5 Frozen Drinks to Cool You Down this Summer

Choose the Right Ice

We’d be neglecting our duties if we didn’t share an ice tip with you.

One thing all frozen drinks require is ice and blending ice can be a real pain. It takes a long time and can damage blenders if you’re not using the right type of ice.

Large square cubes are not the best type of ice to blend because they’re rock hard so your best bet is to choose cubelet ice or flake ice. Both are soft-style ice cubes that are easy on blenders and break apart quickly.

If you’re making drinks at home and using the ice cubes out of your refrigerator dispenser, make sure to set your ice style to crushed if your refrigerator allows for it. This will do half the work for you and will be easier on your blender as well.

Now onto the fun part.

Frozen Sangria

Sangrias have long been a spring and summer staple, but this recipe really drops the temperature by adding cold, blended ice into the mix.

Fresh berries bring out that summer sweetness everyone loves and makes day drinking by the pool seem almost healthy.

Recipe:

• 2 cups mixed berries
• 4 oz red or white wine
• Splash of Cointreau
• Sugar to taste
• Ice
• 1 oz Brandy or Vodka (Optional)

Directions:

Add berries to the blender first and then the ice. Finally, add wine, Cointreau, sugar, and brandy or vodka and blend until smooth.

Bushwacker

If you like Pina Coladas and … puppies. Then this drink is for you.
The Bushwacker was conceived in 1975 at the Ship’s Shore/Sapphire Pub in St. Thomas. “Bushwacker” was the name of a visiting customer’s Afghan Hound, which was brought to the bar because the owners did not want to leave him at home.

In honor of the dog, the owners named a drink after him. This drink is similar to a Piña Colada, with a chocolatey coffee kick.

Recipe:

• 1 oz Dark Rum
• 1 oz Kahlua
• 1 oz Crème de Cacao
• 2 oz Cream of Coconut
• 2 oz Half & Half
• 1 cup of ice

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Chi Chi

If you don’t like the taste of rum, the Chi Chi is basically a Piña Colada, but this frozen drink replaces rum for milder vodka.

Like the margarita, many bars add a little something extra to the Chi Chi to make it exciting. If you’re looking for a tropical flair, you can add Blue Curacao to add a splash of color with a zip of citrus. Not only is the Chi-Chi great for a poolside party, but it’s also fun to say!

Recipe:

• 2 oz Vodka
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 5 oz pineapple juice
• 1 cup of ice

Directions:

Mix the ingredients into a blender with ice and blend until smooth. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Frozen Margarita

Here’s the great thing about margaritas, you can flavor them with just about any fruit out there. Berries, apricots, pineapple, even banana! The sky’s the limit.

Margarita’s weren’t traditionally served blended with ice, but hats off to the person that came up with the idea. People enjoy frozen margaritas across the globe for a reason – they’re crisp, refreshing, salty, and sweet all at once. They also pair well with barbeque or if you’re just watching TV! They’re great anytime.

Recipe:

1 oz blanco tequila
1oz triple sec
1 oz lime juice
2 oz simple syrup or agave nectar
1 cups of ice

Directions:

Mix the ingredients into a blender with ice and blend until smooth. Salt the rim of a margarita glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

Adult Orange Julius

Remember going to the mall as a kid and ordering an Orange Julius? Well, just because you’re not a kid anymore doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this food court classic.

This recipe has all the sweet, citrusy flavor of an Orange Julius and a little something extra now that we’re grown up.

Recipe:

1 oz vodka
2 oz milk or half and half
1 1/2 oz orange juice
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ tbsp of sugar
Ice

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.