Pretending it’s sunnier than it actually is

Ah, spring. It’s a transformative time for Columbia students. While normally we avoid nature like the plague, now we have the overwhelming urge to roll around in the grass and take day trips to Long Island. Instead of the usual tones of dubstep floating across Low steps, we hear people playing The Beach Boys. Everything is suspiciously…happy. And, while it’s not quite summer, at least the sunny days are gradually starting to overtake the cloudy ones. So, when you’re sunning on the lawn in front of John Jay and need a nice drink to go with it, here are some of our favorite summer drinks in disguise.

Mint Julep in a Cup

• 3 oz bourbon
• 1 cup of ice
• 6 mint leaves
• 3 pinches of sugar

Put the ice in a thermos and add the mint leaves, torn into small pieces. Pour the bourbon over the mint and add cold water. Stir in sugar to taste.

Easy Margarita

• Tequila
• Blended Fruit/ice

If you have a blender, make a regular fruit smoothie with tequila (use sherbet/water, not ice cream/milk), and go heavy on the ice. For those of us not blessed with a kitchen, pouring a Naked juice over crushed ice works just as well – just add tequila and stir.

(Better than Mike’s Hard) Lemonade

• ½ cup lemonade
• ½ cup ginger ale
• 2 oz vodka

This one goes well in a water bottle, since it just looks like juice. Mix all the ingredients, and serve cold.

 Pretending to enjoy nature for a minute via Shutterstock