Then again, sometimes even a cold beer isn't cold enough. Because what's summer for, if not a frosty round of girly blended drinks? Recently, my pal Christina, an otherwise vegetarian, ayurvedic-minded conscious eater, discovered whipped-cream and birthday-cake flavored vodkas. She now shows up at picnics with jars full of crunchy-spicy-salty puffed rice and chickpea snacks, tubs of lentil and veggie salads, and a thermos of Key Limetinis, made with coconut milk, stevia extract, key limes (also sold here as Mexican limes), and whipped-cream vodka. A glass of this tastes amazingly like coconut-key lime pie. If you use regular limes, which are tarter than key limes, you can make a Tropicatini by blending in some ripe mango chunks. Doesn't get much more summery here than that!

Srirachelada. Photo: Stephanie Rosenbaum

Srirachelada

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

1 can Tecate, chilled
1/2 lime
1/2 tsp sriracha sauce, or to taste
A few drops fish sauce, optional
Pinch of kosher salt, plus more for salting the glass

Instructions:

Wipe the 1/2 lime around the outside edge of a glass to wet it. Sprinkle salt into a saucer. Swish edge of glass through the salt.
Squeeze lime into glass. Add sriracha sauce and fish sauce, if using. Fill glass with beer. Add sprinkle of salt. Taste and add more sriracha, lime, and/or fish sauce as needed.

Key Limetini. Photo: Stephanie Rosenbaum

Key Limetini

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

1 oz whipped-cream flavored vodka
1/2 cup coconut milk
6 drops liquid stevia extract, or to taste
Juice of 2-3 key limes or 1 regular (Persian) lime

For the glass:

1/2 lime
1 tbsp graham-cracker crumbs
1 lime wheel, for garnish

Instructions:

Wipe the 1/2 lime around the outside edge of a chilled martini or cocktail glass to wet it. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs into a saucer. Swish edge of glass through the crumbs to coat.
In a blender, combine vodka, coconut milk, stevia, lime juice and 2 handfuls ice cubes. Blend until mixture is smooth and thick.
Pour into prepared glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

key limeskey limes

Final Sips of Summer: Easy Cocktails for Labor Day Weekend