What’s your favorite summer time drink? Some sips appear completely suited to heat climate – from a crisp G&T to unique tropical cocktails.
However even when you’ve got a favorite summer time tipple, it’s at all times enjoyable to attempt one thing new and this summer time there’s extra selection than ever, with loads of new launches and seasonal editions which are bang on pattern.
Refreshing spritzes
Credit score: Justine Trickett
Who doesn’t love a summer time spritz? Refreshing, versatile and decrease in alcohol than basic cocktails, it’s no marvel the spritz has turn out to be a preferred summer time drinks fixture. In truth, final yr spritz serves accounted for one in seven cocktails bought within the UK, versus one in 11 the earlier yr, in accordance with the CGA Blended Drinks Q3 2023/2024 Report.
Many bars supply a devoted spritz menu in summer time. However it’s enjoyable to mess around with components to create your individual serves at house. Simply keep in mind to make use of an enormous wine glass and loads of ice.
This summer time I’ve been mixing up elegant Italicus Spritzes made with unique bergamot liqueur (see under). However I’ve additionally acquired a couple of bottles of the brand new Prepared-to-Serve Aperol Spritz in my fridge, together with the brand new Della Vite spritz assortment – two of my favorite current launches (see under).
Spice it up
Credit score: Liudmila Chernetska / iStock / Getty Photos Plus
If the summer time heatwaves aren’t sizzling sufficient for you, you then aren’t alone. Extra of us need to flip up the warmth with spicy meals and drinks…
In line with the Innova Market Insights report International Flavour Innovation Traits in Scorching & Spicy Meals, printed final summer time, we’re all displaying a rising choice for spicy flavours – particularly chilli. Over the previous 5 years, there’s been a 4% improve in world launches of chilli-flavoured meals and drinks.
Diageo’s Flavour Forecast 2024 additionally highlighted the pattern forward of the launch of Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind Vodka. So it’s no shock you may spot a rising variety of spicy drinks on grocery store cabinets now. My favorite current launch is Picoso (see under).
Spiced rums are a good way to faucet into this pattern – and there are a lot to select from with rum gross sales on the rise within the UK. Information from CGA by Nielsen IQ confirmed that rum gross sales within the UK surpassed the £1bn mark for the primary time in 2022. Attempt utilizing spiced rum as a substitute of your common rum in considered one of these easy-to-make rum cocktails.
Tequila takeover
In addition to rum, tequila and mezcal are additionally on the rise. In line with drinks business analyst Statista, off-trade gross sales of tequila at the moment are value simply over £350m within the UK. It’s proof that extra of us than ever at the moment are mixing up tequila cocktails at house.
I can by no means resist a salt-rimmed Margarita, however fairly pink Palomas are a refreshing selection too – they usually’re simply really easy to make. Merely add tequila, grapefruit soda and lime juice to an ice-filled glass and stir; no shaking required! For extra tequila cocktail inspiration, try Clinton Cawood’s strategies in Past the Margarita.
In the event you’re on the lookout for tequila cocktails on the go, the MOTH Paloma is a dependable selection. After no-alcohol? Then attempt the ISH Paloma.
Avoiding alcohol
Increasingly more of us at the moment are selecting zero alcohol options. Analysis final yr by Kantar confirmed that 22 million adults (45% of us) try to reasonable their alcohol consumption (Alcovision, knowledge to 30.06.2024). Of these folks, 11% frequently select NoLo drinks choices. That’s double the quantity from 5 years in the past (Alcovision, knowledge to 31.09.2023).
In line with the LOW & NO 2024: Consuming In another way report by KAM, 25% of UK adults now follow ‘zebra striping’ after they’re out in pubs and bars. This refers to alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. That determine rises to 78% of 18- to 24-year-olds.
The excellent news is it’s simple to do that at house with out compromising on style. However no matter your choice – and regardless of the event – the choice under offers you loads of vibrant concepts for seasonal sipping…
Summer time drinks: 15 to attempt
Aluna Coconut Rum
For a completely tropical style attempt Aluna: a mix of 5 rums from Guatemala and the Caribbean, made with toasted coconut and sustainably sourced coconut water. Barely decrease in sugar and alcohol, there are many contemporary creamy coconut aromas with good spiciness on the palate, plus toasted coconut notes and vanilla – like sipping rum out of a coconut shell. Rum followers can take pleasure in it neat over ice; pair it with cola and lime for a coconutty Cuba Libra or pimp their Piña Colada. Alc 37.5%
Aperol Spritz Prepared-to-Serve
The drink that kick-started the UK’s love affair with spritzes was lastly launched as a pre-mixed bottled serve in spring this yr. About time! Combining the long-lasting orange Italian aperitif with Prosecco and soda water, it’s a glowing bittersweet summer time refresher. Serve it chilled in a big wine glass full of ice and garnish with a contemporary orange slice. For the complete Italian aperitivo expertise, pair it with savoury snacks or mild bites. Alc 9%
Babylonstoren Bitterlekker
In the event you love the bittersweet style of Aperol Spritz (see above) however don’t wish to drink alcohol, attempt Bitterlekker. Made by South African wine producer Babylonstoren, this vibrant aperitif combines honeybush and rooibos teas with blood orange and grapefruit citrus. Notes of rosemary and orange peel add a bitter natural character. Serve it chilled in a highball glass full of ice, garnished with a slice of orange and a sprig of rosemary. Alc 0%
£10/6x100ml bottles, The Newt in Somerset
Bax Botanics Verbena
Created by Rose and Chris Bax, a wife-and-husband herbalist group in Yorkshire, it is a actually distinctive gin different. Verbena, mint and fennel are craft distilled – and their flavours are faithfully mirrored in a drink with precision, elevate and the joyous lazy hum of a British nation backyard. Pair it with tonic water and plenty of ice; ready-to-drink cans are additionally obtainable. Alc 0%
£18.99/50cl Bax Botanics, Grasp of Malt
Black Strains Soiled Shirley
A Shirley Temple – made with ginger ale and a splash of grenadine, garnished with a maraschino cherry – is the basic virgin cocktail. However when you’d like one thing a bit tougher in your summer time events, attempt a Soiled Shirley from the intelligent cocktail folks at Black Strains. Combining Sapling Vodka with grenadine, ginger ale, raspberry soda, blood orange and bitters, it’s dangerously moreish… Serve it chilled: 150ml in a slingor highball glass full of ice and garnished with an orange slice and maraschino cherry (after all). I additionally love the crisp and contemporary Black Strains Hugo Spritz. Alc 7%
£18/750ml, Black Strains Drinks
Della Vite Spritzes
Della Vite, the Prosecco model co-founded by Cara Delevingne, has launched a group of canned spritzes, impressed by Italian aperitivo serves. In fairly pastel cans, the vary contains an Apertivo Spritz (Alc 10%) and Bellini Spritz (Alc 7.5% abv), alongside my favourites: a zesty Sicilian Lemon Spritz (Alc 10%) and the contemporary, floral Hugo Spritz (Alc 10%). For anybody avoiding alcohol, there’s additionally a 0% Aperiti-No Spritz. Delevingne says: ‘Our new vary of Spritzes are impressed by the aperitivo tradition we love once we’re in Italy, however made to be cracked open wherever and wherever. They’re enjoyable, they’re daring and, similar to our core vary of Proseccos, don’t want any fuss or formality.’ Alc numerous
El Bandarra Al Fresco
Made in Barcelona, El Bandarra Al Fresco is a bitter-sweet vermouth you could pair with tonic for a vibrant summer time serve. With decrease alcohol than a G&T, vermouth and tonic is a lighter, extra refreshing tackle a glowing summer time cocktail. Combine 50ml El Bandarra Al Fresco with 100ml tonic in a highball glass full of ice and garnish with an orange slice. The attention-catching graphic bottle – impressed by tapas menus – seems to be nice too. Alc 14.5%
Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
Perfumed and complicated, this bergamot liqueur from Turin is a contemporary tackle the basic fragrant Italian rosolio (a kind of aperitivo). With mild hints of floral spice, it makes a refreshing summer time tipple paired merely with soda water or tonic over ice. In the event you’re feeling fancier, attempt it in a spritz with any Prosecco or glowing wine, garnished with three inexperienced olives to offer a balancing contact of savoury saltiness to counter the candy florality. What’s extra, the eye-catching aquamarine bottle – impressed by historic Roman columns and Northern Italian Gothic structure – seems to be effortlessly fashionable in your drinks shelf… Alc 20%
Jukes Cordialities
Wine author Matthew Jukes is the palate behind this vary of alcohol-free drinks designed to attraction to wine lovers. Every numbered mix combines pure fruit, greens, herbs, spices and flowers with natural apple cider vinegar. Every 30ml bottle might be combined with nonetheless or glowing water to create two 125ml glasses. My decide for summer time, Jukes 8 is impressed by Provence rosé, with notes of rhubarb, melon, pomegranate and apple. Alc 0%
£43 / 9 x 30ml bottles, Jukes Cordialities
Manly Spirits Marine Botanical Vodka
A vodka for gin lovers, this Australian spirit is distilled in Sydney utilizing foraged marine botanicals together with sea parsley and kelp. Salty, savoury aromas with underlying spiciness make your mouth water. The marginally candy palate is creamy and savoury with some seaweed umami depth, balanced by pretty breezy ozone freshness and a clear mineral edge. Similar to a time out on the seaside… An awesome different to gin with tonic or attempt it neat with oysters. Alc 41.6%
Picoso
No doubt my mushy drink of the summer time! Picoso is a spicy soda model with two flavours: Zesty Lime and Tropical Mango. Founders Tom Bowerman-Wake and Tish Carless use contemporary chilli – Scotch bonnet in Zesty Lime and Mexican habanero in Tropical Mango – to offer a well-judged kick of mouth-tingling spice that’s balanced by sweetness from pure agave. These sodas are super-versatile: take pleasure in them as a satisfying zero alcohol drink or add 50ml of tequila or mezcal in a higball glass with loads of ice to create a simple cocktail. ‘Picoso promotes a brand new means of blending – pushing inclusivity for drinkers and non-drinkers, guaranteeing that nobody feels unnoticed,’ explains Bowerman-Wake. It’s undoubtedly time to boost your life… Alc 0%
£15/ 6x250ml, Picoso Drinks or £10/4x250ml, Delli
Porters Tropical Previous Tom Gin
Created by bartenders in a micro-distillery in Aberdeen, this gin is made in an Previous Tom type: a conventional 18th century recipe that’s barely sweeter than London Dry. I really like the contemporary and faintly tropical aromas, with sappy leafiness, pineapple and floral touches. On the palate the Previous Tom sweetness is balanced by contemporary tropical fruit – pineapple, mango – edged in florals but additionally with earthy base notes, like strolling by means of a moist rainforest. Attempt it in an Previous Tom Collins: construct in a tall glass utilizing 50ml Porters, 25ml lemon juice, 25ml sugar syrup and 125ml chilled soda water. Alc 40%
Sake Sling
Served in a slimline can that takes up minimal house in your fridge, glowing Sake Sling can be mild on alcohol and energy. These ready-to-drink Japanese serves are primarily based on sake from the 200-year-old Daimon Brewery and had been created by the late nice British mixologist Wayne Collins. Mandarin & Cherry is a play on the flavours in a Singapore Sling cocktail. However my decide for summer time is Yuzu & Melon, a contemporary and elegantly fruity fizz, with delicate citrus notes that completely complement the floral character of the sake. Alc 5.5%
£44.45/12 x 250ml cans, Drinks One
Sarti Rosa
Constructed from a base of premium French vodka, Sarti Rosa apertivo is infused with Sicilian blood oranges and tropical ardour fruit and mango. Its fruity style profile will attraction to those that discover Aperol and Campari too bitter. To create a vibrant pink Sarti Rosa Spritz, mix two elements Sarti Rosa with three elements glowing wine and one half soda water in a balloon glass full of ice. Alc 14%
