ON THE GRAPEVINE
SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... DRINKS TO ENJOY IN THE SUNSHINE
AS summer heats up, there’s a lovely casualness that shapes our drinking rituals. Just as we reach for our wicker baskets and holiday wardrobe, the fashion for fruity libations and breezy spritzers strikes just the right balance and radiates all the right vibes. These top drops hit the right spot...
Lanson Brut NV Champagne Wimbledon 2019 Neoprene Jacket (£24, Marks & Spencer)
THE champagne of the Championships, a whopping 25,000 bottles of Lanson were popped open at the famous two-week tennis tournament last year.
If you want to soak up the atmosphere but don’t have tickets, a stylish garden party and hamper full of grand slam treats makes a winning combination.
The limited-edition racket-themed cooler jackets are specially designed to keep the bottle chilled for up to two hours and will cheer you through the summer season.
M&S Cocktail Cans (£2 each, 5.5% abv, 25cl, Marks & Spencer)
WHAT’S not to love about these new canned cocktails in four fab flavours, channelling lots of fruity fun?
The Aperitivo Spritzer has a core of fragrant orange bitters, the Peach Spritzer screams sweet, ripe peaches, Cherry is sweetly refreshing, while the Vermouth & Tonic boasts a tincture of herbs.
Camden Town Brewery’s Strawberry Hells Forever Lager (£6 for 4 x 33cl cans, 4.6% abv, Sainsbury’s)
STILL room for more strawbs in your punnet? How about a swift half of strawberry beer?
Camden Town is kick-starting the first of its ‘Seasonal Hells’ with this summertime lager brewed with strawberries.
Crisp, with a faint hint of the summer fruits on the hoppy finish, it’s tart, tastes refreshingly good and should appeal to those looking for new taste experiences.
Released every quarter, the one-off beers are inspired by the seasons.
CIROC Summer Watermelon Vodka (£32.40, 70cl, 31dover)
NOTHING signals summer like this classic tropical fruit, especially in a flavoured vodka.
Try the CIROC Watermelon Spritz: Take CIROC 40ml Summer Watermelon Vodka, 20ml lemonade, 40ml soda, 10ml cranberry juice. Serve over ice in a tall glass and garnish with a lime wheel, fresh watermelon wheel and sprig of fresh mint.