I’m old enough to remember lazy Long Island, NY summer days before air conditioning. Hot. Humid. Sticky. I’m talking about the early 1950s.
Our family sought refuge in front of big, old electric fans all afternoon and evening. We congregated on the porch of my grandparents’ Roslyn home.
Grandpa mixed his favorite summer cocktail in a glass pitcher identical to the one we see today in the Kool Aid commercials on TV. At least I think they still show that TV ad in the States. We’ve been away from the U.S. for over five years.
The fat glass pitcher was perfect for a quart of gin, some ginger ale, and lots of ice. During the rest of the year, Grandpa used the pitcher to mix martinis. But summer meant he served “Gin and Ginger.”
The grandchildren of course were only allowed to have ginger ale and ice—no gin for us on those hot summer days.
Everybody lounged around in their undies and slips… the best we could do to remain cool in the humid heat… my mom seemed to be secretly proud that our dad handsomely sported white briefs just like my brothers and I, while all the other men of the family wore boxers.
Ah, the memories of hot summer days in the early ’50s.
Stay Cool In The Summer
Summer has arrived here in Portugal. Just like my family, our Portuguese friends enjoy summer cocktails—cocktails that are perfect for any hot day, no matter where you might be. After all, there are Portuguese speakers all around the globe.
Let’s learn how to mix a couple of these Portuguese summer cocktails starting with the iconic Porto Tónico.
Porto Tónico
Light, crisp, and effortlessly elegant, the Porto Tónic (Port and Tonic in English) is a perfect summer serve—and it couldn’t be simpler to make. Just mix one part dry white port with two parts tonic water, pour over plenty of ice and finish with a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint.
Use an extra dry white port for a drier, fresher taste with bright notes of citrus, fresh herbs, and crisp green apple.
If you have a glass Kool Aid pitcher, put it to good use for your next summer party. Or mix the cocktail one glass at a time. Lots of choices. No matter how you choose to serve them, your Port and Tonic undoubtedly will be refreshing, aromatic, and wonderfully easy to enjoy.
Raise your glass to a Portuguese tradition with a twist. Discover the charm of port in a new way—cool, casual, and utterly delicious.
Ingredients
- Dry White Port–1 part
- Tonic Water–2 parts
- Mint Leaves
- Lime
Preparation Method
Pour the dry white port into a glass, full of ice. Add the tonic water carefully.
Stir slightly.
Garnish with mint leaves and lime zest.
Sit in the shade, feel the summer breeze on your face, and enjoy the stories that will be exchanged with every refreshing sip.
Vinho Verde Spritz
We enjoy another northern Portuguese cocktail in the summer—the Vinho Verde Spritz. Partner Vinho Verde wine with soda water and a couple of special ingredients to fix an easy, breezy way to celebrate summer.
The Vinho Verde wine region has been producing these young and often slightly effervescent wines for over 2,000 years. While 86% of the Vinho Verde wines are white, the Portuguese also produce some red and rosé Vinho Verde. These wines are super affordable, and pair well with food. In other words, a great summer wine!
But don’t think of Vinho Verde as a summer sipper only; Vinho Verde transitions from summer right into fall and is a versatile wine to serve all year long.
Vinho Verde is a refreshing wine with aromas of citrus, peach, and almond. There often is a slight acidity and touch of minerality. You can enjoy it on its own, but it is also wonderful in a spritz cocktail, which we recommend enjoying during those long summer afternoons and evenings.
We can feel that warm summer breeze now. So let’s open the wine and start putting together a Vinho Verde Spritz!
Vino Verde Spritz (Makes One Spritz)
Ingredients
- Vinho Verde White Wine–6 c
- Elderflower Liqueur–1 cl
- Bitter Bianco–3 cl
- Lemon Syrup From Candied Lemon Peels–1 cl (or to taste)
- Soda Water–9 cl
- Lemon Wheels
Preparation Method
In a shaker filled with ice, pour in Vinho Verde white wine, Elderflower Liqueur, Bitter Bianco, and lemon syrup.
Shake for 20 seconds and strain into a wine glass.
Add fresh ice, then pour in soda water.
Stir gently to combine and garnish with a lemon wheel.
Relax in an comfy beach chair, watch the sun set over the ocean, and sip any cares away.
Our grandfather’s glass Kool Aid martini pitcher was handed down to a nephew and niece just before we moved to Portugal. We found a nice, Woodruff-sized, replacement pitcher upon arriving in Portugal. So Portuguese summer cocktails are easy to fix in any quanity we desire. How nice is that?
Our nothern Portugal condo has a large covered patio and we are just a couple of blocks away from the Atlantic beachfront. We are about to mix up a batch of Vinho Verde Spritzes to enjoy with friends today.
We will toast to your health. We invite you to do the same. Let’s pass these toasts around the world.
Saude!
Sincerely,
Joch Woodruff
Portugal Circle Liaison
