Don’t waste your leftover fruit and veg - turn them into summer cocktails!
With summer upon us and BBQs and outdoor parties on the horizon, many people will no doubt be searching for summer drinks inspo to impress their guests with.
Over the first May bank holiday weekend, searches for “summer cocktail recipes” increased by a staggering 9900% according to Google Trends data. People are also taking to TikTok for summer drink inspiration, with the hashtag #summercocktails surpassing 320.4 million views and counting.
There’s surely no better way to add a summer twist to your homemade cocktails than by incorporating some seasonal fruit and vegetables. In fact, the TikTok hashtag #fruitcocktail has received over over 23.9 million views.
Not only is this a fun way to get your five a day, it can also help to reduce food wastage amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis, by making use of the leftover fruit and veggies that may be lying around your kitchen. And with fruit season in full swing, now is the perfect time to incorporate seasonal fruits into your BBQ drinks.
To coincide with the newly released report on seasonal cocktails, Tim Martin-Harvey, drinks expert at The Bottle Club, has compiled a list of summer cocktail recipes that incorporate ingredients that are at their most delicious during the warmer months:
1 Strawberry Margarita - Strawberries, Tequila, Lime Juice, Triple Sec.
Strawberries are seasonal during the summer months in the UK, making it easy to get your hands on a fresh, perfectly ripe punnet from most local markets or ‘pick your own’ fruit farms. As well as this, they are extremely high in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants - and, most importantly, taste absolutely delicious.
2 Blueberry Mojito - Blueberries, Lime Juice, Mint, White Rum, Club Soda.
Blueberries are in their peak season from mid-June to mid-August, once again making them highly accessible to people who are eager to add a vibrant, fruity element to their cocktails this summer. This blend would be ideal for lovers of sweet yet sharp flavours, as the sweetness of white rum would create a pleasant juxtaposition against the sourness of the lime juice.
3 Watermelon Spritz - Vodka, Sparkling Wine, Watermelon, Simple Syrup.
Head to your local markets in the late spring to summer months for watermelons, as this is when they are most seasonal in the UK. As well as being sweet and juicy, watermelons are also boosted by lycopene and a host of amino acids, allowing them to add an infusion of nutrients to your cocktails this summer.
4 Bloody Mary - Vodka, Tomato Juice, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco.
Bloody Marys have been a classic addition to cocktail menus for decades, offering an unusually decadent explosion of flavour that tantalises your tastebuds. Tomato juice, while not for everyone, is infused with potassium and vitamin C, and tomatoes are seasonal throughout the UK during the summer months.
5 Chilli Martini - Chilli, Simple Syrup, Lime Juice, Pineapple Juice.
Finally, we have a sweet and spicy beverage, complemented by a sugary infusion of pineapple juice. Summer-ripening chilli is in season throughout August and September and is packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
