Kevin Brauch, the host of "The Thirsty Traveler," prepares great summertime cocktails on the Canada AM patio.

Summer's Breeze Wine Cocktail

The light vibrancy of this Moscato wine cocktail is perfect for a lazy summer's day. It is mixed with blackcurrant liqueur (cassis) and blood orange sorbet for a sophisticated taste and a great addition to your favourite summer cocktails.

Ingredients:

  • 5 oz Jacob's Creek Moscato White Wine
  • 1/4 oz (approximately 1 teaspoon) Cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
  • 1 Tbsp. (or gumball size) of blood orange sorbet

Directions:

In a champagne flute add sorbet and cassis, then fill glass to top with Moscato. Stir and sip with a fashionable black straw. Garnish with blackcurrant and/or mint sprig.

The Floating Dock

This instant classic will have you reminiscing about all things retro. The richness of Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur partnered with vanilla ice cream blends so well with a shot of vodka and topped up with soda. Give it a big stir and your delicious cocktail is ready to serve. Straw or spoon ¬it -- it's up to you!

Ingredients:

  • 1 - 1/2 oz Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur
  • 1 oz Absolut Vodka
  • 1 large scoop vanilla ice cream
  • Soda water

Directions:

In the glass of your choice (milkshake, snifter, or Collins) pour the Carolans and vodka over the ice cream. Mix and top with soda water. Garnish with a maraschino cherry for a more playful look.

The (Purebred) Greyhound

An enhanced version of the easy, drinkable greyhound mixed drink, we've dressed this drink up for parties, weddings and the golf course. Vodka meets freshly-squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice, muddled roasted grapefruit chunks and a touch of agave nectar. Serve it over trendy oversize ice cubes. This really is summer in a glass.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Absolut Vodka
  • 3 oz Grapefruit juice
  • 2 wheels of brown sugar roasted grapefruit (rind off) squeeze of agave nectar (optional)

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a shaker glass, muddle roasted grapefruit with the rest of the ingredients and pour into a large rocks glass filled with a singular large piece of ice. Garnish with a full wheel of roasted grapefruit.

European Vacation

Most people don't typically think of scotch in the summertime. In the South of France (where this drink is hot when it's hot), generous measures of Scotch are poured over crushed ice and are topped up with fizzy lemon European-style lemonade (think Limonata).

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Chivas Regal
  • Fizzy lemon (Limonata)

Directions:

In a tall, skinny glass filled with crushed ice, pour Chivas and top with Limonata. Stir and garnish with mint sprig.

Summer's Best

Sweet, refreshing and minty cool; this new kid on the block goes down way to easy. Can also be made in a large format style, perfect as a punch for larger parties.

Ingredients:

  • 1 - 1/2 oz Malibu Fresh Rum
  • 1- 1/2 oz POM pomegranate blackberry tea
  • 5 blackberries
  • 5 mint leaves
  • Soda Water

Directions:

Add the mint, blackberries and Malibu rum into a shaker glass, then muddle. Add the tea and stir. Strain over ice into your glass of choice and top with soda water. Garnish with a mint sprig