In this post – recipes for two delicious and refreshing summer cocktails, plus how to turn a vintage tea cart into a fun bar cart.
Styled 2 Ways Cocktail Edition
Welcome to the 10th monthly Styled 2 Ways with my friend and fellow blogger MaryJo of Masterpieces of my Life. Today on the blogs we’re sharing two of our favorite summer cocktail recipes, The Porn Star and a Coastal Cucumber Spritz. I’m also sharing a fun vintage tea cart makeover to serve these pretty drinks on all summer long! Let’s get to mixing!
Masterpieces of my Life
I can’t wait to see what kind of delicious cocktail MaryJo has to share on her blog “Masterpieces of my Life”. Be sure to head over to her blog post today to get her recipe! You can also follow her on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!
The Coastal Cucumber Spritz
A Cucumber Vodka Soda with Elderflower Liqueur and Mint That’s Light and Refreshing
This recipe was inspired by my favorite cocktail at Brigantine Del Mar, called the Spa Day. I love cucumber cocktails and this one isn’t too sweet like many Prosecco-based spritzers can be. The addition of the elderflower liqueur provides a hint of sweetness and a floral note that is delicious with cucumber.
Ingredients:
Ketel One Botanical Vodka Spritz (in cans)
Ketel One Cucumber & Mint Vodka
Drillaud Elderflower liqueur
1 cucumber sliced lengthwise
Fresh mint & lime for garnishing
Step 1:
Fill a wine glass halfway with ice and wrap a cucumber strip around the inside of the glass. Fill 2/3 full with the vodka spritz.
Step 2:
Add 1.5 oz cucumber and mint vodka and stir gently.
Step 3:
Add .75 – 1.5 oz elderflower liqueur, depending on how sweet you want it to taste. Stir gently.
Step 4:
Top with a squeeze of a lime wedge (optional) and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of lime or cucumber.
Tips:
You can reduce the alcohol content by making some simple swaps, such as substituting the vodka spritz with regular club soda or keeping the spritz and skipping the cucumber vodka.
To adjust the sweetness, add more or less of the elderflower liqueur.
To keep the ice cubes from watering the drink down, use the larger single cubes. For an added touch, freeze mint leaves inside them!
From Tea Cart to Bar Cart
I have a vintage tea cart that used to belong to my grandmother, who was very special to me. Since I didn’t want to get rid of it, I had to find something to do with it. I decided that it would make a fun little bar cart!
How to Make a Bar Cart from a Tea Cart
Step 1: Supplies Needed
To start, I gathered my supplies:
3 cans of blue spray paint (I used Color Shot Primer and Gloss in the color Clear Skies.)
Painter’s tape
Aluminum foil
Screwdriver or drill
Painter’s cloth or plastic tarp
Step 2: Prep the Top Tray
First, I removed the top tray from the cart, which must have been used for serving tea to guests back in the day.
I then covered both sides of the glass center with aluminum foil and secured it with painter’s tape.
Finally, I unscrewed both handles and set them aside and then wiped down the wood and allowed it to dry.
Step 3: Paint the Top Tray and the Cart
Next, I took both the tray and the cart outside to spray paint them. It took 2-3 coats to cover the wood on both.
When they were both dry, I put the handles back on the tray and moved the cart up on to our deck. So cute!
Step 4: Accessorizing the Bar Cart
Now for the fun stuff! I really love the bright blue color on this cart. It is perfect for summer. To complement the blue I chose yellow accents like a fun ceramic pineapple and a small yellow tub for holding drinks. The bar towels look like tea towels and add some more color to the cart. I also added some fun colorful acrylic tumblers, humorous cocktail napkins, and some of our melamine plates. You may have noticed that I included my coastal candle holder too. I love how it all adds a pop of color to our otherwise neutral deck!
With a new bright blue paint color this new bar cart has added a summery touch to our back deck. My grandma would approve. I’ve heard stories of the wild cocktail parties they hosted in Napa back in the 1950’s and 60’s. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at one of them! Cheers to you Grandma Tillie! xo
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2 Responses
This sounds delicious Susan. I love cucumber water at spas and this kicks it up a notch. The bar cart looks great. So fun! XO- MJ
Thanks MaryJo! This was a fun post. We will have to get together to “sample” our recipes!