Shake, stir or strain these drinks for National Cocktail Day

After a year of playing bartender at home, we could still use some expert advice to craft cocktails that jazz up happy hour.

These drinks are a refreshing way to unwind and sip all spring and summer long.

How to Make the Perfect Highball

Anthony Pullen, vice president of trade at the premium mixer brand Q Mixers, explained how to make a simple yet straightforward cocktail.

Glass: Just like a flute best contains the effervescence of champagne, the tall, narrow shape of a highball glass concentrates the bubbles of a cocktail, holding the carbonation longer. A tall 12 oz high ball glass allows for better proportions between the spirit, mixer and ice – which improves balance and taste.
Ice: High quality ice holds carbonation and minimizes dilution, keeping the drink “fizzier” longer. Large cubes are best as they minimize surface area and dilution. Smaller cubes water the cocktail down and speed up carbonation loss.
Spirit: From a gin and tonic to a mule or paloma, a highball can be made with any spirit but the quality of the spirit matters. The simplicity of the highball lets the spirit shine, emphasizing its subtle flavors.
Mixer: A highball is two thirds mixer and one-third spirit, so the mixer is just as important as the spirit. A high-quality mixer has perfect carbonation and is not too sweet -- sugar masks the spirit and makes the teeth sticky.

Rum

Manny Peña, brand ambassador for the renowned Venezuelan rum Diplomático, shared two simple and elevated drinks -- a daiquiri and a refreshing raspberry cocktail.

Hemingway Daiquiri

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Diplomático Planas, or favorite aged white rum
1/2 ounce of fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce of fresh grapefruit juice

Directions
Shake and double strain. Garnish with a lime twist and serve.

Raspberry Drop

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Diplomático Mantuano, or favorite rum
1/2 ounce rosé wine
1 tablespoon raspberry jam
1/2 ounce lemon juice
0.2 ounces vanilla syrup
Fresh raspberries

Directions
Pour all the ingredients (except the raspberries) into a cocktail shaker.
Strain twice and serve in a Martini glass.
Garnish with raspberries.

Bourbon/Whiskey

Sweet Williams

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces bourbon
1/2 ounce strawberry puree
3/4 ounce Italicus
1/2 ounce lemon juice
3 basil leaves

Directions
Pour all ingredients in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass, top with ice and garnish with basil and a strawberry slice.

Recipe reprinted with permission from the mixology team JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort.

Caribbean Mai Tai

Ingredients
1 1/2 parts The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
3/4 parts lime juice
1/2 parts orgeat syrup
1/2 parts triple sec
Grapefruit wedge

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a glass over ice. Stir and garnish with mint and an orange slice.

Recipe reprinted courtesy of The Glenlivet.

Vodka

Absolut May Flowers

Ingredients
1 1/2 Parts Absolut Original, or favorite vodka
1/4 Parts Maraschino liquor
3/4 Parts East India sherry
1 to 2 drops almond extract
3/4 parts lemon

Directions
Dry, shake and strain over crushed ice in a short rocks glass. Garnish with a bouquet of edible flowers.

Tequila

Classic Margarita

Ingredients
1 ounce Cointreau
2 ounces Blanco Tequila
1 ounce fresh lime juice

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and add ice. Shake and strain into a salt-rimmed rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Recipe reprinted courtesy of Cointreau.

Mezcalina

This cocktail comes from the expansive bar offerings at JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa where the team of mixologists and tequila connoisseurs have created 150 types of margaritas.

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces tequila
1 ounce Cointreau
1 ounce mezcal
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 ounce orange juice
3/4 ounce lemon juice
Tajin seasoning for rim

Directions
Pour all ingredients in a shaker glass and muddle together. Add ice and shake. Line the glass rim with Tajin seasoning and pour ingredients into the glass. Garnish with an orange slice.