A Shot Of Fresh Fruit

 What gives a summer cocktail or mocktail sassiness and freshness.? A shot of fresh fruit. There's something about adding summer's bounty to a fruity and relaxing iced drink.

I recently discovered this at Moby's down in the Atlantic Highlands. Moby's is  known for its' seafood but also for tasty  drinks that go well with oysters and lobsters. The bartender was making a mango daquairi which gives the traditional cocktail a different tastier spin. Fresh mango slices were pulverized in a blender and then the rum and dark sugar or demerrara syrup.Blueberries and strawberries can also be used in this as well. For the blueberry cocktail use about one cup of washed berries and for the strawberry the same. Keep in mind you can make virgin daiquiris' too. Just sub in Ronsin a non alcoholic rum or use pinenpple or cherry juice. The pineapple gives the mocktail a tropical flavor while the cherry imparts a tart flavor , perfect for counterbalancing all that sweetness.Another fun blueberry drink is one where blueberries are blended with vodka.They're smashed first with mint , homey or simple syrup and a squeeze of lime juice. Add half  a cup of good vodka (like Skye or Stoli) and shake well in a cocktail shaker. Pour into mason jars. Add more mint and a straw for sipping.

Think silky Bellinis since it's peach season too. This wonderful mix of Prosecco is just as easy to make as it is to drink. Keep in mind that the original recipe does call for white peaches however if you can;t find any then use the golden ones. The peach puree is easy to make (and cna be used to make fresh peach ice cream too).It peeling or boiling off the skins and then cutting four ripe pitted  ones into chunks. They're then put into blender  and pureed You can also use an immersion blender for this too.  Add a quarter cup of th e puree into champagne flutes and the top off with Prosecco or Asti Spumante. You can make an easy Bellini mocktail too with ginger ale or spakling apple cider. These may be too sweet so try a plain or peach flavored seltzer for this.Nectarines are also in season right now and the fruit lends itself to some tasty cocktails. Again peel and then puree. You could add it to Prosecco but also try the nectarine in whiskey sour  which is a combo of simple syrup, whiskey and egg white mixed with the puree. The egg white is added to give the drink it's signature foamy head. As for a nectarine mocktail, think seltzer and puree with an infusion of a mint flavored simple syrup.

Fresh fruit takes cocktails and mocktails to a whole new level. Add some of the summer's bounty to your next drink.It's a refreshing and fruity respite on a hot day.