Lots of people enjoy a tipple from time to time. Whether it’s a bottle of bubbly to celebrate a birthday, or cocktails with friends over a bottomless brunch, there are clearly specific drinks that we choose to mark special occasions. This got us thinking about how our drink preferences change throughout the year. Mulled wine is a winter classic, but there aren’t too many places serving warm spiced wine in July. Indeed, when the sun is shining you are much more likely to have a fresh gin and tonic, a pint of lager, or a refreshing cocktail in hand.
Cocktail summers
Cocktails are great. Watching them being made is a spectacle and tasting them is always exciting – they can also be made without any alcohol content for people who do not drink alcohol. With there being such a wide variety of cocktails to choose from we wanted to find out how much our cocktail preferences change with the seasons.
There has been a trend in the restaurant industry towards creating menus that use seasonal local produce. However, when it comes to cocktail menus there are usually a wide range of fresh ingredients and fruit juices required. Favourites like the Pornstar Martini or Pina Colada can make it feel like summer all year round, but they rely on imported fruit and highly processed fruit juices from all over the world. It turns out there are some delicious cocktails that use British ingredients that are perfect for times when the sun isn’t shining. Here are a few ideas that we think everyone should try over the coming months.
Bramble
This cocktail encapsulates autumn vibes. Fresh blackberries, gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and a dash of blackberry liquor come together to create a fresh and zesty drink that is perfect for a late summer evening when all the blackberries are popping in the hedgerows.
Autumn Apple
Apples are abundant in Britain through the late summer to autumn. Using fresh apple juice from locally grown apples with gin, lemon juice, a little honey and a small pinch of cinnamon gives you a warm and pleasant drink. If you’re lucky enough to have access to fresh apples then this one is a really tasty one to try at home.
Rhubarb Fizz
Rhubarb grows really well up and down the country. Adding rhubarb syrup, a shot of gin and a squeeze of lemon juice to a glass of prosecco creates a real taste sensation. You may want to tweak the sweetness of this drink with a little honey or brown sugar – using rhubarb gin is a little hack that can save a bit of time.
If you want more information on any of these drinks you can explore recipes with Vemacity’s cocktail recipe library. The team at Vemacity are gin enthusiasts who turned their passion into a business that sells stunning handmade crystal gin glasses and bar accessories. They have curated some of their favourite drinks for everyone to enjoy at home, so check out their website for more information.
