Summer is the time for cookouts, camaraderie — and cold cocktails.

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Here are four summer-inspired cocktails to help beat the heat. Local bartenders share their mixing expertise. Watch »

Knowing how to mix a good drink for the right occasion is essential for a great party. We asked four local mixologists how to make some refreshing beverages that taste even better when the weather is hot. First, a classic mojito combines mint and citrus for a clean, light drink. Next, taste the tropics with a guava lemon drop martini. Then learn why the sugary Caipirinha is considered the national drink of Brazil. Finally, our food writer Jennifer Biggs uses a summer fruit — the mango — in her own daiquiri.

-- Christopher Blank