On the grapevine

SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... TASTY TIPPLES TO SIP IN SPRING SUNSHINE

WITH longer, lighter days finally here and the buds coming out big time, our thoughts turn to sweet treats and tasty tipples.

Ice at the ready! Any of these spring drinks will go down a treat at your next garden get-together or park picnic...

Bodega Bay Hard Seltzer: Cherry with Mango & Gogi Berry £24 (4% abv, 12 x 250ml; also available in a mixed case with Apple and Elderflower flavours), Bodega

Bay. Get the party started with this naturally flavoured, cherry infused, alcoholic sparkling water that can be used as the base for a cocktail or served straight up, well-chilled.

Chase Hedgerow Elderflower Gin £34 (40% abv, 70cl), Amazon. A floral, crisp gin with an oily character and hint of sweetness, made with elderflowers picked from Herefordshire hedgerows. Dainty aromas of flowers and juniper lead to a beautifully smooth palate. A splash of soda and thin slice of lemon makes a delightfully refreshing drink, without drowning the flavours.

Jim Beam Peach Spirit £13 (was £18, 32.5% abv, 70cl), Asda. The name conjures images of poached peaches in a rich, bourbon syrup, and this little nugget more than delivers, with hints of caramel and vanilla riding on the finish. Smooth and flavoursome, try it with a dash of soda water over ice for a taste of the Bluegrass State.

Jaffa Cake Vodka £27.95 (42% abv, 70cl), Master of Malt. With soaring aromas of chocolate orange segments and vibrant notes of fresh orange peel, this incredibly smooth, creamy spirit really does taste like laced chocolatey-orange sponge cake, with a hint of peppery spice. A cute addition to cocktails, particularly a cosmopolitan, top with tonic or serve straight up for a sticky, citrusy shot.

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto £24.90 (20% abv, 70cl), Master of Malt. This eye-catching Italian liqueur is built around the beauty of bergamot, and along with aromatic citrus fruit, there’s a light, bitter herbal note to balance the sweetness.

A fragrant infusion, it can be enjoyed with tonic, on the rocks or a splash of prosecco.

Azaline Saffron Vermouth £24.95 (17% abv, 75cl), Master of Malt. A French vermouth showcasing pinot noir grapes from Burgundy, blended with herbs and spices from around the world to combine aromatic flavour and bitterness.

Saffron headlines, but it’s the blackcurrant and spiced cherries that draw you in. It will lift a spritz or negroni and put the flavours on stilts.