DRINK IN THAT FEELING
TIP Cut down your fridge runs by filling a clean wheelbarrow with ice
As one half of the team behind London cocktail bar Swift, Mia Johansson is clued up on fresh trends behind the bar. ‘Classics are making a return,’ she says, tipping Club Tropicana flavours like watermelon, lychee and pineapple, and disco-inspired cocktails as sure-fire summer comebacks. Get on the dance floor
(even if it’s at home) with our pick of seasonal sippers…
Miami £3, From 4% Miami Cocktail ABV, Cocktail Waitrose Co Sangria Co’s five- Spritz, strong fruity spritz collection, the sangria-inspired can comes out top. Combining organic rosé wine with pineapple, orange and lime juice, this sultry tipple lightens the traditional red berry wine notes of the Spanish favourite and adds a punchy tropical twist to the citrus kick.
Shandy Shack Elderflower Lager Top, £1.80, 2.5% ABV, Sainsbury’s
A zesty Pilsner lager laced with delicately sweet elderflower, this elegant, effervescent drink revives the classic pub shandy. Developed by two doctors, it’s gluten-free and hits only 105 calories per can, making it a refreshing alternative to a summer beer.
Cocchi Americano, £21.95, 16.5% ABV, amazon.co.uk and wine shops A spicy white vermouth that’s a world away from the sweet drinks of our youth. It gets its bittersweet flavour from cinchona (used to make quinine), plus a blend of herbs and spices. All this complexity makes it delicious on its own, with soda, and in cocktails, such as the classic Bond Vesper Martini.
Taylor’s Chip Dry White Port, £13.99, 20% ABV, Waitrose
For hot days, why not chill as they do in Portugal with a refreshing port tonico? It’s simple, but sophisticated: one part white port to two parts tonic, served in a tumbler over ice, with mint leaves and a lemon slice. It’s a lighter, zesty alternative to a pre-dinner G&T.
Levantine Table Pomegranate & Lime Pressé, £2.20, Waitrose Refreshing and balanced, this lightly sparkling pressé combines sweet pomegranate with lime juice. Delicious as is, served over ice for a non-alcoholic refreshment, or pair it with the sunshine flavours of tequila for a tarter take on a Paloma.