What’s your favourite summer drink? There are certain libations that seem perfectly suited to warm weather – from a crisp G&T to exotic tropical cocktails. But while you may have a go-to summer tipple, it’s always fun to try something new…
This summer there’s more choice than ever, with plenty of new launches and seasonal editions that are tapping into current drinks trends.
Tequila takeover
According to the Summer Trends Drinks Report 2024 from Tesco, sales of tequila have increased by 28% in the last year. That means more of us than ever are now mixing up tequila cocktails at home.
The salt-rimmed Margarita is a classic choice, but Palomas have become increasingly popular – perhaps because they’re so easy to make. Just add tequila, grapefruit soda and lime juice to an ice-filled glass and stir; no shaking required! For more tequila cocktail inspiration, check out Clinton Cawood’s suggestions in Beyond the Margarita.
Refreshing spritzes
Meanwhile spritzes continue to be a popular, lower alcohol choice. Many bars now offer a dedicated spritz menu in summer. But it’s fun to play around with ingredients to create your own refreshing serve at home.
If you fancy a change from an Aperol Spritz or Campari Spritz, try pairing a vermouth such as Barcelona’s El Bandarra Al Fresco (see below) with tonic instead. There are plenty of ready-to-drink spritzes too – the Black Lines Hugo Spritz and These Days Sundown Spritz (see below) are two of my favourite recent launches.
Flavours to savour
Drinks giant Diageo released its Flavour Forecast 2024 in June, identifying five trends that are dominating our summer sipping this year. They include savoury drinks, fuelled by increased internet searches and online content for ingredients such as turmeric (up 79%), tahini (+45% ) and seaweed (+55%) according to the AI Palette x Diageo (two-year CAGR increase in conversations, from May 2022 to April 2023 versus May 2023 to April 2024).
Savoury botanicals such as seaweed, rock samphire and sea purslane are being put to good use in new-wave coastal gins, an increasingly popular style. Look out for bottles such as Bullards Coastal Gin and Isle of Bute Small Batch Oyster Gin from the UK, and Australian Papa Salt, a recent launch by actress Margot Robbie and friends.
Spicy and tropical
Next up from Diageo’s Flavour Forecast 2024 are tropical and spicy flavours. Spiced rums from the Caribbean are a great way to tap into this trend – and there are plenty of brands to choose from with rum sales on the rise in the UK. Data from CGA by Nielsen IQ showed that rum sales in the UK surpassed the £1bn mark for the first time in 2022. While 9m bottles of rum were sold in Tesco alone in 2023. Try using spiced rum instead of your regular rum in one of our easy-to-make rum cocktails.
Ingredients such as mango, guava, coconut, pineapple and passion fruit add a tropical twist to your drinks. Make a thirst-quenching Highball by pairing delicious Desi Daru Alphonso Mango Vodka or Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind Vodka (launched earlier this year) with tonic or soda over ice in a tall glass.
No- and low-alcohol
What about if you’re taking a break from alcohol or don’t drink alcohol at all? In 2024 there are 2.6m fewer UK adults drinking weekly compared with 2021, so it’s not surprisng that the range of interesting NoLo drinks continues to grow at a rapid pace. Two of my star picks, which I regularly drink at home, are Bax Botanics (see below) and Botivo.
The LOW & NO 2024: Drinking Differently report by KAM revealed that 25% of UK adults now practice ‘zebra striping’ when they’re out in pubs and bars. This refers to alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. That figure rises to 78% of 18- to 24-year-olds. The good news is it’s easy to do this at home without compromising on taste.
Options include convincing gin alternatives such as Pentire Adrift and Sea Arch Coastal Juniper. Meanwhile ISH Mexican Agave Spirit makes a great substitute for tequila in a Virgin Margarita.
Don’t forget bottled and canned mocktails – the Summer Trends Drinks Report 2024 from Tesco showed that customer searches for ‘mocktails’ increased by a huge 107% on tesco.com from 2022 to 2023. Meanwhile hard seltzers and grown-up sodas are usually lower in both calories and alcohol. I’ve been enjoying actress Blake Lively’s Betty Buzz range, which includes Meyer Lemon Club Soda, Sparkling Grapefruit, Sparkling Lemon Lime and Ginger Beer,
There has never been more choice for drinkers choosing to go alcohol free. But whatever your preference – and whatever the occasion – the selection below will give you plenty of bright ideas for seasonal sipping…
Summer drinks to try
Recommended by Tina Gellie, Chris Losh and Julie Sheppard
Agua de Madre Lemon & Ginger Kefir Water
If you want something citrusy and invigorating but without caffeine, sugar or alcohol, this is a good bet. The flavours of lemon and ginger are subtle and because it’s water-based it’s naturally light, with just a hint of funky kefir tang. Could work as a wine (or a mojito) alternative, and since it’s probiotic it’s good for your gut, too – just don’t drink too much of it! CL Alcohol 0.5%
Aluna Coconut Rum
For a totally tropical taste try Aluna: a blend of five rums from Guatemala and the Caribbean, made with toasted coconut and sustainably sourced coconut water. Slightly lower in sugar and alcohol, there are lots of fresh creamy coconut aromas with nice spiciness on the palate, plus toasted coconut notes and vanilla – like sipping rum out of a coconut shell. Rum fans can enjoy it neat over ice; pair it with cola and lime for a coconutty Cuba Libra or pimp their Piña Colada. JS Alc 37.5%
Bax Botanics Verbena
Created by Rose and Chris Bax, a wife-and-husband herbalist team in Yorkshire, this is a really distinctive gin alternative. Verbena, mint and fennel are craft distilled – and their flavours are faithfully reflected in a drink with precision, lift and the joyous lazy hum of a British country garden. Pair it with tonic water and lots of ice; ready-to-drink cans are also available. JS Alc 0%
£18.99/50cl Bax Botanics, Master of Malt
Black Lines Hugo Spritz
Now a popular fixture on spritz menus in bars, the Hugo Spritz was invented in 2005 by Roland Gruber in the Italian town of Naturno. The basic recipe is a simple blend of dry white wine, elderflower cordial and soda water, but it’s an easy mix to adapt to taste. Use Prosecco instead of white wine for a softer, sweeter serve or add a measure of gin for something punchier. This summery bottled version by Black Lines Drinks uses Sapling Gin along with sparkling wine. To serve, chill the bottle and fill a wine glass with ice cubes. Pour in the spritz and garnish with a lemon wheel and mint. JS Alc 8%
Della Vite Zero
This no-alcohol vegan sparkling rosé is part of the Della Vite wine range developed by model and actress Cara Delevingne and her sisters, Chloe and Poppy. Made from a base of dealcoholised French wine, it’s dry and delicately flavoured, with notes of Turkish delight, lychee, strawberry and raspberry. Crisp and refreshing with brisk bubbles, it’s an ideal summer sipper. Makes a lovely aperitif alongside Belazu’s Rose Harissa Nut Mix. JS Alc 0%
El Bandarra Al Fresco
Step aside Aperol Spritz, there’s a new summer tipple in town… Made in Barcelona, El Bandarra Al Fresco is a bitter-sweet vermouth that you can pair with tonic for a vibrant aperitif. With lower alcohol than a G&T, vermouth and tonic is a lighter, more refreshing take on a sparkling summer cocktail. Mix 50ml El Bandarra Al Fresco with 100ml tonic in a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange slice. The eye-catching graphic bottle – inspired by tapas menus – looks great too. JS Alc 14.5%
Jukes Cordialities
Wine writer Matthew Jukes is the palate behind this range of alcohol-free drinks designed to appeal to wine lovers. Each numbered blend combines natural fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices and flowers with organic apple cider vinegar. Each 30ml bottle can be mixed with still or sparkling water to create two 125ml glasses. My pick for summer, Jukes 8 is inspired by Provence rosé, with notes of rhubarb, melon, pomegranate and apple. JS 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 using foraged marine botanicals including sea parsley and kelp. Salty, savoury aromas with underlying spiciness make your mouth water. The slightly sweet palate is creamy and savoury with some seaweed umami depth, balanced by lovely breezy ozone freshness and a clean mineral edge. Just like a day out at the seaside… A great alternative to gin with tonic or try it neat with oysters. JS Alc 41.6%
Mezcal Picante
The name mezcal comes from the Aztec for ‘cooked agave’ (metl ixcalli). Unlike tequila, which can only be made from Blue Weber agave, mezcal can be made from any type of agave, though the most commonly used varietal is Espadín. More complex and smoky than tequila, it’s a great choice for cocktails – as this premix proves. Lockdown Liquor & Co has partnered with The Lost Explorer Mezcal to create this bottled Mezcal Picante. It’s a combination of The Lost Explorer Espadín, fresh Mexican lime, agave nectar and habanero pepper, courtesy of Scrappy’s Fire Tincture. Fresh, fiery and smoky, it’s addictively good… Chill and serve over ice in a rocks glass, garnished with a lime wheel. JS Alc 18%
£25/50cl, Lockdown Liquor & Co
MOTH Paloma
The Paloma cocktail is having a moment this summer. This blend of tequila, grapefruit and lime is a cinch to make at home, but if you don’t have time to mix your own, or want to enjoy a Paloma when you’re out and about, the clever team at MOTH (Mix Of Total Happiness) have made this excellent canned version. A mix of Tequila Enemigo, grapefruit soda and lime, it’s zesty and addictive – every bit as good as a homemade Paloma. Joining MOTH’s existing selection of canned cocktails – including a Margarita, Espresso Martini, French 75 and Piña Colada – it’s a summer essential. JS Alc 10%
Muri Passing Clouds
Danish brand Muri arrived in the UK after making waves on Copenhagen’s restaurant scene. A food-friendly low-alcohol wine alternative, it’s made using a layered fermentation technique, producing nuanced flavours and aromas that will open up with time in the glass. Red wine drinkers will enjoy Nuala, but my summer selection is Passing Clouds, made from white currants fermented with Pichia kluyveri yeast and blended with quince kefir and jasmine tea. The aromatic floral nose is a delight – with notes of jasmine, orange blossom and beeswax, plus an undertone of russet apple – and the fresh, palate-cleansing acidity. JS Alc <0.5%
Porters Tropical Old Tom Gin
Created by bartenders in a micro-distillery in Aberdeen, this gin is made in an Old Tom style: a traditional 18th century recipe that’s slightly sweeter than London Dry. I love the fresh and faintly tropical aromas, with sappy leafiness, pineapple and floral touches. On the palate the Old Tom sweetness is balanced by fresh tropical fruit – pineapple, mango – edged in florals but also with earthy base notes, like walking through a humid rainforest. Try it in an Old Tom Collins: build in a tall glass using 50ml Porters, 25ml lemon juice, 25ml sugar syrup and 125ml chilled soda water. JS Alc 40%
Saicho Darjeeling
This cold-brew sparkling tea will delight fans of fizz, tea and red wine alike. It’s delicate, balanced and ever-so-slightly tannic, which makes it a good red wine substitute. But it’s also lip-smackingly refreshing with a whisper of sweetness too, à la Champagne. It’s excellent simply served chilled or over ice. Alternatively you can get creative and try it with juices or alcohol-free spirits as a cocktail ingredient. CL Alc 0%
Sake Sling
Served in a slimline can that takes up minimal space in your fridge, sparkling Sake Sling is also light on alcohol and calories. These ready-to-drink Japanese serves are based on sake from the 200-year-old Daimon Brewery and were created by the late great British mixologist Wayne Collins. Mandarin & Cherry is a play on the flavours in a Singapore Sling cocktail. But my pick for summer is Yuzu & Melon, a fresh and elegantly fruity fizz, with delicate citrus notes that perfectly complement the floral character of the sake. JS Alc 5.5%
These Days, Sundown Spritz
If you can’t make it to the These Days aperitivo bar in South London, then you can still enjoy their modern take on classic Italian preprandials via their online shop. We particularly love this Sundown Spritz, a cherryade-coloured quaffer that combines juicy blood orange and the cola-orange tang of bittersweet chinotto with organic white wine from the south of France. Lower in sugar and alcohol than your normal spritz, and available in cans and bottles, it’s a perfect drink to enjoy under the setting summer sun. TG Alc 6%
£14 for a 75cl bottle or 4 x 20cl cans
