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Summertime is perfect for catching up with friends and family outdoors. It’s important for our health too. In an AARP online survey of adults 50 and older, 74 percent of respondents said

in-person socializing is the key to happiness as they age.   But as the host, you want to be able to actually socialize instead of spending your time serving. One way to ease your hosting

duties: creating cocktails by the batch, says Annemarie Schumacher, 56, an event planner and blogger at Make Every Day an Event. She says it’s a way to do some of the work ahead of time and

“really allow yourself the freedom to enjoy your own party” instead of sitting behind the bar making cocktails. Christina Daves, 57, an on-air lifestyle expert who appears regularly on _Good

Day DC_ and also hosts _Living Ageless and Bold__, _a podcast for women over 50, says it’s a trend she’s on board with for her own gatherings. “As a mom with older kids, I don’t see my kids

as much,” says Daves. “I don’t want to be in the kitchen the whole time, I want to be with them. So same thing with hosting a party — you want to be with your guests.”  Daves and Schumacher

provide three key tips for large-batch cocktails, along with six refreshing recipes to get you started. EXPERT TIPS FOR MAKING COCKTAILS BY THE BATCH   MAKE FRUIT-BASED COCKTAILS IN ADVANCE

— BUT NOT TOO FAR IN ADVANCE. You can batch almost any cocktail, but when it comes to fruit juice–based cocktails, which are popular during the summer, it’s best to prepare them no more

than two hours before your guests arrive. That way they’ll stay as fresh as possible, says Schumacher. Be cognizant of the shelf life of the juice you’re using. TIPS FOR HOSTING OUTDOORS

MORE PREP WORK MEANS LESS STRESS. Prepare as much as you can in advance to ease your hosting stressors when your guests arrive, says Daves. AVOID PEAK HEAT. To keep guests comfortable, avoid

having an outdoor get-together during the hottest hours of the day, says Schumacher. Provide access to a shaded area, whether that’s a canopy, tent, or your deck or porch, she suggests.  

KEEP GUESTS’ SEATING NEEDS IN MIND. Schumacher says to think about how comfortable the seating area is for your guests. “Is the area that you’re going to put them on planted? Or is it flat?”

Shumacher adds that you don’t want to add fresh fruit slices to a batch cocktail too far ahead of time either. “Add those right before serving,” she advises. YOU MIGHT NEED TO WATER DOWN A

LARGE-BATCH COCKTAIL — OR ADD ICE. The most basic formula for batching a cocktail is taking a recipe and multiplying it by the number of servings you want. That said, watch the strength,

says Schumacher, adding that you might want to add about 10 percent water to your batch cocktails, so they don’t become too sweet or too potent. HAVE FUN WITH PRESENTATION! Dust off elegant

serving pitchers, glassware or presentation trays you may not use often, says Schumacher. Miniature umbrellas and fruit garnishes can also add flair. SUMMER COCKTAILS TO BATCH APEROL SPRITZ

Aperol Spritz Photo: Scott Suchman, Food Styling: Lisa Cherkasky The bold, orange colors in this classic summer cocktail look like a sunset in a glass, says Schumacher. * 3 ounces dry

prosecco * 3 ounces Aperol * A splash of club soda or plain sparkling water (Shumacher uses Perrier) To batch the cocktail, multiply the recipe by the number of servings you want. Combine

the ingredients in a pitcher and stir. Pour the cocktail into a large wine glass filled with ice and stir. Garnish with an orange slice. CLASSIC DAIQUIRI Classic Daiquiri Photo: Scott

Suchman, Food Styling: Lisa Cherkasky Schumacher says this drink, while not very sweet, is extremely refreshing. * 1.5 ounces light rum * 1 ounce fresh lime juice * 1 teaspoon sugar Multiply

this recipe by the number of servings you want. Add ice to the container you’re using to serve the cocktail, to keep it chilled. (This eliminates the need to add extra water, says

Schumacher.) Serve in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lime. The following four recipes are some of Daves’ favorites for the summer. She recommends them for people over 50 watching

their sugar intake.