What's Your Favorite Summer Drink?

What's the most refreshing summer drink around? 

In my drink-explorations of villages up and down the Hudson -- what else are you supposed to do when it's so hot? -- I found my pick at Dobbs Ferry's Half Moon bar and restaurant one perfect weekend afternoon on the river deck where the sun sparkled through my glass of crisp yellow sangria. 

The signature sangria here, served by the glass ($9) or the pitcher ($28), uniquely features beer and some Ketel One Oranje vodka as its alcohol base and is garnished with green apples and citrus fruits.

Then there's the to-go options. 

I asked what's cool on a hot day at Tarrytown's Destination Wine & Liquor and manager Mike Sarran said he votes for "a nice Sauvignon Blanc on a 90 degree day."

His customers, however, have a leaning toward all-things-coconut, he said. "There seems to be a trend for coconut," Sarran said. "Like coconut-flavored vodka, served with pineapple juice." 

In Croton, there’s all kinds of summer refreshment, and specials, at Maple Street’s Van Wyck Wines & Liquors.

Van Wyck's Ally Smith suggests a Planter's Punch Refresher.

"On a really hot evening, the classic punch needs to lose some sweetness and become a seriously cool drink,” Smith writes, sharing this recipe:

2 measures rum

2 measures lime juice

1-2 tsp grenadine

dash Angostura bitters

club soda

ice

Mix the first four ingredients together, fill with club soda and serve with ice, it's that easy!

“We got together a bottle of Bacardi Superior Light Rum (on sale this month for 17.99/liter), Rose's Lime Juice, Grenadine, and Angostura bitters to create this cocktail! Enjoy!”

What's your favorite summer refresher? Do you get it out or enjoy it at home? Share here.