Eat With Ellen’s Pick of Summer Drinks
Things are looking up aren’t they? A slight bit of normality is starting to return and while we still don’t know how things will pan out or exactly what we will and will not be allowed to do, it looks like we might be heading towards some slightly better times.
Of course we all want to get back to bars, pubs and restaurants – who even remembers what a night ‘out’ actually looks like, but no matter what happens, there’s a fair chance that this summer socialising will be different. With outside space looking to be the focus (fingers crossed for sunshine!), barbecues, garden parties, picnics and al fresco soirees could be the go-to choice for gatherings.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a few tipples to enjoy this summer to inspire you to get planning. They vary from the classic rose or fizz idea to a few new arrivals that might just pique your curiosity.
CBD Cocktail Bitters
Yes, you read that right. You can enjoy the power of CBD in your home cocktails thanks to these world-first CBD bitters.
CBD is known for its stress and anxiety-relieving properties and OTO’s 2,500mg CBD Cocktail Bitters can be used to enhance cocktails or as an alternative to alcohol itself.
Available in Selfridges, the bitters aren’t cheap (£99.99) for a bottle, but you’ll get over 100 servings from that. Created by world-leading food scientist Dr Ketan Joshi, they’re described as herbaceous, citrusy and floral and can also be added to juice, tonics and mixers.
They launched alongside OTO’s trio of 50mg CBD shots (RRP £6.99) which come in three flavours: Focus Spice, Amplify Zest and Balance Bloom.
El Bandarra Botanicals
El Bandarra is a refreshing range of natural aperitifs from Barcelona including a red and white Vermouth and an Al Fresco Aperitivo produced with a blend of Grenache wines, with the addition of Mediterranean botanicals including liquorice, mint, rose and citrus. El Bandarra Al Fresco is best served with tonic and a wedge of orange as the garnish for the taste of Barcelona in a bottle! RRP: £20.99 per 1 litre bottle. Available from Waitrose, Amazon, 31Dover and El Bandarra
STARLINO
STARLINO Rosé is a delightful and refreshing Italian Aperitivo, produced in North-Eastern Italy at Torino Distillati in Piedmont. The all natural STARLINO Rosé is made by blending Rosé wine, spirit, pink grapefruit peel, orange peel and eight other botanicals including Wormwood and Coriander. Best enjoyed as a Spritz, this really is a delicious drink to enjoy throughout the summer either on its own or as a spritz.
Canvino Vegan Wines
Launched just last week, Canvinos are naturally sparkling wines that are all-natural, vegan-friendly and 100% recyclable. The lightweight cans package up perfectly for the park, plus they stay fizzy and cooler for longer. Located in the beautiful Italian region of Lombardy, Canvino grapes are sourced from a family-owned vineyard that has been making wine for a century using the traditional Charmat method. Available in Rosé and Bianco.
Pre-made cocktails from Spirits of Ecstasy
Spirits of Ecstasy is the signature drink from award-winning hospitality family Marylebone Leisure Group, the guys behind eight pubs, bars and restaurants in London and the South East. Borne out of the popularity of their bottled cocktails during the coronavirus lockdown, they’ve now launched a range of six cocktails-in-a-bottle.
They may be low in calories but they are made using 100% botanicals and spirits infused in their own central London laboratory, making sure they taste great. On top of that – £1 from the sale of every bottle of Spirits of Ecstasy will be donated to NHS charities – forever.
The line includes a Tiki Tango Rum Punch, Espresso Martini, Passionfruit Vodka and a Rhubarb & Wild Berry Gin Serve, as well as several alcohol-free options. Sign up to the Spirits of Ecstasy VIP Club at www.spiritsofecstasy.com.
Tonics from Merchant’s Heart
Picnics are always better with cocktails – so grab a handy can (or two!) of Merchant’s Heart flavoured tonic water, that gin from the cupboard, and be cocktail-ready for summer outings.
These colourful tonics show off the flavour of the spirit without overpowering; mix with a favourite gin, vodka or tequila for a cocktail full of summer aromas. They’re also refreshing as an alcohol-free option if you’re not on the booze. Available from £5 (6 x 150ml cans) at Sainsbury’s, Ocado and by direct delivery from Merchant’s Heart.
Hard Seltzers
Word on the street is that hard seltzers are going to be the big thing this summer. It’s basically a whole new category when it comes to booze and you’ll see it around a lot. White Claw is the big name on the block, available nationwide in Tesco, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s, though I think Aldi have just launched one too.
When it comes to White Claw, it’s made with sparkling water, triple distilled spirit and a hint of natural fruit flavour. Each can only contains 95 calories and they’re available in three natural flavours – Raspberry, Black Cherry and Natural Lime, It’s gluten free, has an ABV of 4.5%, is naturally flavoured and contains no artificial sweeteners.
