Summer cocktail ideas to serve around your outdoor fireplace

It’s a warm summer afternoon with friends and family gathered in your outdoor space, the smell of bread and herbs wafts up from your outdoor fireplace — what better than a refreshing summer cocktail? 

In this article, we share a few of our favourite crowd-pleasing summer drinks. Whether you’re hosting the whole family or enjoying a balmy night to yourself, you can whip these beverages up with ease. We even share a few tasty appetisers too!

Our favourite summer cocktail recipes

Blueberry and maple mojito mocktail

This single-serve mocktail is from New Zealand Masterchef, Brett McGregor. We love the classic combination of mint and lime, paired with the fun addition of blueberries and maple syrup. 

Ingredients
8-10 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp good quality maple syrup
⅓ cup blueberry juice - no added sugar
½ cup soda
Frozen blueberries

1. Add 8 to 10 mint leaves to your glass and muddle well to release the mint flavour.
2. Add the lime juice, maple syrup, blueberry juice, and soda water. Stir to combine all ingredients. To make this into a cocktail, add white rum. 
3. Add ice, a handful of frozen blueberries, and mint leaves to serve.
4. Put your feet up and enjoy your drink by the fireplace.

Recipe by New Zealand Masterchef, Brett McGregor. 

Basil smash

The basil smash is a classic for a reason — it’s fresh, easy, and delicious. This recipe was developed by New Plymouth’s own Juno Gin! You can set up everything you need on your outdoor table, letting the drinks flow well into the evening.

 Ingredients
45ml gin
20ml lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup
7 basil leaves
Ice

1. Fill your glasses with ice and set aside.
2. Add all the ingredients into a shaker and shake until the shaker is cold. If you prefer a non-alcoholic drink, substitute the gin for tonic or soda water. 
3. Double-strain the mixture into the prepared glasses and garnish with a fresh sprig of basil. 
4. Enjoy your delicious creation with a wood-fired pizza or one of the appetisers below. 

Recipe by Juno Gin.

Spicy margarita

For those who like a little kick, this spicy margarita is perfect. With the heat from your drink as well as the crackling outdoor fireplace, your summer evenings will be hard to beat.

Chilli syrup
1 red chilli, sliced
50g golden caster sugar

Cocktail mix
150ml tequila
75ml triple sec
25ml chilli syrup (see ingredients above)
25ml mango juice
25ml lime juice
Handful of ice

Salt rim
½ lime, zested
2 tsp sea salt flakes
2 tsp golden caster sugar
½ tsp chipotle chilli flakes

1. Make the chilli syrup first, placing one sliced red chilli and 50g of caster sugar in a saucepan with 50ml of water. Bring this to a simmer over low to medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved. Turn off the heat and leave to cool completely.
2. For the salt rim, mix all the ingredients and tip onto a shallow plate. Lightly brush the rims of your glasses with lime juice then dip them in the salt mixture. When finished, fill each glass with ice.
3. Tip the cocktail ingredients into a large cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker feels cold. If you prefer a non-alcoholic drink, substitute the tequila and triple sec for soda water.
4. Strain the cocktail into a large jug and stir well before pouring it into the glasses. 
5. Serve your margaritas with guacamole and flatbreads baked in your outdoor fireplace!

Recipe by BBC Good Food.

Summer appetisers to cook on your outdoor fireplace NZ

Flatbread

Flatbreads are simple to make with a skillet or griddle pan on your outdoor fireplace grill. Alternatively, you can cook them directly over the hot coals for an extra smoky and charred flavour. Try this recipe from The Salt Box. 

Bacon wrapped scallops

Using your Trendz cooking frame and a skillet, you can make these mouth-watering scallops wrapped in bacon. Try this Delish recipe.

Wood fired pizzas

With our pizza hood, you can have restaurant-quality pizzas any day of the week. Use this dough recipe and prepare all the classic toppings for everyone to make their own. 

Cooking accessories for your concrete outdoor fireplace NZ

An outdoor fireplace is much more than just a heat source, it’s also the ultimate outdoor kitchen! With our range of cooking accessories, you can whip up almost any meal without having to trek back inside the house. 

Cooking frame

The main cooking frame is our base unit, designed for other cooking accessories to sit atop. These include the rotisserie, pizza hood, hot plate, and grill. 

Rotisserie

Our rotisserie attachment is ideal for roasting meats evenly. Prepare the meat before your guests arrive, load it onto the grill, and watch as it cooks to perfection.

Pizza hood

Designed to mimic a traditional pizza oven, this hood and pizza stone pump out delicious wood-fired pizzas in minutes. It even comes with a laser thermometer to make your life easier. 

Hot plate

The hot plate is ideal for grilling and searing. Simply slot it on top of the main cooking frame, stoke the flames, and load it up with all your favourite foods. 

Whether it’s a balmy summer day or a chilly winter evening, our outdoor fireplace will keep you warm and well-fed. Browse our full range of cooking accessories for more outdoor fireplace ideas.