Try these refreshing summer cocktails and drinks!

Nothing says summer vacation more than a beautiful view, good company, and a cold beverage bursting with summer flavors in hand. Lucky for you, you won’t have to look hard to find it all in Southwest Michigan this time of year. Our 40+ wineries, cideries, distilleries, and breweries along the Makers Trail have so many refreshing summer cocktails and seasonal drinks to share this year. Try as many as you can before your vacation is over!

Summer Cocktails

Round Barn Winery & Estate: Choose from fun & fruity Red Sangria, juicy & tropical White Sangria, sweet & tangy Cherry Sangria, light & lively Cranberry Sangria, fresh & juicy Peach Sangria and bright & crisp Raspberry Lemon Sangria. The Red and White Sangrias are available at Round Barn Brewery and Public House, too. 

Free Run Cellars: July’s Cocktails for a Cause is the Mattox Mixer. It features Round Barn Red Sky Rum, watermelon simple syrup, agave nectar, and lime juice and is topped off with a lime wedge. Keep checking back for next month’s featured cocktail. July is Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month, so this cocktail supports the Marie Yeager Cancer Center in honor of Mattox Williams.

Round Barn Brewery and Public House: Their Blueberry Lavender Mule and Raspberry Mojito are topped with fresh local berries for a refreshing taste of summer. Ready-to-drink canned Cocktails are also now available in four refreshing flavors:

• Strawberry Margarita
• Lemon Elderflower Vodka Soda
• Moscow Mule
• Blackberry Gin Gimlet

St. Julian Winery: Craft a drink like a Coconut Paloma with Gold or Silver Agave, the two newest additions to a long list of spirits. Or try the lemonade spritzer cocktail – the ultimate summer refresher!

Iron Shoe Distillery: Add their Limoncello Liquor to your lemonade for the perfect summer drink or try their Watermelon Crawl craft cocktail. Check out their rotating list of  infused spirits each time you visit

Tabor Hill Winery: The Red Sky Strawberry Mojito is the perfect blend of sweet strawberries and minty freshness. Check out this winery’s two new canned drinks too: Blood Orange and Pineapple Mimosa! 

Kingfisher Cocktails & Tacos: Try the Great Lakes Punch Fishbowl Cocktail with a friend.

Summer Beers

Ghost Isle: Peach Bum has a 4.9% ABV and 10 IBU

Ghost Isle: Livin’ On A Pear has an IBU of 15 and 6.2% ABV, making this the perfect sweet-and-sour refreshment.

River St. Joe: Blueberry Shandy, an easy-drinking Pastoral Pilsner mixed with housemade lemonade and a splash of blueberry puree. It's sure to make your day taste like summertime.

River St. Joe: Berry Basil Cider is a pink-colored drink with strawberry features and basil to harmonize with the flavors. This drink’s organic elements make it the perfect summer drink.

Round Barn Brewery and Public House: Main Squeeze Lemon Shandy and Nitro X Milkshake IPA.

Watermark Brewing Company: This brewery features two foeder sours: the Raspberry Urchin and the Living Leaf, both loaded with local fruits.

Summer Slushies

Watermark Brewing Company: Check in often for the new featured boozy slushie flavor. Right now, it’s Margarita!

12 Corners Winery: Stay tuned in to this winery’s social channels for slushie flavor posts. Most recently they had a Green Apple Riesling Wine slushy.

Peat’s Cider Social: This bowling alley turned cidery created a deliciously sweet summer drink. This Mangonada Slush is crafted with hard cider, vodka, and mango puree.

Chill Hill Winery: This winery features a Pina-Colada slushie, a blend of their Riesling and Pina colada flavoring, topped with a pineapple wedge to make the perfect refreshment. Other slushy creations have been:

• Watermelon
• Orange Sunset
• Peachy Beach
• The Classic Grape

Other rotating slushie locations: Check out the featured slushie flavors on your next visit to Lazy Ballerina Winery, Tabor Hill Winery, St. Julian Winery, and Vineyard 2121.

Summer Wines and Ciders

12 Corners Winery: Enjoy award-winning Big Daddy’s Hard Cider, a crisp beverage that is composed of Michigan Apples. Beach Cottage White wine or Rose, Peach Wine, and Triple Berry all amplify those summer sunshine vibes!

Round Barn Winery & Estate: Sip and savor every sweet drop of Round Barn’s Farm Market wine collection, including plum, cranberry, cherry, blueberry, and concord grape. 

Red Top Winery: Try the Raspberry Cherry Cider or the Carribean Twist Wine!

St. Julian Winery: Taste a drink from the Forbidden Fruit Cider Series or sample one of the newly released “punch wines.”

Peat’s Cider Social: Try the Petal Pusher, a seasonal cider with lavender and lemon zest flavors.

ENJOY YOUR SUNSHINE!

Take advantage of the many patios, vineyard porches, beer gardens, trails, and other outdoor settings these makers offer you while you taste their delicious concoctions. Enjoy their creations, and let us know which is your favorite!