One thing I have found that with the nice weather comes the inability to leave the house, its just too darn warm! The last thing I want to do is put on make up and head out to the pub, surrounded by sweaty people complaining how hot it is and wishing the sun would stop showing off! I want the sun to stay and I am more than happy to invite people round to sit outside and sip cocktails or their favourite tipples. We are having such amazing weather that it is such a shame not to share it with family and friends so I think get togethers should be obligatory!
I have put together a selection of drinks to have in ready for guests, hopefully my list should cover everyones tastes and if not then check out my wine list, ginfest and none alcoholic posts too! Get a variety of everything and be the best stocked ‘bar’ in town!
Making my own cocktails appeals to me but after the first I can’t be bothered with the faff so having premixed drinks is a godsend! Longflint so far are the most amazing cocktails I have found and the bottle designs are equally as beautiful. My absolute favourite is the Rhubarb & Vodka Seltzer which is so smooth and has a delightful fruity kick! Founded in east London, Longflint’s mission is to bring the excellence and expertise of their background in craft beer, to this emerging category. Co-founder James Law said: “What we do is actually pretty simple. We hand make a range of tonics, seltzers and sodas before matching them with gin, rum, vodka or mezcal from our favourite craft spirits producers.” rrp: £3.50 available from Longflint
I am a huge fan of Prosecco so when you get the chance to mix it up and add a little bit of something to make that Prosecco pop then I am all for it! British Cassis is an amazing addition to any home bar, is super versatile and also made in the UK in Herefordhire by Jo Hilditch a 4th generation farmer! Added to wine for a ‘British Royale’ or add to white rum, lime and soda water for a blackcurrant Mojito. It is also such a pretty bottle it looks fabulous on display or for gifting too! rrp: £19.99 available from White Heron
In the past if I had a choice I would always choose cocktails or wine over beer but I have recently had my eyes (and taste buds!) opened with some of the craft beers that are flooding the market. One in particular is JUBEL, a gluten free, completely vegan beer and 4% ABV. Available in Peach or Elderflower it really is totally different to how I imagined ‘flavoured beer’ to be, I love that it is a light beer too. rrp: £24.99 for a case of 12 available from Amazon
Since Tenerife in 1992 I have been a fan of rum (gosh that feels like such a long time ago yet I can remember it like it was yesterday – first holiday abroad with my best friend, both 18 and out to try something new hence the love of Rum!) lol I am always delighted when I discover a new flavour, something subtle yet packing a punch, I found exactly that with Jamaica Cove! Jamaica Cove Black Ginger Rum is a blend of Jamaican Pot and Column Stills, infused with ginger – which was often looted alongside the rums – to give a bold flavour profile, with subtle hints of lemongrass and citrus. Ginger is an increasingly popular ingredient amongst bartenders and this single botanical infusion with an aged Jamaican rum, offers greater depths of flavour for classic long drinks, such as the Classic Jamaica Mule. rrp: £26.99 available from Amazon
Cider fans looking for a lighter alternative have cause for celebration this week, as everyone’s favourite fruit cider brand, Kopparberg, adds Cranberry Light to its low-calorie range. The new flavour will be joining other popular flavours – Summer Fruits Light and Raspberry Light – on supermarket shelves from 25th June, as Summer gets into full swing. In a sleek 250ml can and at just 83 calories, Kopparberg’s low-calorie range offers an appealing alternative for those seeking a light, convenient, but equally tasty variant, of Kopparberg’s signature fruit cider. rrp: £1.87 available from Morrisons
Gin or rum are usually the strongest spirits I go for but after trying Monkey Shoulder I could quite happily become a Scotch drinker! This is a lot more decadent than you would imaging and is totally moreish! Floral and lightly spiced with hints of coconut and leather, the palate displays a great balance between smooth vanilla, gentle spices and fruity notes of sultana and orange peel, leading to a subtly chocolaty finish. rrp: £27 available from Waitrose
Traditionally used in bubble tea, PopaBall products are a type of bubble tea bubble called popping boba which are often used as an alternative to using tapioca. They are little bubbles of fruity juice which burst in your mouth with flavour when you bite down on them! Add a generous spoonful into your favourite cold drinks (not just bubble tea) such as juices, milkshakes, cocktails or prosecco, suck them up through a chunky straw included in the pack and feel them burst with fruity juice as you bite them. In super fizzy prosecco they float to the top so you can nibble them off the top, try PopaBall Bubbles for Prosecco. rrp: £4.49
Whatever you fancy this summer please just remember to drink sensibly!
XOXO
Debbie
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