Summer 2020 is here and a few months ago we thought we’d be out of the woods by now.  Alas, Los Angeles is still sheltering in place, but we’ve got some sunny recipes to help drown the sorrows of this year and toast to better times ahead.  Whether it’s a Pomegranate Martha-rita by the pool or taking a Magic Carpet ride on your couch, here are five refreshers you can make at home to kick off summer.

Watch Martha Stewart prepare her Pomegranate Martha-ritas with POM Wonderful Concentrate in the video above.  The special ingredient is also great for virgin versions with sparkling water and a spritz of lime. You can also use regular pomegranate juice instead.

Pomegranate Martha-ritas

(serves 2 large drinks)

• 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 cup tequila blanco
• ¼ cup triple sec
• ¼ cup POM concentrate or 10 oz. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

Garnish rims with lime and salt, add ice cubes and blend.

1800 Gold Crush

1800 Tequila is introducing new Silver and Coconut cocktails to celebrate the Fourth of July. Fan favorite 1800 Coconut is double-distilled tequila infused with fresh, ripe coconut. With its slightly sweet and medium-bodied tropical taste, this spirit is delicious on the rocks by itself or mixed in cocktails.

1800 Gold Crush

• 1 oz. 1800 Coconut
• 1 oz. fresh lemon juice
• .75 oz. honey syrup or agave
• 5 leaves fresh basil

Muddle basil, shake and strain over ice cubes in a rocks glass. Garnish with basil sprig and lemon wheel.

If you prefer THC- and CBD-infused drinks, this alcohol-free cocktail recipe uses cannabis beverages to pour at every  July 4th pod party. Cannabis Quencher is available at participating California dispensaries for $20. Subtle Tea is available at organic grocers like Erewhon, Flask Fine Wine & Whiskey in Highland Park and Vicente Foods in Brentwood. Full Spectrum versions containing THC are available in California dispensaries including MedMen and Sweet Flower.

Magic Carpet Ride

• 2 oz THC|CBD-infused Subtle Tea (Jasmine Green Tea)
• 1 oz. pomegranate juice
• .75 oz. lemon juice
• .75 oz. simple syrup
• 2 dashes Fee Brothers Bitters Peach bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice. Double strain into Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with expressed lemon peel. Mocktail contains 2.5mg CBD and 2.5mg THC.

While the Shore Bar by the beach may be closed right now, you can still mix up their  breezy libations at home.  From a cocktail program of globally inspired cocktails, the  drinks mirror the casual nature of the L.A. coastal cities.

Blueberry Yum Yum (Courtesy SHOREbar)

Blueberry Yum Yum

•  1.5oz Bacardi White Rum
• .25oz Zucca Amaro
• *.75oz Blueberry Tincture
• .75oz Lime

Shake W/ 1 Piece Mint

Top W/Perrier

Shake, Fine Strain, Top W/ Perrier

Ice: Cubes

Glassware: Collins

Garnish: Blueberry Skewer + Mint Bouquet

Strawberry Sky (Courtesy SHOREbar)

Strawberry Sky

1 oz. Grey Goose Vodka

1 oz. Pimm’s

*.5oz strawberry tincture

.5 oz. Fruitlab Ginger Liqueur

.5 oz. lemon

.5 oz. coconut water

Shake, Strain, Fresh Ice

Ice: Cubes

Glassware: Collins

Garnish: Strawberry, Lemon Wedge, Loose Blueberries

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.