All Of It – Summer Fun: Cocktails To Celebrate The Season

Host: Kerry Nolan (guest host for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Mary Frances Heck, former Senior Editor at Food & Wine Magazine
Date: July 5, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the art and enjoyment of summer cocktails—both classic and inventive—perfect for warm weather gatherings. Host Kerry Nolan is joined by food writer Mary Frances Heck, who shares expert advice on building a summer home bar, refreshing low- or no-alcohol drinks, and the simple pleasure of enjoying icy beverages alfresco with friends and family. The episode is peppered with listener questions, practical recipes, and tips to make the most of summer sipping, whether at a backyard BBQ, picnic, or rooftop soirée.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Essence of a Summer Cocktail

• Refreshing, Icy, and Relaxing
  • Mary Frances Heck [02:34]:
    “In the summer, I'm always looking for an icy cold beverage that is going to primarily refresh and then offer a little bit of relaxation and fun too.”
• Icy coldness is essential; a drink should cool you off first and add a bit of festivity.

Classic & Creative Flavor Combinations

• Arnold Palmer Riff
  • Classic Arnold Palmer: half iced tea, half lemonade.
  • For a cocktail: add vodka for a neutral finish, or bourbon for richness.
  • Mary Frances Heck [02:54]:
    “You can add to it vodka or even bourbon, which could be a great addition.”
• Vodka acts as a base for fruit-forward and bright mixers, while bolder spirits like bourbon or dark rum shine against strong flavors like tea or citrus.

Stocking a Summer Bar

• Ice is the Unsung Hero
  • Keep a variety—crushed, regular cubes, large slow-melting cubes.
  • Mary Frances Heck [04:11]:
    “One of the most important components of making drinks in the summer is ice.”
• Sparkling mixers, club soda, flavored sodas (e.g., San Pellegrino Limonata/Aranciata), and fresh juices help lengthen and lighten spirits for day drinking.
• Notably, less-sweet mixers let you enjoy more than one cocktail.

Twists on Classics & Lighter Alternatives

• White Port & Tonic
  • Lower ABV than most spirits; offers a wine-like drink with a botanical twist.
  • Mary Frances Heck [05:46]:
    “If you like gin and tonic, why not try a white port and tonic which offers a little bit lighter alcohol and a lighter, more open flavor?”
  • Mix: White port, tonic, ice, lemon or lime twist—refreshing and not as boozy as standard cocktails.
  • Details on white port’s ABV [06:35]: "White port is going to be a little bit stronger than wine ... typically around 17 or 18% alcohol. So adding a little tonic or club soda ... makes for a nice, generous 10 to 12 oz cocktail.”

When to Let the Professionals Mix

• Bar vs. Home
  • Professional cocktail bars often use freshly-squeezed juices and perfect their ratios.
  • Margarita or daiquiri, though simple, tastes elevated by expert technique.
  • Mary Frances Heck [07:39]:
    “When you go out and get a perfectly prepared margarita from a bartender who really knows what they're doing... there's nothing better.”

Pina Colada—Lighter, Non-Alcoholic Options

• Low-Cal, Alcohol-Free “Fresh Pina Colada”
  • Blend unsweetened coconut milk, fresh or frozen pineapple, a touch of brown sugar, lime juice, and vanilla extract. Optional: add rum.
  • Mary Frances Heck [08:46]: “It uses coconut milk, just like from the can that you might use for cooking, which is unsweetened, and then fresh or frozen pineapple ... with a little bit of light brown sugar, a little bit of lime juice and ... vanilla extract.”

Listener Q&A: Gin, Non-Alc Options, & Ice in Wine

• Gin Without “Christmas” Notes
  • Suggests lighter, less-juniper-forward gins (e.g., Hendrick’s).
  • Recommends Pimm’s Cup for summery botanical flavors, lower alcohol, fruit and cucumber garnishes.
  • Mary Frances Heck [10:04]: “I still love like a Hendrick gin, which is going to have a lighter botanical. And then I also would recommend trying something like a Pimm's cup ... cut with a lot of fruit and it's a little bit brighter.”
• Creative Non-Alc & Low-Alc Drinks
  • Add fino sherry to club soda and lime for an aromatic touch.
  • Use cordials (like El Guapo’s rose or lime) with ice and water or soda for festive, non-alcoholic sips.
  • Mary Frances Heck [12:16]: “If you're open to a very low alcohol cocktail, I recommend adding Fino sherry to the club soda and the squeeze of lime. ... Cordials ... are really flavorful ... with ice and cold water or club soda.”
• Ice in Sparkling Wine Cocktails?
  • Purists avoid ice in premium wine, but it’s welcome in spritzes and sangria-like drinks.
  • Mary Frances Heck [13:29]: “If you're using wine in a cocktail or sparkling wine in a cocktail, absolutely add ice. I think that's part of ... refreshing and enjoying your drink.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Ice is the most important bar ingredient for summer! Keep a big bag in the freezer, with a few shapes for flexibility.”
  —Mary Frances Heck [04:11]
• “Lengthen hard alcohol with club soda or flavored sodas—they’re less sweet and more refreshing.”
  —Mary Frances Heck [04:45]
• On the joy of bar-made classics:
  “There’s nothing better to me than a perfectly prepared margarita from a bartender who really knows what they’re doing.”
  —Mary Frances Heck [07:39]
• On fresh takes:
  “It’s like white wine with a twist.”
  —Mary Frances Heck, on white port and tonic [05:46]
• On low-cal or non-alc pina colada:
  “It's incredibly flavorful, really fun, and I promise you can have two.”
  —Mary Frances Heck [09:41]
• On summer gin:
  “I love sort of juniper forward gin when the weather's cold in certain drinks, but during the summer it can be a little overpowering.”
  —Mary Frances Heck [10:09]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:34 – What makes a great summer cocktail?
• 02:54 – Arnold Palmer cocktail riffs with vodka or bourbon
• 04:11 – The importance of different types of ice; home bar essentials
• 05:46 – White port and tonic as a lower-alcohol option
• 07:39 – On the magic of a well-made classic cocktail at a professional bar
• 08:46 – Healthier, alcohol-free pina colada recipe
• 10:04 – Gin recommendations for summer, Pimm’s Cup explained
• 12:16 – Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol alternatives for cocktail lovers
• 13:29 – Is it okay to put ice in sparkling wine cocktails?

Summary Table: Summer Cocktail Suggestions

| Drink/Approach | Key Ingredients | Alcohol Content | Why It Works for Summer | |-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------------| | Arnold Palmer Cocktail | Iced tea, lemonade, vodka/bourbon | Medium/Variable | Classic refreshment, easy twists | | White Port & Tonic | White port, tonic, citrus | Low | Light, wine-like, not too strong | | “Fresh” Pina Colada (non-alc option) | Coconut milk, pineapple, lime, vanilla | None or Rum | Lower sugar, dairy-free, customizable| | Gin/Pimm’s Cup | Pimm’s, gin (opt.), fruit, cucumber | Low | Botanical flavor without heavy juniper | | Fino Sherry Spritz | Fino sherry, club soda, lime| Very Low | Aromatic, festive, easy | | Club Soda + Cordials (zero-proof) | Cordials (e.g. rose/lime), club soda | None | “Cocktail feel”; flavor no alcohol | | Wine Spritz/Sparkling Sangria | Bubbles, triple sec, fruit | Variable | Crowd-pleaser, adaptable, refreshing|

Closing Vibe

The episode’s spirit is all about accessibility and creativity—refreshing drinks that are easy to make, not too sweet or strong, and always perfect for sharing under the summer sun. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just looking for a festive non-alcoholic treat, the suggestions and recipes shared by Mary Frances Heck encourage listeners to experiment, enjoy, and raise a glass to the season.