Refreshing Gin Cocktails for Summer
Bar Belly’s Frederico Avila shares his riffs on three classics
As each season brings a new booze fad or renaissance, gin remains a summer cocktail classic. Frederico Avila from the Lower East Side’s Bar Belly agrees, and has shared some of his recipes for super-fresh gin drinks this season. From his take on the classic French 75 to his zesty Lady Winser, Avila’s drinks are made using homemade syrups and infused gins, ensuring they taste even better.
The American
Bright, fresh and a little bitter. Avila tells us, “I’m an avid fan of Americanos and rhubarb so I wanted to create something that was beautifully bright yet refreshing.”
1 dash vanilla extract
.5 oz lemon juice
1 oz homemade rhubarb syrup
.5 oz dry vermouth
.5 oz Campari
1 oz Beefeater gin
Shake ingredients together, pour into a highball glass, top with soda and dump orange oils to finish.
Lady Winser
Refreshing and light. Avila says, “Honeydew is a staple of summer and I wanted to create something that was refreshing yet full of flavor in each sip. For this cocktail, I make a gin fusion using fresh sliced cucumbers and honeydew melons that I let sit overnight to soak up all these wonderful flavors into the gin.”
1 dash green peppercorn
1 tsp Suze Aperitif
.5 oz yuzu lemon grass
.75 oz lemon juice
2 oz Ford’s Gin, infused with cucumber and honeydew melon
Shake ingredients together, serve in a sour glass and garnish with a slice of cucumber.
Shiraz 75
Subtly sweet, but still crisp and bright. Avila explains, “The French 75 is one of my favorite classics made with gin and I wanted to create something that entices the eye with a unique hue. Of course, I had Four Pillars Gin Bloody Shiraz in mind as the shiraz grapes give it a nice purple color and add a subtle sweetness to this unique blend.”
.5 oz lemon juice
1.5 oz Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin
.25 oz Simple Syrup
Prosecco
Shake ingredients together, pour into a champagne flute, top off with prosecco or sparkling wine, garnish with a lemon twist.
Bar Belly is located at 14B Orchard St and is open Monday through Saturday from 5PM; closed Sundays.
Hero image and Lady Winser courtesy of Bar Belly, all others by Cool Hunting
