The best drinks of the summer so far at the beach

Before taking a job as a food and drink reporter, I spent a good amount of time eating and drinking without ever thinking about what to say or write about the things I consumed.

I was a sportswriter and later a restaurant assistant manager who loved to eat and always enjoyed a good craft cocktail or a dark beer. The fat sportswriter meme isn't all that distant from reality. We eat a lot and eat a lot at really bad times to eat, like midnight or so. 

But taking this role and moving to the Delmarva region (I reside in the culinary capital of Rehoboth) has allowed me to do the same kind of culinary and libation exploration that I've always loved doing, but this time for work.

So the last two months have been fun in a lot of ways. I've written about restaurants up and down the region, and have eaten at many others. This has provided me a good sampling of what's around. I wasn't really a beach person growing up and my preferences for alcohol don't typically lean seasonal, so orange crushes and frozen cocktails were never big for me.

But, when in Rome... 

Here are a few of the best drinks I've consumed so far this summer and why I liked them so much. 

"Decanted Manhattan" @ Our Harvest

At John Trader's new venture, Our Harvest, in Fenwick Island, there aren't many traditional beach features. In fact, it's pretty hard to realize you're even at the beach when you look at the menu and see the food and drinks being offered. That was kind of the point. 

The bar program, headed by sommelier Heather Sharp, is full of surprises and whimsical takes on classic cocktails. None better than the decanted Manhattan, a beautifully-made drink with Rittenhouse Rye, Cocchi di Torino vermouth, Don Ciccio Amaro delle Sirene (instead of bitters) and a luxardo cherry. It was different than any Manhattan I'd had before. And on a cool and rainy day right before Memorial Day Weekend, it was a pleasant surprise.

Orange Crush @ Harborside

Look, I know it's super cliché. You can get an orange crush practically everywhere these days. But I had honestly never had one before. So when I went to Harborside to taste the original for the first time, it felt like going to Chicago and visiting Wrigley Field or seeing the Empire State Building in New York. It's tradition. And I can appreciate tradition.

The drink is so famous that the souvenir glass lists the ingredients and ratios right there for you to read while you sip to the bottom.

Avocado Cilantro @ Agave

There's so much darn tequila at Agave it's hard to pick just one drink. However, if you're reading this and looking for a recommendation, it's likely the wait times at Agave will keep you from going more than once, so I'll keep it simple. Get the Avocado Cilantro tequila cocktail at the famous Lewes Mexican restaurant.

Made with an expensive Corzo reposado tequila, the drink features triple sec, avocado, cilantro, fresh lemon and lime and agave nectar. It's a perfect blend of summer and Mexican flavors.

Dogfish Head creations

If you've followed my work at all, you're probably sick of me writing about Dogfish. I'm sorry. Actually, I'm not. Dogfish, with the opening of its new brewpub and release of new beers, has had quite a busy summer. And they've made so many good drinks this year that I couldn't just pick one.

Brewings & Eats has been serving summer shandys made with Dogfish's distilled products and its brews. The Continual, made with 60-minute IPA and Whole Leaf Gin, is refreshing and very tasty.

In the beer category, SeaQuench Ale has been a summer favorite of not just myself but nearly everyone I talk to. The black lime, sea salt beer is as summer as it gets.

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