Are you looking for the best BBQ cocktails for this summer? As the hot and sunny weather approaches, we're all dusting off our BBQs and planning our afternoons in the sun, with family and friends.

At Urban Bar, we want to ensure that you have the perfect BBQ cocktails to pair with your favourite food this summer.

Our top six summer cocktail pairings make sure there is a drink for every dish. Whether it’s a twist on the pornstar martini or the sweet and sour flavours of a Paloma, we have the cocktail for you.

Expert Commentary 

We've invited our expert mixologist Lele to comment and provide insider tips on making, elevating and serving these drinks! Those could be adjusting quantities and techniques, or adding a secret special ingredient - check for yourselves!

Author, content creator, photographer, mixologist and all round cocktail extraordinaire. Lele has been collaborating closely with Urban Bar over the last year creating regular cocktail recipes and offering expert advice. 

Lele has worked for some of the best cocktail bars in the world, including Disrepute in London and Eau-de-Vie Sydney, and he was named one of the World Class Top 100 Bartenders by Diageo Reserve. Winner of countless cocktails competitions  worldwide. On Instagram and YouTube, you can find him at Cocktails with Lele (@CocktailsWithLele).

He is all about sustainability and applies a zero-waste policy to his ideas and concepts.

 

Dry Pornstar Martini

The perfect BBQ pairing - Smoked Salmon

The Pornstar Martini is a classic everyone knows but the Dry Pornstar Martini is a refreshing and light twist on the classic cocktail. This is why this BBQ cocktail is well paired with food such as smoked salmon. The sharp taste of the Pornstar compliments the soft but slightly salty flavours of smoked salmon. Fair warning this martini-style cocktail is strong.

Ingredients

45ml Ketel One Vodka

15ml Vanilla flavoured vodka

15ml Cinzano Bianco vermouth

15ml Passoa passion fruit liqueur

2.5ml Lime cordial or sweetened lime juice

Instructions

For this recipe stir all the ingredients together with ice and at Urban Bar, we recommend straining the cocktail into a pre-chilled glass. Use a lime zest twist for garnish.

Expert Comments from Lele

35ml Ketel one vodka, 15ml Cinzano Blanco, 12.5 passion fruit liqueur, 5ml lime juice.

For an even lighter cocktail, decrease the amount of the spirits. A stirred drink to stir for at least 20 seconds to get a perfectly balanced cocktail.

 

Paloma

The perfect BBQ pairing - Steak or Chicken

Palomas are the perfect combination of sweet and sour using tequila. We recommend pairing this BBQ cocktail with a nice steak or a chicken dish, such as chicken kebabs at your summer cookout. The searing flavours of BBQ chicken and rich taste of steak favour the sour but underlying sweet tones of the Paloma which creates a faultless pairing.  

Ingredients

50ml Patron Silver blanco tequila

25ml Pink grapefruit juice

12.5ml Lime juice

7.5ml Agave syrup

50ml Pink grapefruit soda

Instructions

Using a cocktail shaker, add your tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Agave syrup, and shake with ice. After straining the mixture into an ice-filled glass, top it with grapefruit soda. Additionally, garnish with a salt rim and a grapefruit wedge.

Expert Comments from Lele

50 patron silver blanco tequila, 30mlo pink grapefruit juice, 15 lime juice, 10ml agave syrup, 2 dashes saline solution (90gr water, 10gr salt, mix until the salt is dissolved. Pour it into a dash bottle). Shake all the ingredients, pour the cocktail into an ice-filled glass, and top up with pink grapefruit soda.

Go for the saline solution because it has more consistency and not every salt has the same impact on the cocktail. If you want to go for the salt rim, make sure you are using Maldon salt.

 

Mountain Negroni (Non-Alcoholic)

The perfect BBQ pairing - Steak

The strong and bitter flavours of a Negroni make this the perfect pairing for your BBQ steak this summer. This non-alcoholic cocktail ensures everyone enjoys refreshing drinks during your BBQs this summer. The bitter flavours of this summer mocktail are good company with the rich and tender flavours of steak, whether it's a fillet mignon that offers a tender and subtle flavour or a ribeye which is known for a richer taste due to higher fat content and marbling.

Ingredients

• 30 ml Everlead Mountian Non-Alcohol Aperitif
• 30ml Everleaf Forest Non-Alcohol Aperitif
• 10ml Monin Orange Spritz Syrup

Instructions

Simply add all ingredients with ice and then strain into an ice-filled glass, we recommend a large cube of ice. We recommend garnishing this cocktail with a slice of orange.

Expert Comments from Lele

This a very nice mocktail that will give a great touch to your BBQ. Easy and refreshing!

 

Blue Hawaii

 

The perfect BBQ pairing - Seafood

This vibrant sweet but sour cocktail will bring a splash of colour to your BBQ this summer. As this cocktail is made with a light rum it is well paired with seafood. While the strong flavours of the Dry Pornstar are the perfect choice for salmon, the Blue Hawaii is better paired with the subtle and sweeter flavours of crustaceans such as shrimp because of the citrus undertones from the lemon and lime.

Ingredients

22ml Light White Rum

22ml Ketel One Vodka

15ml Blue Curacao

90ml Pineapple juice

10ml Lime juice

10ml Lemon juice

10ml Monin Pure Cane sugar syrup

Instructions

Shake all your ingredients with ice and strain into a glass which is filled with crushed ice. For garnish consider using a paper umbrella with a cherry and pineapple wedge.

Expert Comments from Lele

20ml white rum, 20ml vodka, 15ml Campari, 90ml pineapple juice, 15ml lime juice, 15 lemon juice, 15 sugar syrup.

A refreshing, light and bitter cocktail, pair it with seafood to elevate the experience and unveil the different layers of the drink.  

 

Cosmarita

The perfect BBQ pairing - Seafood or Chicken

A cosmarita is a cross between a margarita and a cosmopolitan, a strong and bitter cocktail which we pair with either seafood or chicken dishes. Similar to the Mountain Negroni the Cosmarita’s bitter flavour compliments sweeter chicken dishes such as sweet chilli chicken or subtle seafoods such as prawns and shrimps.

Ingredients

22ml Tequila

15ml Orange Curacao liqueur

10ml Triple sec liqueur

10ml Vida Clasico Mezca

37ml Cranberry juice

15ml Lime juice

½ Pinch of salt

Instructions

For this cocktail recipe shake all the ingredients together with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass. For garnish, we recommend using an orange zest twist.

Expert Comments from Lele

30ml tequila, 15ml triple sec, 10ml vida clasico mezcal, 30ml cranberry juice, 15ml lime juice

This version is strong-fruity and citrus pairing well with chicken and seafood.

 

Daybreaker

 The perfect BBQ pairing - Lamb

This cocktail is low in alcohol contents which makes it the perfect cocktail to begin your BBQ afternoon this summer. This refreshing summer BBQ cocktail is perfect for dishes such as Lamb Koftas. The Daybreaker is a great palette cleansing addition to your cocktail list this summer and a great pairing to your lamb dishes, which allows you to taste the lamb flavours and herbs such as mint.

Ingredients

30ml Aperol Aperitivo

15ml Dry Gin

75ml Sauvignon blanc wine

45ml Pink grapefruit juice

6 drops Grapefruit Bitters

45ml Soda water

Instructions

Shake Aperol Aperitivo, Dry Gin, Sauvignon Blanc, grapefruit juice and grapefruit bitters together. Then strain into an ice-filled glass before topping with soda water. We recommend using a pink grapefruit wedge as a garnish.

 Expert Comments from Lele

50ml Aperol, 75ml sauvignon blanc, 35ml pink grapefruit juice, 3 drops grapefruit bitters, 30ml soda water

A cocktail taking inspiration from the Italian aperitif with a little twist of the grapefruit which will amplify the citrus note of the drink.