Photography by Jamison Mosley & David Yerby
There’s practically no better way to cool down during the warm summer than with a cold, refreshing summer cocktail. And that’s why we’ve compiled some of the best around – shaken, not stirred. Whether you’re back-porch grilling or patio dining, one sip of these Arkansas summer cocktails will transport you to a shaded cabana overlooking cool blue water.
orange drink with pineapple slice and blue umbrella
Big Orange
TROPIC LIKE IT’S HOT
Big Orange’s spring/summer cocktail menu is here! The Queen of Hawai’i features Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum, Cappelletti Aperitivo, Pineapple, Bénédictine Liqueur and has pineapple and citrus flavors with a nuanced backbone of herbal honey and light oak. Join the Big Orange master mixologists for this and 6 more all new new tiki-inspired cocktails tonight.

fruity drink on wooden table with peppers and bright purple flowers and pink umbrella
Local Lime
THE PERFECT DRINK FOR ALL YOUR AMIGOS
The ¡Aloha Amigo! cocktail features El Dorado 3-Year Rum, Casamigos Reposado, Patron Mango, Giffard Fraise de Bois, Giffard Fruit de la Passion, Fresh Orange Juice, House Coconut Cream, Angostura Aromatic Bitters and Mexican Vanilla Extract. It serves up to 4 people, so bring your pals and party on the patio this weekend!

drink with purple flower and black background
Capital Bar & Grill
Eiffel Flower No. 2
•1.25 oz. Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka
•.5 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
•5 oz. Cava Sparkling Brut
Add Cathead and St. Germain to a mixing tin, then add ice and stir until cold. Strain into a champagne flute and top with Cava. Garnish with a Lemon Twist.

light pink drink with purple flower and black straw and crushed ice
One Eleven
Connoisseur
•1.5 oz. Vodka
•0.75 oz. Giffard Wild Elderflower Liqueur
•0.5 oz. Rose Liqueur
•0.5 Lemon Juice
•1 oz. Cranberry Juice
•2 Dashes Grapefruit Bitters

lime green drink with lemon and smoke with black background
Vault
Lemon Drop Martini
This is one of the Vault’s hottest selling martinis, and it becomes very alluring with the dry ice giving it a smoking effect. Starting with a martini shaker full of ice, add Absolut Citron, triple sec and fresh squeezed lemon.
Shaking vigorously to combine all the ingredients, that will also produce ice crystals that sit on the top of the martini. It is then finished off in a martini glass rimmed with sugar and a fresh lemon wedge, The dry ice is added to the glass before the ingredients are poured which in turn gives it the smoking effect.

dark drink with pink flower and ice on brown background
The Avenue
Bufala Negra
• Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Brown Sugar Cube
• Fresh Local Basil
• House-made Balsamic Simple Syrup
• Barrett’s Ginger Beern
Basil Hayden’s spicy, light bodied flavor is on full display in this truly unique and refreshing cocktail.
Muddled with a brown sugar cube, house-made Balsamic simple syrup, fresh local basil, and topped with refreshing Barrett’s Ginger Beer; chilled with an ice sphere with a beautiful Nasturtium bloom in the center.
The notes of the cocktail are sure to surprise even the most discerning palates.

lime green drink with fire pit behind and lime
Cache
Jin “Gin” Chan
This gin cocktail is inspired by fresh ingredients from the garden. With cool cucumber, sweet basil and a splash of tangy lemon, this will have you cooled down in no time! Jin Chan translates to “money frog”.

chocolate drink in a martini glass
So Restaurant
Veo’s Classic Chocolatini
Made with Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka, and both Godiva Dark and White Chocolate with all the grace and love.