With Memorial Day, the unofficial kick off to summer right around the corner, I have a book to share and giveaway if you’re dreaming of white sandy beaches, tiki bars and umbrella drinks:
*Beach Cocktails: Favorite Surfside Sips and Bar Snacks (Oxmoor House, May 2017) by the Editors of Coastal Living, is a full-color book packed with 125 thirst-quenching cocktails that will transport you to the world’s most tropical locales – with or without a plane ticket.
Over the last 20 years Coastal Living has provided readers with the best of seaside life, and now with Beach Cocktails they serve up delicious cocktail recipes alongside beautifully photographed coastal scenery to delight the casual reader, mixologist, or guest alike.
Complete with beautifully photographed scenic shots of the globe’s best beaches and coasts, this book is in an encyclopedia of tiki bar classics, high spirits, foamy and frothy sips and much more. As you flip through the book you’ll learn the origin stories and key ingredients of these famous libations as well as the 411 on stocking your bar with proper spirits, mixers, tools and glassware. And to make sure you can indulge in more than one of these elixirs, the final chapter serves up recipes for favorite bar snacks, like mango- lime salsa, ceviche verde, glazed honey-garlic chicken wings and more.
Help yourself to a margarita in celebration of Cinco De Mayo! Here’s a fun tip: Freeze margaritas in an ice-cream maker for extra slushiness!
Serves 6 to 8
3 cups (24 ounces) sugar
6 cups (48 ounces) water
1 cup (8 ounces) silver tequila
1 cup (8 ounces) orange liqueur (such as triple sec)
2 tablespoons lime zest
2 cups (16 ounces) fresh lime juice (about 16 limes)
Garnish: lime slices
Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high. Cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and cool completely; set aside. Combine the tequila, liqueur, lime zest, lime juice, and reserved simple syrup. Pour the mixture into a 4-quart container, and freeze 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to break up large ice crystals. Garnish, if desired.
The 143rd Kentucky Derby and Run for the Roses is Saturday, May 6th. The iconic Mint Julep’s combination of bourbon, sugar, and fresh mint makes for a sipper that’s as refreshing on a shoreline at sunset as it is at Churchill Downs—no horses required.
Per cocktail:
Fresh mint sprig
1 tablespoon (1⁄2 ounce) *Mint Simple Syrup
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) bourbon
Garnishes: powdered sugar, fresh mint sprig
Muddle the mint sprig and syrup in the bottom and against the sides of a chilled julep cup to extract the oils. Fill cup with crushed ice, and top off with bourbon. Garnish, if desired.
My favorite fiesta cocktail is a Cucumber Margarita, so I loved the Cucumber Mint Julep for a refreshing variation on the classic Mint Julep. I used a mandoline to make a thin ribbon of cucumber to skewer for a garnish.
Cucumber Mint Julep Variation : Muddle a thin ribbon of cucumber with mint sprig, and use equal parts Cucumber Simple Syrup and Mint Simple Syrup.
*For simple syrup: Mix 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water, bring to boil until sugar dissolves, allow to cool and chill until ready to use. For mint simple syrup, add 1 1/2 cups mint leaves to water sugar mixture. Let stand 30 minutes, strain and chill. For cucumber simple syrup; peel and coarsely chop an English cucumber. Combine cooled syrup and cucumber in food processor, process until blended. Steep 1 hour; strain. Store in refrigerator up to 5 days.
Click on ‘take the quiz’ to find out your coastal cocktail.
For a chance to win a copy of Beach Cocktails, leave a comment and tell me your coastal cocktail or what beach destination floats your boat. ;)
This giveaway is open to those living in the continental US. A winner will be chosen May 12th.
Excerpted from Beach Cocktails by the Editors of Coastal Living. Copyright © 2017 Oxmoor House. Reprinted with permission from Time Inc. Books, a division of Time Inc. New York, NY. All rights reserved.
*Thank you to Time Inc. Books for providing a copy of Beach Cocktails.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Whether you prefer a classic sip on the sand, a cutting-edge contemporary toddy, or a refreshing mocktail while watching the tide roll in, Beach Cocktails is your thirst-aid kit.
Thank you for your visit!
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Any beach would be wonderful. I’m not picky.
Your quiz says that My Coastal Cocktail is Basil Tonic. I prefer Bourbon and Coke in reality. And I’d love to sip on that somewhere–anywhere– in France. ooh la la!
Has to be the Soggy Dollar Bar in White Bay-BVI and enjoy their “Painkiller” under a shady palm tree on the most beautiful beach you’ve ever seen. In fact were there right now, waking up to blue skies and aqua water.
I’m so envious Kate! We were in the BVI’s two years ago and would love to go back, Cheers! https://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2015/02/19/winter-escape-to-the-british-virgin-islands/
According to the quiz my beach cocktail is the ultimate rum punch. Since I’m not much on sweet drinks I believe I’ll stick with my “go to”…vodka and water with a twist. Ever so refreshing!! We have a great family get together every September at Pensacola Beach, my sister’s family, my family and our mother. We celebrate Mother’s birthday during that time – this September she’ll be 92. That’s definitely the beach vacation that floats my boat!! BTW…on Mother’s 90th she surprised everyone by wearing a bathing suit on the beach – a 35 year old suit. They just don’t make spandex like they used to!!
Playa Hermosa , Costa Rica is where I met my husband. That’s where I had my best Pina Colada !
We just got back to Missouri from a week at Clearwater Beach. I had a tropical storm, frozen mango and strawberry purée with rum, yummmmy!
My favorite beach cocktail is a Bahama Mama to be consumed on Nokomis Beach.
The quiz says ultimate rum cocktail for me but I’d take ANY cocktail on ANY beach!!!
Definitely margaritas in Key West!! Happy Cinco de Mayo & now I’m thirsty :-)
Pink mimosas is my drink shore lunch on a lake in Canada is my choice of a good time with family.
Hands down, 7 mile beach Grand Cayman. Heaven. Happy weekend!
I agree Rita, it’s pretty spectacular :)
The quiz said rum cocktail for me too and rum runners are my fav beach drink!!!
North Myrtle Beach,SC is a great beach with a small town feel. Dream beach is anything on St John, USVI
My frovite beach is lake counties happy cico de mayo to all of you
Our favorite a boat drink is a light peach mango juice with rum which we like to sip at our secluded beach spot on the South Texas Gulf coast with my family. The spot is reached by boat, and we fish, float in the refreshing water, paddle board, and enjoy the days!
Sounds wonderful Gayle! ;)
My favorite beach St. Augustine, Florida, white sand , not over crowded, beautiful sunsets.
The quiz says rum punch but I’d prefer either the mint julip or frozen margarita. My favorite beach is Atlantic Beach, NC!
Anywhere on the Crystal Coast with a cocktail is good in my book Betty :)
Sipping a pina colada, on the beautiful beach of Kamalama Key, in the Bahamas!
Margarita is my kind of beach drink, any warm Sandy beach would do
Any beach would be great but I do love St. Augustine it’s beautiful and not crowded!!! 🍸🍹🍧
My coastal cocktail is the “ultimate rum punch, because you always have a posse with you”. Yes!!! Mustang Island is my favorite beach because it is a few miles down the road and we have been visiting Port Aransas for 50 years. It is not the most beautiful beach that I have visited, but it is home and very comfortable.
Siesta Key Florida has magnificent white sands and the town has a charming feel. I’m partial to a white sangria in the summer. You can add so many different fruits and wines. I remember you shared a good recipe for one.
My favorite beach cocktail is a good mojito enjoyed in a beach Adirondack chair on the sandy shore of Sanibel Island, FL.
The book of beach cocktails look like sooo much fun. My favorite place in the whole wide world is any piece of land that touches the Chesapeake Bay. Can’t explain the passion and love, but it a place I would spend the summers with my grandparents, and instilled in my soul , love for all that comes from the bay. But at the top of the list is the Blue Crab.
The Coastal Margarita for me. Heading to Wrightsville Beach in a couple of weeks. Feet in sand and margarita in hand fix coming soon.♡
Looks like paradise. I could go for a peach margarita 😋
Every summer we rent a house on Holden Beach NC. It is the sweetest family beach anywhere. There are no high rises, very few restaurants, and the beach faces south so you get a sunrise and a sunset.Our two daughters, son-in-laws and four granddaughters have a wonderful week along with Nana and Pop. The shrimp boats dock close to the bridge that takes you off the island so we buy it by the pound already cleaned and cook it with potatoes, corn on the cob and kielbase. I think it is called a low country boil. My favorite drink is rum, galliano, coconut rum and fresh squeezed orange juice. Have a happy weekend!
Oh boy am I thirsty! What a fun book Mary, lots of mouth watering eye candy! I LOVE the way you styled in on the sand with cocktail stuff and shells! A lovely giveaway full of frothy cold concoctions! My favorite beach cocktail is a Bushwacker, a local legend around here, I wonder if it’s included in this Coastal Living book…
Happy weekend!
Jenna
What fun his book is. My drink is the Sparkling Sea Breeze, it fits me perfectly!
Hi Linda, That’s my coastal cocktail too and fits me to a T!
My favorite beach is Smith Beach on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and I will sip almost anything with rum!
What a small world. My family lives not far away.
Myrna
I love a Pink Bikini cocktail, as for a beach, I’ll take the Riviera.
Murrells Inlet SC, and coastal margarita is my quiz drink 🍹
Or anything with rum 😎
Sparkling mimosas on Fort Lauderdale Beach sounds grand! Have a great weekend.
Love your blog. Happy Cinco Di Mayo to you. My favorite drink is Peach Bellini and would love to spend summer on the Amalfi coast!!
My favorite beach is…ANY BEACH with a nice cool drink! Love your blog! Thanks for sharing all your beautiful ideas!
My favorite beach is Perdido Key, Florida. Sugar white sand beaches, beautiful clear blue-green water, very laid back, never crowded and part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, Put it on your list to visit if you want a relaxing beach vacation. When you visit, be sure to get a Perdido Martini-vodka, midori, watermelon liquer, and pineapple juice. Delicious!
St. Thomas, beautiful turquoise water and white sand.
Drink would be pina colada.
Would treasure and love the book.
Flip flops, hat, sun, fun.
Any cocktail with an umbrella :-) A margarita, pina colada, or mojito!
Hi Mary!
My coastal cocktail is a Pink Bikini! Yum — coconut rum, raspberry lemonade and amaretto! I must try one! As for beaches, I’ll take anyone, anywhere, but I must admit that the beaches in Bermuda never fail to take my breath away, with the combination of the tropical air, the sand, and the warm, clear water.
Linda
A piña colada on any beach will do, especially if someone is bringing them to you!
I always enjoy going to Myrtle Beach, SC.
I love Beachwalker County Beach near Charleston SC, and apparently my favorite cocktail is a Sparkling Sea Breeze. I also love all the beaches on Prince Edward Island and a Pina Colada.
Kathie
I’d be sippin a margarita with Jimmy Buffet playing on a beautiful beach in Saugatuck Michigan
Thanks for the giveaway Mary
PINA COLADA, hands-down, either VIRGIN or FULL-ON, with a SPOON, on any BEACH!!!
~💛❤💛~
I’ve always loved Coastal Living, and that margarita looks insanely good, I’m going to make one today!
On this cold, rainy day, I needed a pick-me-up. Your pictures are beautiful!
A coastal margarita according to the quiz! Haleiwa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii; the beach of my childhood.
Best time …. Drinking coladas at ” the Natical Inn “Lake Havasu, Az. When those drinks first were popular and the inn was new.
I love a Malibu bay breeze! Hilton Head would be my choice of a beach get-away :)
I love Holden Beach in N.C. and the best drink is a Cuba Libre.
Well I’m writing this from my deck on the OBX in North Carolina and if someone would hand me a G&T, this day would be perfect
Sounds pretty great Patricia…could only better with a bartender :)
Boca Grande, Fl..love to win
The Studio Cafe on the Balboa Peninsula in Southern California served a blue drink called the Adios Mother! It was a delicious blend of white spirits mixed with a little sweet an sour and blue curaçao! Great to sip after many volleyball games on the beach! One was great, but two, and you were “adios”!
Ha-ha, lovin’ your cucumber garnish Mary! Happy Cinco de Mayo-enjoy:@)
Beergaritas, Rachel Ray style! Perfect for a hot summer day by the water! (Or cinco de mayo!) St. Augustine is on the top of my list!
Happy Cinco de Mayo, Mary! I’d take a beach in the Mayan Riviera, under some palm trees, with the breeze slightly blowing.
A Dark n Stormy made with good rum… paired with the pink sands of Bermuda, unbeatable!!!
It’s got to be a Mai Tai while enjoying a Maui sunset!!
The quiz says a basil tonic! Surfside beach, SC, is my favorite.
Your pictures and posts just take me away!! As for the cocktail from the quiz… Sparkling Sea Breeze Mimosa was just the perfect pick. My beach of choice would be in the Pensacola Beach area, specifically the quiet beach of Fort Pickens with a roaring bonfire at sunset… Sparkling Sea Breeze Mimosa in hand of course! Would be honored to win the Beach Cocktails book by the Editors of Coastal Living… And sure to put it to great use with friends.
Sanibel Island, Florida!
Tanqueray & Tonic on a hot summer day for me. Love the cucumber & mint garnish combination–makes it look so much more festive!
The Chi at the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki Beach on Oahu, Hawaii
coconut, muddled basil and fresh pineapple, pineapple juice and maui’s ocean organic vodka
Hard to pick one, but I will go with Sanibel and Captiva in Florida.
Favorite beach? Gosh that’s a hard one as I love them all! Pensacola, Fl. has beautiful white sand and the beaches in Jamaica have lovely turquoise waters, but you just can’t beat our local “fresh” COLD blue Lake Huron water on a hot, sticky, humid, summer day. Of course we have our share of rocks you have to walk, slip, slide over which helps you fall into the water and gets you adjusted to the cold real quick, but then after the gasping is done, it is so refreshing as you make your way out to the first sandbar! Then the waves roll in from the 1,000 foot freighters, speedboats, sailboats, wave runners, pontoons, etc. and there’s nothing like jumping them! Let a strong wind come in and it’s all you can do to stand up and make your way back to shore without the white caps beating you and be sure to watch the current, it can carry you downstream quick!. LOVE IT!! Since I don’t drink alcohol, I’ll pass on my name being entered and wait for you to share the great snacks. hehe. Thanks for letting me brag on Michigan’s GREAT Lakes! :)
I have always loved the cocktails section of Coastal Living and am excited that there is a whole book about them! Some sound so interesting, Navy Grog for one, but you can never go wrong with a Planters Punch (well, too much of them and things could go wrong). My dream beach would be Bora Bora or Saychelles but Cyndi Raines’ example of Michigan beaches is right on and only a couple of hours drive from us.
Being a Georgia girl, my favorite has to be my made from scratch fresh georgia peach margarita! Sweet & slushy with a hint of saltiness. Beautiful color as well, with a slice of lime or even a hint of jalepeno for a little fire! Perfect to sip on the white sandy beaches of laid back Anna Maria Island, Florida! Counting the days until we are there! Thank Mary, you are awesome!
Wonderful post! I always look forward to seeing them! My favorite!
I’m a sparkling sea breeze! Although I love frozen pina coladas. I grew up in Houston so I love the Gulf of Mexico…spent weekends with my parents and grandmother (who lived there) in Galveston and summers in Corpus Christi.
Ultimate run punch! Ymmy :) Pensacola Beach
My husband is a cruise travel agent so we’ve enjoyed many beaches. I’m not particular and find it difficult to chose just one. We have many beautiful beaches here in the US as well. Even a wave pool at a beach-less resort makes me happy! If I’m on a Mexican beach I want margaritas but Pina Coladas in the Caribbean. My dream is a European beach with any cocktail! Gorgeous post as always and great giveaway. Thank you!
Bahama Mama would be my favorite coastal drink.
I have to tell you that the beach destination that floats my boat is White Bay Beach on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the BVIs. I absolutely loved it there and would go back again without any question. While in the BVIs I discovered my favorite coastal cocktail and that would be their famous Pain Killer!
Coronado, California beach with a margarita watching the sunset 🌅
I loved St. Pete Beach. Not sure if my last comment was successful. Loved your photos!
My favorite beach cocktail is a SeaBreeze. It’s light and fruity and just perfect to drink on a nice hot beach day!
Oh I am such a margarita girl (on the rocks, no salt & 2 limes). Hopefully on a beach!
St. George Island is my favorite and I enjoy a Tequila Sunrise drink!
The quiz tells me that I really need to be drinking a Pink Bikini!🌺 As for my favorite coast, I loved the Painkillers in the BVIs while watching the sunset off the deck of a wonderful catamaran! Truly heaven!🌴
This is a fantastic book! I can think of many friends to gift this too….If you can’t get to the beaches, then the next best thing is to enjoy a drink and pretend!
My coastal cocktail is the Sparkling Sea Breeze Mimosa – my favorite beach is Oak Island NC. Southport is my favorite little summer town for the past 13 years!
My cocktail was the pink bikini – I would love to relax in Cinque Terre in Italy. All five of the towns!
My Coastal Cocktail was the Basil tonic and i would be happy as a clam sipping one from any beach, near or far!!
Survey says: Ultimate Rum Punch. And i have just recently discovered RumChata which I dearly love. Thanks.
Hi Mary . I took the quiz and my drink was the pink bikini. I’m so glad it was served in a coconut I love coconut…. it’s so me …… I so much want to go to Italy hope to someday….
After reading all the comments is sounds like there are a number of beautiful beaches to choose. My choice would be sitting in the shade, a cool breeze and being served numerous frozen drinks! This looks like just my kind of book and the pictures look wonderful. We are having a deck added to the house – can’t wait to have a few cocktails while enjoying the view! Love your blog
I must say Stuart, Florida is my favorite beach town and was Coastal Livings pick for Happiest Seaside Town for 2016. My husband and I have a condo there where we enjoy sailing the rivers surrounding Stuart, walks on the beach and enjoying the charming town of Stuart during the winter months. The basil tonic has been chosen for my special drink and I look forward to trying it. Having always enjoyed vodka and tonic I have saved the recipe to my Pinterest page.
My cocktail was the ‘Pink Bikini’ never heard of it but it looks delish! Favorite beach… yes! As long as there’s sand (instead of just rocks):)
ooooo I got the Ultimate Rum Punch.
My favorite place to be is the Gulf Coast of Florida — Panama City Beach, Pensacola, …. the list is endless!
My drink was a Basil Tonic but I really love frozen Pina Coladas. Bora Bora would be my beach choice.
My favorite beach destination is Indian Rocks Beach, FL. I have many great and special memories from there. Hope to go back soon.
Oh wow this looks fantastic! I’m probably too late to enter but I absolutely love the recipes! Thank you for sharing 🙂
If you have time, please check out my latest post about Brick &Liquor Cocktail bar
Happy blogging! x
Well, it is now 2020 & we are all staying home dreaming of the beach, infact we had to cancel our trip to Myrtle Beach in March & our April trip to Hilton Head Island!! Headed to Williamsburg end of May!
I would have loved the book🌸