Late-summer cocktails served under the pergola at Copper Top Ridge, including a Featherbone Rye Boulevardier, huckleberry lemonade, smoky peach smash, and lavender cucumber gin fizz — all styled on a cozy patio surrounded by forest greenery.

Late-Summer Cocktails to Sip Under the Pergola at Copper Top Ridge

There’s something magical about late summer in Southwest Michigan. The cicadas hum, golden hour stretches lazily across the backyard, and the dappled light filters through the clear-roofed pergola onto the patio at Copper Top Ridge. Whether you’re winding down from a beach day, lighting up the fire pit, or just watching deer wander along Squaw Creek, it’s the perfect setting for a refreshing seasonal cocktail in hand, especially late-summer cocktails.Here are four inspired cocktails—two classic, two creative—that we recommend sipping as you soak in those last golden rays of summer.


🥃 Featherbone Rye Boulevardier

Bold. Sophisticated. Pure Michigan.

Featherbone Rye Boulevardier cocktail served on a black bar mat atop a white marble countertop at Copper Top Ridge, with a bottle of Journeyman Distillery rye whiskey and an orange peel garnish.

The signature Featherbone Rye Boulevardier, crafted at Copper Top Ridge with a twist of orange and a local rye from Journeyman Distillery.A Copper Top Ridge favorite, this twist on a classic Boulevardier uses Journeyman Distillery’s Featherbone Rye, crafted just up the road in nearby Three Oaks.

  • 1 oz Featherbone Rye
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth
  • 1 oz Campari
  • Orange peel, for garnish

Stir all ingredients with ice until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over one large cube. Express an orange peel over the drink, then drop it in.

🪵 Sip this one as the fire pit crackles to life. Bonus points if you’re wearing a spa robe fresh from the hot tub.

Pick up Featherbone Rye locally at Journeyman Distillery—or take our Luxury Winery & Brewery Tour and grab a bottle at the source.


🍋 Wild Huckleberry Lemonade

Sweet. Tart. Wildly refreshing.

Huckleberry Lemonade cocktail on a white marble countertop at Copper Top Ridge, garnished with a lemon wheel and surrounded by fresh huckleberries and a whole lemon on a black bar mat.
This handcrafted Huckleberry Lemonade is a refreshing late-summer cocktail served fresh at Copper Top Ridge with berries and lemon.

Inspired by the berry bushes lining the trails near Warren Dunes, this vibrant cocktail balances summery sweetness with a punch of citrus.

Where to shop:

  • 2 oz huckleberry vodka (or muddled wild huckleberries + vodka)
  • 4 oz fresh lemonade
  • Splash of club soda
  • Lemon wheel & mint sprig for garnish

Shake vodka and lemonade with ice. Strain over fresh ice in a tall glass, top with soda, and garnish.

💡 Serve in a mason jar for that rustic-chic vibe that pairs perfectly with our backyard views of the forested creek.

Can’t find huckleberries? Substitute blueberries or black raspberries from the New Buffalo Farmers Market.


🍑 Smoky Peach Smash

Juicy. Herbaceous. Slightly smoky.

Smoky Peach Smash cocktail served in a textured glass on a marble countertop at Copper Top Ridge, garnished with basil and a grilled peach slice, surrounded by fresh peaches, a jar of honey, and a lemon.
This handcrafted Smoky Peach Smash is a late-summer favorite at Copper Top Ridge, made with bourbon, fresh peaches, honey, and basil.

A seasonal crowd-pleaser that makes great use of late-summer peaches, especially when paired with a hint of smoke and fresh herbs from the kitchen garden.

Where to shop: Skip’s European Farmers Market – Weekends through mid‑October

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 1 ripe peach (sliced and muddled)
  • ½ oz honey syrup
  • 3–4 basil leaves
  • Optional: Dash of smoky bitters

Muddle peach slices and basil with honey syrup. Add bourbon and shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a basil sprig and grilled peach slice.

🍑 The sweet stone fruit mingles beautifully with the scent of the grill on a summer night.


🌸 Lavender Cucumber Gin Fizz

Floral. Crisp. Light as a summer breeze.

Cucumber Lavender Gin Fizz
A refreshing Lavender Cucumber Gin Fizz served under the pergola at Copper Top Ridge, featuring Round Barn gin, fresh cucumber, and edible lavender.

The most delicate of the bunch, this cocktail cools you off with the subtle combination of cucumber and lavender—especially when made with locally crafted Round Barn Gin. It’s the perfect sip for sunset lounging beneath the Edison lights of the pergola.

Where to shop:

  • 2 oz gin
  • 1 oz lavender simple syrup
  • ½ oz lemon juice
  • 3 cucumber slices
  • Soda water to top

Muddle cucumber, then shake with gin, syrup, and lemon juice. Double strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with soda and garnish with a cucumber ribbon or edible flower.

💜 Pairs well with soft music, good company, and that golden-hour glow on the deck.


🍹 Enjoying Late-Summer Cocktails Under the Stars

Patio Perfection, One Sip at a Time

Whether you’re a bourbon fan or prefer your drinks light and floral, there’s a late-summer cocktail here to match your mood. Each one complements the Copper Top Ridge experience—laid-back luxury, nature all around, and just enough sophistication to feel special.

Want to keep it easy? Bring your favorite spirits and mixers—we’ve got a stocked pantry, a fridge with plenty of ice, and enough glassware to host a whole toast under the stars.

🍹 Cheers to the last sips of summer.


🥂 Plan Your Stay

Looking for the perfect setting to enjoy these cocktails?

Search

August 2025

  • M
  • T
  • W
  • T
  • F
  • S
  • S
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

September 2025

  • M
  • T
  • W
  • T
  • F
  • S
  • S
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
0 Adults
Pets
Size
Amenities

Compare listings

Compare

Compare experiences

Compare