While hopes for an Indian Summer are ever present, keeping summer alive with a tipple or two is easy. Weβve rounded up some of our favourites to enjoy whatever the weather.
Pronounced βka-roonβ, Caorunn Scottish gin is handcrafted in small batches of 1,000 litres in the Scottish Highlands, from five local, foraged botanicals – rowan berry heather, bog myrtle, dandelion and could blush apple – for a uniquely Scottish taste. Clean and crisp with a spicy and aromatic flavour, try it in a refreshing Highland Smash; muddle two fresh sage leaves with 15ml heather honey, shake with 50ml Caorunn gin, 30ml freshly squeezed lime juice and 20ml cloudy apple juice. Serve over ice in a tumbler with fresh sage and a dried apple slice. Β£30 from www.caorunngin.com
Elderflower is a quintessential flavour of summer; delicately floral, oh so refreshing and the perfect accompaniment to any summer soirΓ©e. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur elevates making a cocktail, from an Elderfashioned and a Parisian Daiquiri to an Elderflower Mojito – have a look at www.stgermainliqueur.com for a host of delicious tipple recipes. We love this summer serve in a classic Hugo; 40ml St. Germain, 60ml Prosecco, 60ml soda water and a garnish of min leaves. Parfait. Β£21.50, available at Waitrose.
Thirlings Dry Gin is full of fragrant juniper, pine, citrus lemon, heather and cinnamon spice on the nose, with a dose of green freshness, dill, bright citrus, and lemon drops on the palate. With key botanicals of juniper, Angelica root, coriander seed, spruce pine needles, heather flowers, dill seeds, elderberries, sea buckthorn and Irish Sea moss, itβs packed with botanicals and full of a juxtaposition of delicate and punchy flavours. Itβs the second product from the Ad Gefrin distillery, the northernmost in the UK in the heart of Northumbria. Available to purchase in person from Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Distillery, and online at adgefrin.co.uk. Β£39.00.
Founded by two brothers more than twenty years ago, Seychelles rum brand Takamaka has grown into the nationβs number one spirit. With the first molasses distillery in the Seychelles producing over 200,000 litres a year, itβs a deliciously tropical addition to any cocktail cabinet. A must have tipple for a summer barbecue, its Summer Colada is a fresher take on a classic PiΓ±a Colada; pour 30ml of Takamaka Koko into a highball over ice and top with pineapple juice. Minimal effort but maximum taste, itβs a new favourite. Β£22.25, available from Amazon.
For those who havenβt yet tried Kylieβs wine collection, take note; itβs actually rather delicious. While some celebrity wines are in our opinion a tad overrated, the Princess of Popβs rosΓ© has gained a cult status and her Prosecco D.O.C. is a deliciously sophisticated sparkling wine set to rival big-name brands. Crafted in the heart of Veneto on the picturesque hills of Gambellara, grapes are sourced from the renowned 4,000-hectare Zonin estate, a family-owned winery with a rich heritage spanning seven generations. At just Β£11.99 itβs incredibly good value while its refreshing profile is the perfect match for so many summer dishes. Available from The Bottle Club.
Michelin-starred chef Michael Wignall has collaborated with Otterbeck Distillery to produce Cotton Gin. Inspired by his love of the Far East and the dramatic Yorkshire Landscape, home to his restaurant The Angel at Hetton, the gin captures flavours of Yuzu and Kaffir balanced with foraged Elderflower from the Yorkshire Dales. This fragrant gin is utterly delicious in a crisp G&T. With the distillery house in an old 18th century, five-storey cotton and silk mill on the banks of the River Aire, the owners wanted the gin to reflect the buildingβs history, hence the name. Β£46 from Otterbeck Distillery.
After mastering the art of whisky production, in 2021 the GlenAllachie Distillers Company branched out into rum, launching a trio of Panamanian spirits that are worth discovering. Panama is renowned for its volcanic soil, providing the ideal growing environment for sugar cane, and its 7-year-old rum is matured in American oak in the tropical Panamanian climate before making the journey to Scotland and the GlenAllachie Distillery in Speyside for a secondary maturation in red wine, virgin oak and ex-Bourbon casks for over two years, resulting in a rich flavour profile. Β£41.99 from Master of Malt.
A crisp cava may sometimes be overlooked behind other fizzes, but weβve discovered two that are worth having a bottle or two of in your chiller. The Roger Goulart Brut MillΓ©simΓ© Cava 2019 is a fresh, silky sparkling wine from the 20 hectare vineyard located in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, a small village in the Alt PenedΓ¨s region, with the Xarel.lo the predominant grape, an indigenous variety from the PenedΓ¨s with a structure and character that lends itself well to long ageing. Β£18.70 from Bentleys Wine Merchants.
The Cune Cava meanwhile (Β£16.99 from Majestic) is also from the same region, with both Xarel.lo and Macabeo y Parellada grapes, is a full-bodied, fruity, slightly sweet sparkling wine with a long aftertaste thanks to its ageing in the bottle. Itβs a great value quality pour.
We love the flavours on offer from Warners Gin, from its sumptuous Honeybee Gin to the deliciously autumnal Spiced Blackberry Gin, but at this time of year, it’s the fruity Rhubarb Gin thatβs our favourite tipple. A third of every bottle is filled with real rhubarb juice, and flavoured with juniper, coriander seed, elderflower, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, angelica root, orange peel, lemon peel, plus a secret ingredient, itβs a vibrant and refreshing gin thatβs just perfect for summer. Slick enough to stand up solo over ice, itβs also tasty topped up with a Mediterranean tonic or Ginger Ale for a refreshing summer tipple. Β£38 from www.warnersdistillery.com.
Of course, a premium spirit needs a premium mixer and they donβt come better than Double Dutch. With classics like Indian Tonic and Ginger Ale and inventive flavours like Cucumber & Watermelon and Pomegranate & Basil Tonic Water, the certified B-Corp has every mixer needed for a well-stocked drinks fridge. We love the zesty Double Lemon, Β£23.15 for a case of 24 from www.doubledutchdrinks.com.
ChΓ’teau dβEstoublon βRosebloodβ RosΓ© MΓ©diterranΓ©e (Β£20.99, Majestic) was only launched in 2021 but itβs making waves. The estate has been making wine for 500 years and is now co-owned by four of Franceβs big families β entrepreneur Stephan Courbit, Jean-Guillaume Prats of ChΓ’teau Lafite-Rothschild fame, and former President and First Lady, Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni. The summer sipper is packed with the flavour of zesty citrus, apricot, strawberry and peony, plus an elegant minerality, perfect with light, Mediterranean dishes.
South Staffordshire Halfpenny Green Wine Estate has produced the beautifully elegant Halfpenny Green Chardonnay, an English white wine with a full-bodied profile and intricate bouquet. Dry, and rich, itβs full of peach, honey, melon and lemon peel on the nose and hints of pineapple, pear, honey and coconut on the palate, a great accompaniment to a plate of oysters or rich fish dishes. Β£21 from www.halfpennygreen.co.uk
Here’s hoping for some more sunny days so you can continue to enjoy these tipples and extend summer!
