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There's nothing better than the oncoming summer season. Whether it's a happy hour after work or lunch al fresco, a patio restaurant certainly knows how to gather the masses to enjoy a sip, snack, and breath of fresh air in the summer sun. While you might enjoy taking a slurp of your favorite seasonal cocktail, do you really know the history behind it? New Orleans' Famous Hurricane If you've ever wandered down south to New Orleans, you couldn't have missed the red drinks in tourists' hands. With its hot and humid summers, you'll find it hard to resist the thirst-quenching appeal of a sugar-coated, alcoholic concoction in New Orleans. O'Brien, the owner of Pat O'Briens Bar and patio restaurant in the French Quarter, is believed to have invented this cocktail in 1944. The name came from the glass the drink was poured into, which was shaped like a hurricane glass. If you venture to NOLA, you'll be hard pressed to miss out on a Hurricane. If you're ready to mix one of these up yourself, here's a go-to recipe: Ingredients 2 oz White rum 2 oz Dark rum 1 oz Lime juice 1 oz Orange juice 2 oz Passion fruit juice .5 oz Simple syrup .5 oz Grenadine Grab your shaker and add all of the ingredients along with ice into the vessel. Give it a good shake, and strain the contents into a large hurricane glass with fresh ice. Garnish with fresh fruit if desired. Enjoy! Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps As you move east, you'll come across even more historical sips. While the Kentucky Derby takes place during the prime time before summer hits, the Mint Julep stays a seasonal favorite. According to the Derby Museum, Churchill Downs designated the Mint Julep as the official drink in 1938. At that time, they were served in souvenir glasses and sold at a shocking 75 cents. It is rumored that this drink's popularity began in the agricultural east and southeast, when farmers began their days by using it as a morning drink. While you might not be that spirited, you certainly can make one of these when it's 5 o'clock somewhere: Ingredients 1 oz Minted simple syrup 2 cups Crushed ice 2 oz Bourbon Fresh mint sprig In a silver Julep cup or highball glass, add simple syrup, followed by ice, bourbon, and a splash of water. Fill the glass with the remaining ice. Stir liberally and garnish with mint sprig. Long Island Iced Teas With a name derived from its appearance, the Long Island Iced Tea is not as innocent as it looks. Packing a punch with tequila, vodka, light rum, triple sec, and gin, the Long Island Iced Tea certainly leads to good times. There's a bit of controversy when it comes to the origins of this cocktail. One tale places its creation in the 1920s during Prohibition, while another claims it was created in a 1970s cocktail contest. Whichever way you dice it, this drink certainly has made a name for itself. Get ready to whip one up yourself! Ingredients 2 cups Ice cubes 1 oz Vodka 1 oz Gin 1 oz Light rum 1 oz White tequila ½ oz Triple Sec 2 tablespoons Lemon juice ½ cup Cola 2 Lemon wedges First, fill your cocktail shaker with ice. Then layer all of the ingredients, except for the cola and lemon wedges, into the shaker. Shake well and pour the mix into two glasses with ice. Top off with cola and lemon wedges. Once you know a little more about the cocktail you're sipping, you may have something new to talk about during your next patio restaurant outing. When it's time for a relaxing evening at a patio restaurant, Albuquerque residents should visit http://oniells.com/about/.
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