Bourbon and summer; gin and summer

We love old fashioneds. (Or, for the purists or recipe police, drinks very similar to old fashioneds made with different ingredients and different recipes). Our standard fare would probably be along the lines of a teaspoon of turbinado sugar, a few shakes of Angostura bitters, and a finger of water. Fill glass with cubed ice. Fill to brim with Knob Creek bourbon, and garnish with a Luxardo cherry. However, in summer we shift to lighter cane sugar, substitute Peychaud bitters, and go to a lighter bourbon, like Bulleit.

Also, although a martini is great any time, we don't both like G&Ts but do like fizzes. Try using lemon juice, simple syrup, and Boodles (this is IMO the ONLY time I prefer Boodles, which lacks citrus notes of its own), and instead of soda try Topo Chico lime.

And then there is my summer substitute for iced tea. Fill a highball glass with ice, add a slice of orange, fill with soda, and pour Campari over the top. The weight is such that self mixes, preserving the fizz.