Memorial Day is more than just a nice day off of work and an excuse to have a BBQ.

It is a holiday celebrated every year to honor the many American men and women who have died in military service. Memorial Day gets set apart from Veterans’ Day because the focus is on those men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country, while Veterans’ Day honors ALL military veterans, living and dead.

This Memorial Day, while you are enjoying your day off and having a cocktail at a BBQ, remember why, and say cheers to all those men and women who have given their lives so we can maintain our freedoms. Happy Memorial Day!

Cucumber Cooler

courtesy of Cornelia Guest

Ingredients:

• 3 Cucumbers, peeled seeded, and coarsely chopped, plus thinly sliced cucumber for serving
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1 cup of Cucumber vodka
• 1/2 cup Fresh mint leaves
• 1 Lime, thinly sliced
• 1 tbs. Agave syrup
• 24 oz Club soda

Preparation: In a blender, puree chopped cucumbers and 1/4 cup water. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl, pressing on solids (You can prepare 2 cups of juice the day before and chill in the refrigerator). In a pitcher, mash mint leaves with the back of wooden spoon until bruised, add agave syrup, vodka, cucumber juice, thinly sliced lime and club soda. Stir. Serve over ice with cucumber and mint garnishes.

Citrus Sunset Martini

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Crater Lake Vodka
• Lemon slice
• Lime slice
• Orange slice

Preparation: Mix vodka and fruit over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well or muddle fruit to pulp fruit and strain. Serve in a martini glass. Garnish with a floating orange slice.

The Canton Breeze

Ingredients:

• 1 Part Domaine de Canton
• 1 Part Dark Rum
• Splash of Pineapple juice

Preparation: Build on the rocks and serve.

Ginger Zing

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Crater Lake Sweet Ginger Vodka
• Splash of sweet & sour mix
• Rosemary
• Lemon

Preparation: Muddle rosemary and lemon in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and Crater Lake Sweet Ginger Vodka. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon.

Spiked Summer Strawberry Lemonade

courtesy of Cornelia Guest
Ingredients:

• 2 cups Water
• 1/2 cup Agave (more to taste)
• 1 cup Fresh lemon juice (from 6 lemons) plus 1 lemon, sliced for serving
• 1 pound Cleaned strawberries
• 16 oz Seltzer, chilled
• 1 cup of Citrus flavored vodka

Preparation: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water and agave to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until combined, about 1 minute. Transfer to pitcher, refrigerate for 45 minutes. Add lemon juice and vodka and stir. In a blender, puree strawberries until smooth and pour through mesh sieve into pitcher with lemon syrup, pressing on solids. Stir well to combine. To serve, stir in seltzer and divide among ice-filled glasses. Top with lemon slices.

Mellow Breeze Mojito

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Crater Lake Vodka
• 2 oz White grape juice
• Mint
• 3 Slices lime
• Soda water

Preparation: Muddle lime and mint in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients along with ice in the shaker. Shake well and strain into a tall glass and top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with lime and mint sprig.

Summer Sangria

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Crater Lake Vodka
• 3 oz Prosecco
• 1 oz Pear or white grape juice
• 1 oz Cranberry juice
• 3 Lime slices

Preparation: Muddle lime in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients, shake well and pour contents (including ice) into a wine glass. Garnish with lime.