Summer Cocktails You'll Adore
Check out some of our favourite sundowners for lazy summer evenings. Each of these summer cocktails are perfect for quenching your thirst as you soak up the last of the day’s rays. Enjoy making and, of course, drinking these fresh and fruity libations.
Zingy Lemonitas
Ingredients for two drinks
50g sugar
50ml water
100ml tequila or 100ml club soda
60ml lime juice
One teaspoon lemon paste
Method
Make sugar syrup by mixing the sugar and water in a saucepan, gently heat until all the sugar has dissolved and the liquid is clear. Remove from the heat and cool. Then, fill a cocktail shaker or a jug with ice, pour in the tequila or club soda, lime juice, lemon paste (Waitrose has a great one for £2.50), and add 40ml of your sugar syrup. Shake well and then strain into glasses, and serve.
Grapefruit Fizz
Ingredients for two drinks
One pink grapefruit or 150ml pink grapefruit juice
100g caster or granulated sugar
100ml water
50ml Campari (optional)
Prosecco or your favourite fruity fizzy drink, well chilled
Method
Juice the grapefruit. Make a simple syrup by heating the sugar with 100ml water until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear. Remove from the heat and stir in the grapefruit juice. Leave to cool. If you’re making the alcohol version, pour 25ml Campari into each glass. Then, add 25ml of grapefruit syrup, and stir. Top up with cold Prosecco or a fizzy fruit drink (we recommend ginger beer), garnish with a wedge of pink grapefruit, and serve.
Forget-Me-Not Gins
Ingredients for two drinks
30ml honey
30ml lemon juice
Prosecco or club soda, well chilled
Method
Pour your Pickering's Forget-Me-Not gin into a coupette or champagne flutes. Add the honey and stir until it dissolves. Top up your glass with chilled prosecco or club soda . Now, swirl in lemon juice to taste, and garnish with edible flowers and a lemon twist.
Elderflower Twist
Ingredients for two drinks
40ml elderflower cordial
Club soda, well chilled
Elderflower and lavender sprig, optional
Method
Fill two highball glass with ice, and pour the whisky over the top. Now, stir in the elderflower cordial, mixing until completely combined. Top up the glass with club soda, then garnish with elderflower or lavender sprigs.