Five easy-mixers

When the mercury soars, it’s time to reach for the ice – and the shaker and stirrer. Keep your cool this season, with these fresh twists on some classic mixed drinks

- LAURA FOSTER

Sun riding high in the sky, nights long and lively: it’s that time of year again. And summer drinking staples are back once more, from perfectly chilled Provençal rosé to clean, crisp ciders. Then there’s the exciting world of mixed drinks to consider, too.

So what’s on trend for this season? Summer drinking often isn’t about reinventing the wheel, as Rachel Reid, general manager at cocktail bar Swift Borough in London, attests. Spritzes and Margaritas are set to be popular again, she says: ‘The Spritz always does well in the summer, as it’s thirst-quenching and can easily be manipulated into being sweet, bitter or fruity at the ease of the person making it.’

These drinks may be classics, but they are always evolving, as the Margarita and Spritz twists featured in this article will demonstrate. In fact, the ‘Spritz’ here is a non-alcoholic serve. ‘What I find interesting is that the definition of a Spritz is becoming wider and wider, incorporating drinks that do not necessarily include wine any longer,’ explains Michele Mariotti, who heads up the bars program at the Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland.

Speaking of low- and no-alcohol drinks, their rise continues apace, with top bars and restaurants dedicating more space on their menus to this sector year after year. It’s the fastest-developing and most innovative drinks category right now, with plenty of quality and interesting non-alcoholic brands available.

Special mentions go to Everleaf’s creative and delicious range, as well as Botivo and Mother Root. The latter two use apple cider vinegar as a base, and botanicals to flavour their expressions.