Had your fill of lager and white-wine spritzers? Try something a little different with our selection of the summer’s hottest tipples
Showerings
Britain is the world’s number one producer – and consumer – of cider. But the fermented apple drink hasn’t always had the best reputation. Showerings cider is on a mission to change that perception, and just one look at the elegant glass bottle and branding tells you that this is an entirely different beast to your cheap off-license cider.
Showering’s fine cider is billed as a versatile alternative to wine, and even an equally considered accompaniment to food. There’s substance to this claim, with the beverage being on the menus of top Michelin-starred restaurants including Core by Clare Smyth and L’Enclume. A family-owned business, Showerings has been producing cider in Somerset since 1843. Its unique “triple vintage” process blends three separate vintages into a single, complex batch using aromatic Dabinett apples from award-winning orchards. The result? Crisp, light and refreshing with hints of vanilla and bitter orange. A classy alternative for your next summer barbecue.
Case of 12, £45; showeringscider.co.uk or £3.50 per bottle; waitrose.com and tesco.com
Warner's Juniper Double Dry 0%
For the sober, sober-curious – or perhaps simply the designated driver for the day – a non-alcoholic mixer can be just the tonic when you’ve had your fill of cloying soft drinks. There are plenty on the market these days, with varying degrees of success, but Warner’s Juniper Double Dry 0% is one of the superior alternatives. Herby and aromatic with natural botanicals and pops of lemon thyme, cinnamon and cardamom, it’s a dead ringer for gin, so works beautifully with tonic, but won’t leave you with a headache the following day.
£18; ocado.com
Lanson Le Rosé Création Neoprene
Once seen as a novelty – although it actually dates back to the 18th century – rosé fizz is having a moment. Rosé sparkling wine is now one of the country’s most popular beverages, and there’s growing global demand for premium fizz from France’s finest maisons. Pair a flute of pink champagne with tennis, strawberries and cream and you’ve got a (game, set and) match made in heaven. Lanson has just released the latest iteration of its popular Wimbledon limited editions, which come in a handy neoprene pouch to keep them nice and chilled for up to two hours. So if temperatures swell on Centre Court, at least you can keep your cool in style.
£55; available exclusively at the All England Club on the Wimbledon grounds and selfridges.com
Maya Pistola
According to research released this year by retailer Marks & Spencer, tequila is having a “major glow-up” in the UK, with claims that the beverage has overtaken a classic G&T as our top summer tipple. This means that there is burgeoning interest in agave-based drinks, which include mezcal, tequila and non-alcoholic alternatives.
Award-winning spirits brand Maya Pistola has pioneered an entirely new category – agavepura – which has recently made its UK debut straight from the shores of Goa.
Maya Pistola was founded by restaurateur Rakshay Dhariwal in 2022. The drink is 100 per cent additive-free and comprises just two ingredients: agave spirit and demineralised water. According to historical legend, agave was introduced to India by Queen Victoria, who transported the plant from Mexico. Over time, the Agave Americana flourished in the country’s arid climate, where it grows on the vast Deccan Plateau. As India’s first-ever aged agave spirit, Maya Pistola marks an important milestone for the country, with Dhariwal claiming that a ‘unique commitment to authenticity’ is what delivers Maya Pistola’s ‘signature quality and smoothness’, resulting in a ‘global cult following and critical acclaim’. Try mixed with ice and soda or as a bourbon substitute in an old fashioned to find your new summer favourite.
From £31.95; thewhiskyexchange.com
Desi Daru Mango Vodka
Another Indian spirit, albeit one made in Britain, is Desi Daru, a premium vodka brand founded by British-born Indian couple Mohit Singh and Aneet Kaur in 2023. Its multi-award-winning Mango Vodka is distilled with delicious Alphonso mangoes – known as the “king of mangoes” – and is packed full of flavour without being sickly sweet. Try a mango spritz made from Desi Daru Mango Vodka, white wine and soda water over ice for pure summer in a glass.
£45; desidaru.com
