Don’t let this miserable June-uary weather fool you, folks! Summer arrives today and when the warm weather finally hits you’re going to want a cold bevy in hand to celebrate. Here are five of my current favourites, presented for your ranking consideration…

CO-COLADA | Bao Bei | 163 Keefer St. | Chinatown | www.bao-bei.ca
You may scoff at any drink made in a blender, but there’s nothing better than sipping a Pina Colada on a hot summer day! At this Chinatown icon they make it with fresh coconut, coconut milk, and their own special syrup.

APEROL SPRITZ | Ask For Luigi | 305 Alexander St. | Railtown | www.askforluigi.com
Let’s aperativo, shall we? With its effervescence and slightly bitter notes, the AP is a perfect pre-dinner drink and Ask For Luigi bottles them in house (using the most adorable little bottles).

FAYUCA MARGARITA | Fayuca | 1009 Hamilton St. | Yaletown | www.fayuca.ca
Nothing says summer like a good margarita. Consider heading over to Yaletown’s new Fayuca for their riff on the classic, which sees mezcal adding a smoky note to this otherwise refreshing sipper.

DAIQUIRI | Pourhouse | 162 Water St. | Gastown | www.pourhousevancouver.com
The only thing better than a daiquiri? A daiquiri made with overproof rum! Head on over to Pourhouse where they give the classic an extra kick with not one but two kinds of rum!

VELVETEEN RABBIT | Mission | 2042 W. 4th Ave. | Kitsilano | www.missionkits.ca
With hints of stone fruit and orange blossom on the palate and savoury notes of sage on the nose, the Velveteen Rabbit (pictured above) offers the perfect amount of complexity while still keeping it light.