No glass required: The easiest summer cocktail recipes

It’s been a long summer, and we need a drink, preferably one that doesn’t require a lot of ingredients, a recipe – or a glass. Join us on this journey with a Can Radler. Just sip on your favorite lager for a bit, finish maybe 25% of the can, then pour in a little lemonade. You can use a funnel if you’re feeling fancy. We generally just do our best and pour over the sink. (One Sauce staff member insists the beer must be Stag, but we suspect he’s simply attached to the name Stagonade.)

If you want something more substantial, try a Hard Can Radler. Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. did the radler work for us with its tasty Big Shark lemon and grapefruit versions. Adding a shot of tequila to the Big Shark grapefruit makes a great lazy person’s paloma. Or add a shot of gin to the lemon radler for a beery twist on a French 75.

If beer is not your thing, the most refreshing cupless cocktail is possibly Ranch Water in a Bottle. Simply sip some Topo Chico mineral water, add a shot of tequila or mezcal to the bottle, and squeeze in as many limes wedges as you can. Call it a skinny margarita, use a different seltzer – we don’t care. Just bring us another.

Heather Hughes is managing editor at Sauce Magazine.