Lawn Mower Cocktails

The drinks to drink when you’ve finally finished that dang yard

- M. Carrie Allan

IT’S NEARLY 100 DEGREES OUT, but you’re going to have to face it: your lawn. Unlike you, it loves the brutal summer heat and humidity, and it’s thriving. Neighbors are starting to raise their eyebrows as they pass. Even their dogs have judgments. You need to get out there with the mower.

But what you need is a motivator, something cool, delicious, and refreshing for when you come back in. And not a bland light beer—a real summer drink, but not with so much booze that you spend the rest of the day flat out on your couch.

Happily, top craft bartenders around the country are coming up with cocktails that do the trick, so when you need to reward yourself for breaking a sweat—or just need a respite from the weather— these drinks will cut it. Your thirst, that is. The lawn is still up to you.

Madeira Cobbler

TOTAL of 5 MIN; SERVES 1

Cobblers have been cooling people down since colonial times. Kirk Estopinal’s recipe (pictured at left) from Cane & Table in New Orleans beats the swelter with fortified wine, dark rum, and lots of ice.