Pregame VALLEY Launch with the Taste of Summer

It’s stressful enough to worry about what you’re going to wear to VALLEY 31 Launch Party. You shouldn’t have to worry about what cocktail to sip before and during.

Since State College is warming up, it makes you want to start altering your outfits and drink choices for the season. Summer drinks are fun, fruity and refreshing, but some of them can be complicated and strictly seasonal.

If you want to get a taste of summer, but don’t want to buy crazy ingredients (or stress out the Stage West bartenders), don’t worry; VALLEY has complied a list of summery cocktails to make or order to enjoy your VALLEY Launch.

A Classic Margarita

Margaritas are a summer classic. It’s a limey, refreshing drink that pairs well with a pool day and some country music.

While margaritas are not a two-ingredient drink, you can still order them at any State College bar. At Stage West, just ask the bartender for a margarita, and you are all set.

But if you want to make one at home, you can mix these ingredients together for a delicious DIY margarita.

• 1.5 ounces of tequila
• 1 ounce of triple sec (orange-flavored liquor)
• .75 ounces of lime juice

Fruity Dirty Shirley

The New York Times named the Dirty Shirley the official summer 2022 drink. Bring back the feelings of warmer weather and no school with this simple yet refreshing cocktail.

To order, you can ask for a dirty shirley or if they don’t know what it is, ask for a vodka sprite with grenadine.

And with just those three ingredients, you can easily make this fruity cocktail at home! Mix together the vodka, sprite and grenadine and voila! You are finished.

Sip on a Crisp Gin and Tonic

Not only are Gin and tonics a summer classic, they also are the perfect drink to try out gin – if you haven’t yet already. Gin and tonics are a sweet drink that isn’t too sweet, allowing the flavors of the gin to poke through.

Easy enough, all you need to order is a gin and tonic and every bartender will know what you want. If you’re making this before VALLEY 31 Launch, you can buy a bottle of gin and a bottle of tonic water, mix them together and have a refreshing pregame drink.

Fruity and Tropical Rum Punch

Rum punches are the epitome of a summer drink (and greater for those who hate tasting the booze in their cocktails). While some variations of this fruity cocktail can get complicated, you only really need a few ingredients to get the taste of summer here at State College.

At the bar, you can order rum with pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine and lime juice. Hopefully, they should have all those ingredients. Similarly, if you’re making it at home, just purchase those ingredients, mix them in a solo cup and bam, you’re set with a summer-in-a-cup.

Mocktail: Roy Rogers

You don’t have to drink alcohol to enjoy VALLEY Launch in its entirety. This delicious mocktail allows you to join in on the summer fun without the morning-after.

Roy Rogers is a simple cocktail; it’s Coca-Cola and grenadine. So whether you want to make it or ask the bartender, there is nothing better than a crisp Coke to sip on.

If you are drinking or not, you can still try any of these options the not alcohol way! Let us know what your summer go-to drink is by tweeting us @VALLEYmag.

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