Summertime… the time of year for a frozen cocktail on the deck, dock- or maybe just in the backyard. There are tons of frozen drinks to choose from but here in Alabama, the unofficial state cocktail is the Bushwacker. You can find them at many places around L.A. (Lower Alabama) and while the recipes are all a little different, the basics are the same: chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream, and rum. While most places drizzle chocolate syrup inside the wall of the glass as seen in the photo from Sunset Pointe in Fairhope, Alabama on the left, the world-famous Flora-Bama does not add chocolate to the glass but adds the chocolate to the ice cream.

You can dress these up for a summer dessert with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Some places offer a “float” on top of 150 proof rum but proceed with caution as this takes the drink from fun to potent.

BUSHWACKER FROZEN COCKTAIL

Yield: 2-4 drinks, depending on the portion size

INGREDIENTS

1-pint vanilla ice cream, softened

1/2 cup half and half

1/3 cup chocolate syrup plus more to drizzle the glass

4 ounces light rum, chilled

1/2 ounce 150-proof rum on top, optional

Whipped cream, optional

DIRECTIONS:

Mix ingredients in a blender with a small amount of ice. Pour into glasses which have been drizzled with chocolate syrup, if using. Float the 150-proof rum on top, if using. Add whipped cream and more chocolate syrup or chocolate shavings, if desired.

Way back in like, 2008, I was driving in the car and had on Oprah Radio-- I heard Oprah raving about her favorite summer drink, the Moscow Mule. I was curious so I had to try it. I thought it was very refreshing and easy to drink. Best of all, they are easy to make. You'll need ginger beer, which you can find at most grocery stores these days or at an International market like World Market. And use fresh lime juice. Not the squeezy stuff.... You are supposed to serve a Moscow Mule in a copper mug and it may just be me but I do think they taste better in the copper. There are tons of places to buy these now but hey- you can serve Moscow Mules in a julep cup, a coffee cup, or a plastic cup.