Summer spirits to add some zest to those long nights
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This summer is set to be all about spirits. Leading brands seem to have collectively discovered a mutual love of fruity infusions, zesty variants and adventurous flavour combinations.
From eye-catching bottles to thirst quenching tipples, we’ve rounded up some of the most expressive and innovative flavours to have on ice as things (hopefully) warm up…
1. Beefeater Peach & Raspberry Gin, £14 (70cl), Waitrose
A celebration of Beefeater’s rich history, the world’s most awarded gin is out to prove peach and raspberry is more than just a fruity variation on the classic London Dry. Inspired by historic recipes dating back to the 1800s – which included a peach liqueur and raspberry gin – this new take offers a dose of fragrant stone fruits aligned with tart raspberry – and it lives up to expectation.
2. Bacardi Coconut Premium Rum Spirit Drink, £14.50 (70cl) Asda
Craving sun, sea and sand? You won’t be able to resist the totally tropical taste and sweet, nutty aromas of coconuts with white rum then. Bacardi’s version is utterly delicious in a piña colada, mixed with fruit juice, cola or neat over ice.
3. Bombay Sapphire Special Edition, Sapphire Sunset, £20 (70cl), Asda
Channel some much-needed holiday sunshine with Sapphire Sunset’s spicy infusion of three botanicals: golden turmeric, Indian white cardamom, and Spanish mandarin peel. The palate reveals much of these characters, with top notes of orange blossom at the fore and a gentle, spicy kick lending a lovely vibrancy on the finish.
4. Black Cow Vodka Negroni, £25 (50cl), Black Cow
A big hitter on the cocktail circuit, the trendy negroni has been reimagined with vodka replacing gin in this ready to serve premix, clocking in at 24% abv. And with all the hard work done for you, what’s not to love about this bittersweet cocktail powered by Black Cow Vodka, Campari, Spanish vermouth and a secret blend of bitters for some citrusy zing?
5. Rockstar Spirits: Pineapple Grenade Spiced Rum, £31 (50cl), Morrisons
Rockstar Spirits focus on premium, single distillery rums and splice them with natural flavour combinations to offer a variety of expressions. Pineapple Grenade from Guyana is infused with a secret mix of spices, sweet pineapple and moreish salted caramel. Packing a serious punch at 65% abv, it’s one for tiki cocktails, or over ice with a slice.
6. Wildjac Fresh Citrus Vodka, £29 (70cl), Wildjac (pictured)
A citrus-led vodka that’s ideal for summer sipping and cocktails. Worcestershire hops, lemon thyme, elderflower, orange peel, pink grapefruit, coriander and lime are just some of the ingredients that make this clear spirit sing with freshness. Fragrant hints of bergamot let themselves be known and the palate’s exceptionally smooth with a citrusy lift on the finish.
