

Ingredients 

6 ounces chilled Prosecco

Splash of strawberry purée (recipe below) 

Splash of soda water

Fresh strawberry and mint (garnish) 

Directions

[1] Pour chilled Prosecco into a wine or flute glass. [2] Add a splash of strawberry purée and top with soda water. [3] Garnish with a sliced strawberry and mint for a touch of Italy.

Recipe: Strawberry purée

Easy to make and bursting with fresh flavor, this strawberry purée is perfect for cocktails, mocktails, desserts or even a sweet swirl into yogurt or pancakes.

Ingredients

1 cup fresh strawberries (plus 1 for garnish)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon sugar

Directions

In a blender, purée the ingredients until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve to remove seeds, if desired.