Sangria Bonita

Combine 1 (750-ml) bottle dry white wine, 4 ounces (½ cup) orange liqueur, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a large pitcher, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add (750-ml) bottle sparkling water. Add 1 sliced orange, 1 sliced lime, 1 sliced star fruit, and 6 sliced strawberries; chill up to 1 hour. Garnish each serving with fresh mint. Makes 6 servings.

CL: What is your funniest cocktail story?

CM: Last summer we were at the beach, and margaritas were in demand. Off I went into the kitchen to begin squeezing the limes and mixing away, but I couldn't find a suitable vessel for the margaritas. I remembered that I had packed new beach buckets for the kids. I grabbed one, filled it with ice, and began my mixology! This is a classic example of using what you have. The bucket proved to be a great insulator against the sultry summer day, and the shovel was a superb ice-scooping tool. Let me just say, buckets of fun were had!

Recipes reprinted with permission from It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere: The Global Guide to Fabulous Cocktails (Sixth & Spring Books, 2008) by Colleen Mullaney; barnesandnoble.com.