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8 Go-To Spots for Refreshing Summer Cocktails

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What does summer taste like? For you, maybe it’s a frozen drink on a hot afternoon. Or it’s a fresh fruit infused mixed drink in the shade. The Hershey Harrisburg Region can quench anyone’s thirst, from award-winning margaritas and famous bloody mary’s to signature chocolate martinis and one-of-a-kind flavor infusions.

Chilly Wine Slushies at Spring Gate

This slush is just for Mom & Dad. Spring Gate Vineyard offers incredible wine slushies year-round, but these frozen treats become the ultimate refreshing beverage on a hot summer day. Guests love these slushies so much that Spring Gate built a slushy cottage with 10 machines to keep up! Some of their rotating flavors include Berry Pomegranate, Blush Slush, and Peach Mango. Yum! You can also enjoy summer sips of Spring Gate's wine, beer, cider, bubbly, and handcrafted cocktails.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Local Libations at Midstate Distillery

At Harrisburg’s first distillery since Prohibition, Midstate Distillery bottles up local flavor with their handcrafted spirits made with Pennsylvania grains, water, labor, and bottles. From Lancaster County molasses and corn to Little Amps dark brew in the Shakey Jake’s Coffee Liqueur, Midstate Distillery is big on local taste. Their cocktail menu includes martinis like the Dirty Susquehanna (Iron & Ice vodka and their homemade olive brine) and moonshine mixes like the Corn Collins (Pennsyltucky Moonshine, fresh lemons, sugar and club soda). On the shelves behind the bar, you’ll find their house-made spirit infusions, pairing their vodka, rum, and moonshine with various fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Bloody Mary Magic at Café 1500

If you’re into brunch, you know that Bloody Mary’s are a menu staple alongside eggs and bacon. At Café 1500 in Midtown Harrisburg, they spice up this veggie drink with their 1500 Famous Bloody Special. Just what you’ll get in your glass rotates each week, but we’ve seen them topped with fried chicken, burger sliders, quesadillas, hot wings, shrimp mussels, and more. When you’re not sure whether you ordered a beverage or an appetizer, you’re definitely at Café 1500.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Artisan Mixology at The Millworks

There is such a thing as a farm-fresh cocktail. The Millworks has seasonal food and cocktail menus that use the best of what local farmers have to offer to deliver the most flavorful tastes. In addition to using Pennsylvania spirits in their drinks, their mixologists incorporate fresh fruit like a strawberry puree or aromatic additions like lavender or rosemary. Enjoy a refreshing drink or a pint of their craft beer on their rooftop biergarten that overlooks the Broad Street Market and Midtown Harrisburg.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Classic Margaritas at El Sol

The definitive warm weather beverage has gotta be the margarita, and El Sol Mexican Restaurant knows how to make them just right. Winner of Harrisburg Magazine’s Simply The Best Margarita, El Sol offers the largest selection of tequila in Harrisburg. In addition to making classic margaritas, their menu includes adventurous varieties like the Jalapeno Margarita (for your taste buds) and the Million Dollar Margarita priced at $50 (for your wallet). El Sol also took home the award for best Mexican food in town, so your dinner is sure to be delicioso as well!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Chocolate Heaven at The Circular

It should come as no surprise that bartenders in Hershey The Sweetest Place On Earth® like to serve chocolate concoctions. At The Circular® at The Hotel HersheySM, the classic choice is the Hershey’s® Kisses™ Signature Chocolate Martini made with vanilla vodka, chocolate vodka and crème de cacao. Indulge with a mix of salty and sweet, the Reese's® Peanut Butter Cup Martini, which blends peanut butter rum, chocolate vodka, and chocolat liqueur.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Seasonal Cocktails at Greystone Public House

The mixologists at Greystone Public House employ super-fresh, seasonal fruit and flavors to infuse their craft cocktails. Muddled berries, fragrant hibiscus, and juicy peaches are just a few of the fresh options on their happy hour menus. On round two, choose one of their signature cocktails like the Greystone Manhattan made with their own special barrel of Knob Creek. If you're a wine lover, look for their refreshing summer sangria. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Truly Original Creations at Rubicon

Another place with a seasonal drink menu, Rubicon is known for its off-the-wall concoctions and unexpected ingredients. It’s normal to find a drink on the menu that incorporates French peppers, chilies, crushed fennel, or even beet juice. Don’t be nervous. These cocktails are expertly crafted to blend taste with originality.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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