As social butterflies we’re at our best in summer. The long evenings, outside spaces and all-day warmth all help put us in a relaxed mood. But too often we fall back on the same old drinks: bottles of lager, a glass or three of rosé, jugs of Pimm’s. In the interests of broadening our horizons we asked top mixologist Paul Mathew at The Hide in Bermondsey to come up with four easy-to-make drinks to enliven the summer ahead. Give them a go this weekend.
Words: Mark De Wesselow
White Port and Tonic
1/3 Taylor’s Chip Dry
2/3 Fever Tree Tonic
Mint and orange to garnish
Build in a tumbler or wine glass over ice for a refreshing, good value, early-evening alternative to Pimm’s or a G&T
Ayalleluya
25ml lemongrass and ginger syrup
20ml lemon juice
Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne to top
Build the ingredients in a flute and top up with the Ayala Brut Majeur for a summer twist on a Champagne cocktail. Cold, fruity and delicious.
Bubbles and Pink
25ml Croft Pink port
Soda water or tonic to taste
Champagne or prosecco to top
Lemon twist to garnish [this is what it is in our photo]
Build in a highball or flute [this is what it is in our photo, and no ice], topping with Champagne or prosecco, for an invigoratingly crisp but intense, strawberry-fruited aperitif.
Four Sheets to the Wind
25ml Henriques & Henriques 5 Year Old medium-dry Madeira
25ml Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny port
25ml sweet vermouth
2 dashes orange bitters
Strawberry, mint and cinnamon stick to garnish [this is what it is in our photo]
Stir all the ingredients over ice and strain into a wine glass [this is what it is in our picture] for a perfect way to keep the night young.
Drinks supplied courtesy of Mentzendorff wine importers
This article was published 30 June 2017