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As the weather heats up and the fruit ripens, bars cart out their juice squeezer and start slinging cocktails.

The popularity of juice cocktails now can make any barbeque or house party a winner with a few simple recipes. All you need is a juice squeezer, sugar, ice, fruit and alcohol to be the toast of the town.

Creamcicle: Delicious alternative to a screwdriver.

Glassware: Tall glass, filled with ice. Barware: Jigger or shot glass

1 shot of Vanilla Vodka (either measured with a jigger or shot glass) poured into the glass over ice. Fill the glass almost to the top with fresh squeezed OJ and then top with a floater of cream.

Strawberry Lemonade: An Adult Version of a Classic Summer Cooler

Glassware: Tall glass, filled with ice Barware: Jigger or shot glass, mixer and muddler

In a pint glass, add a sugar cube. Add one lemon to muddle until sugar is dissolved. Add ice to the top, then pour in a shot and a half of strawberry vodka. Add a floater of grenadine for color and shake vigorously.

Pour (ice and all) into a tall glass, and serve with a pink umbrella and strawberry.

Lemondrop: Always popular with the ladies and fans of sour sweet candy.

Glassware: Martini glass Barware: Jigger or shot glass, mixer, muddler.

In a pint glass, place one sugar cube. Squeeze one lemon, and pour of sugar cube. Muddle, dissolving the sugar.

Add ice. Then add one shot of vodka and 1/4 shot of triple sec. You can add citrus vodka for an extra kick, or vanilla vodka for a smoother flavor. Berry vodka would also make an interesting twist.

Use the lemon peel to wet the rim of your chilled glass, and then dip in a plate of sugar. (Sugar type will change the look up, depending on the size of crystals.)

Shake drink vigorously, and then strain into your glass. Add a lemon slide to the edge of the glass, and presto! you have a delicious lemon drop.

For an orange drop, simply replace the lemon with a half an orange, and use an orange or regular vodka. Yum!

Greyhound: Fresh grapefruit juice makes a tangy treat. For a Salty Dog, wipe the rim with the leftover rind and dip onto a plate full of coarse salt.

Glassware: Tall glass, fill with ice Barware: Jigger or shot glass

Pour in a shot of your favorite plain vodka. Then simply squeeze in half (or whole depending on the size of the glass) a grapefruit to finish. If you are making a Salty Dog, prepare in another glass, and then carefully pour into salted rim glass to finish.

You can make variations of these drinks, or make up your own simply by remembering a few easy tricks. Tart fruits like lemons and limes typically need a little sugar to take off the pucker edge. Don't overdo the liquor...a stronger drink is not a better drink. Add color with splashes of grenadine or soda, and garnish with slices of the fruit used in the drink.

Glassware is almost as important as using a mid-grade alcohol (top shelf liquor mixed is a waste of cash). The presentation factor is key, but also remember that glassware dictates the amount of ice used...which can make or break certain types of drinks.

And most importantly, have fun! Fresh juice drinks are a great way to get everyone at the party involved (and save your arm from too much squeezing). Kids can be included by simply skipping the liquor, and offering instead fun umbrella garnishes, cherries, and brightly colored straws.

Learn more about this author, E.D. Cameron.
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