Warm weather brings a welcome lightness in food, clothes, colors and, of course, the spirits in your glass. Gone is the smoky fireside whisky, replaced by clear liquors in cocktails with bright summer fruit, citrus and sometimes a faint sweetness.
The baseline clear spirits are gin, vodka and blanco tequila, and each has distinct charm. The recipes that follow, provided by Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners and leading cocktail destinations, each highlight an expression of these spirits, providing great jumping-off points for your own high summer experimentation.
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