Summer cocktails should be light and refreshing, so a white spirit such as gin ticks the box and is easier to mix with fruit, which is another essential for summer cocktails. Citrus fruits give any drink a clean, refreshing lift; while summer fruits have a natural acidity which balances their sweetness, making them a good choice for cocktails. Tropical fruits are perfect for injecting an exotic holiday feeling into your drink, but don’t ignore more English flavours such as gooseberry.