Let summer begin: Try these refreshing cocktails at Wilmington-area restaurants and bars

For every cocktail, there is a season. But there’s something special about summer drinks. First, the warmer weather means there are so many places to enjoy them – by the water, while reading a juicy book, on a patio or in a dark, air-conditioned bar. They are typically colorful and fruity. The only real requirement is they be refreshing and cold. Here’s a look at some of the summer cocktails you can find at Wilmington area restaurants and distilleries.

Meghan Markle Sparkle: This summer sipper from manna at 123 Princess St. in downtown Wilmington. It dates to the royal wedding, but the current version cools off a combination of Sutler’s Gin, basil and lime vermouth with a scoop of tomato frosé.

The Black Tie: Summer may be casual, but the drinks don’t have to be. This one combines local Blue Shark Vodka with elderflower liqueur, fresh grapefruit juice and a salt-and-pepper rim. It’s at Kipos Hellenic Cuisine, 1900 Eastwood Road in Lumina Station.

The Ruby Deluxe: Mixologist Penka Heusinkveld was inspired by a cherry sour, and June’s Pride Month, for this non-alcoholic blend of Rasavada Ruby Artemisia with herbs and botanicals. It’s at The Green House restaurant at 1427 Military Cutoff Road near Wrightsville Beach.

Passionfruit Spritz: Wilmington Distillery is using their house made spirits, including Von Vodka, for this refresher. There’s also a watermelon-and-lemonade version at 12 Dock St. in downtown Wilmington.

White Slussian: This boozy slushie is a cold, dairy free, frozen version of the classic White Russian cocktail. It's on the menu this summer at Rx Chicken and Oysters at 421 Castle St, in downtown Wilmington.

First look: Late-night dessert bar prepares to open in downtown Wilmington

Cool Hand Cuke: This recipe is from mixologist Curran Brierley for Three10 restaurant at 1022 N. Fourth St. in Wilmington. It combines gin, Crème de Violette, muddled cucumber and Lavender Peach Medley tea from the nearby Cape Fear Spice Merchants.

Watermelon Mimosa: Fruit is a common addition to summer drinks, especially the refreshing and versatile watermelon. The Booze Buggy, a Southport-based mobile tap bar, uses the fresh fruit in this drink, along with lime juice with sparkling wine.

The Watermelon Cosmo: Another watermelon selection is this cocktail from the new menu at Ends of Days Distillery lounge at 1815 Castle St. in Wilmington. It uses their Port of Entry Vodka with lime, orange liqueur and watermelon juice for this take on the classic cocktail.

Wanna Smash: The brown spirits are more commonly found in cold-season cocktails. But this one from True Blue Butcher and Barrel uses Ole Smoky Salted Watermelon Whiskey and promises minty chuggability. And they’re on special on Fridays at 110 Greenfield St., Suite 114, Wilmington.

Take a Bite of Peach: The new location of Shagri-La, or Shagbar, in Carolina Beach also has a new menu with summer flavors. This cocktail that combines peach, in a few forms, with rye whiskey, lemon and aquafaba upstairs at 7 Harper Ave.

Out Of The Office: In the Porters Neck area, Kornerstone Bistro's summer cocktail menu includes this rum-based drink that's accentuated with banana, pineapple and smoked orange peel. Find it at 8262 Market St.

Fuego Margarita: In this spicy version of a tart summer classic, you can find Espolòn tequila, Cointreau, pineapple and jalape?os with a Tajín rim. It’s on the cocktail menu at Perla Raw Bar at 1039 Ashes Drive in Wilmington.

Sunset Margarita: In another version of a margarita, the Riverside Kitchen & Bar in Castle Hayne is playing up to the Cape Fear River sunsets with this fruity ombre version. It’s at 1030 Chair Road in the River Bluffs community.

Jimmy Luv’s Blood Mary: It couldn’t be easier to make your own version of this one at Momentum micro-distillery at 318 Nutt St. in The Cotton Exhange. They keep this award-winning, Milwaukee-made mix in stock along with their spirits.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Summer cocktails to try at Wilmington, NC, restaurants and bars