As summer finally finds its stride, the drinks world is serving up a fascinating mix of tradition, innovation and pure refreshment. Whether you’re settling in for Wimbledon, firing up the barbecue, planning a Father’s Day celebration or simply looking for something new to sip in the sunshine, there are plenty of exciting options worth raising a glass to this weekend.
From elegant whisky highballs and award-winning gins to sophisticated alcohol-free beers and premium mixers, these are the drinks making my weekend shortlist.
The Wimbledon Winner: Compass Box Orchard House Whisky Highball
Nothing says British summer quite like Wimbledon. While strawberries and cream may be the traditional accompaniment, this year I’m making room for something a little more sophisticated: the Compass Box Orchard House Whisky Highball.
Light, crisp and wonderfully refreshing, it’s the perfect answer for those who love whisky but want something that feels at home on a warm afternoon. Compass Box Whiskymaker Michael Stephenson has mastered the art of creating a highball that celebrates whisky rather than disguising it.
At the heart of the serve is Orchard House, a beautifully fruit-forward blended malt Scotch whisky that comes alive when lengthened with soda, citrus and orchard fruits. The result is elegant, refreshing and endlessly drinkable.
Try This: Orchard House Classic Pear Highball
- 40ml Compass Box Orchard House
- 10ml pear eau de vie
- 10ml sugar syrup
- 20ml lemon juice
- 20ml apple juice
- Soda water
Build over ice in a tall glass, top with soda water and garnish with fresh pear slices. It’s the sort of drink that can effortlessly carry you through five sets and a tie-break.
Find out more: Compass Box Orchard House
The Father’s Day Hero: Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin
If you’re still searching for a Father’s Day gift, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin deserves serious consideration.
Crafted in Cornwall by master distiller John Hall, this award-winning London Dry Gin is based on a treasured family recipe dating back nearly a century. Distilled with ten carefully selected botanicals, including locally foraged Cornish elderflower and gorse flower, it delivers bright citrus notes balanced by floral complexity and warming spice.
The Art Deco-inspired bottle looks every bit as premium as the liquid inside, and with a substantial discount currently available through Sainsbury’s Nectar promotion, it offers excellent value for a gin of this calibre.
It’s a reminder that British gin-making continues to lead the world when it comes to innovation, craftsmanship and flavour.
Buy now: Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin at Sainsbury’s
The Summer Cup Reinvented: Psychopomp Summer Cup Gin Liqueur
If you’re a fan of Pimm’s but fancy something a little more artisan, Bristol-based Psychopomp Microdistillery has created the perfect alternative.
Their Summer Cup Gin Liqueur takes everything we love about a traditional British summer cup and gives it a contemporary twist. Built on their award-winning Woden Gin, it combines ripe raspberries, orange and delicate floral botanicals to create a drink that’s bursting with summer character.
Served over ice with lemonade, sparkling elderflower or even a splash of prosecco, it’s tailor-made for garden parties, picnics and those gloriously lazy afternoons when nobody is checking the time.
As a certified B Corporation, Psychopomp is also proving that sustainability and great flavour can go hand in hand.
Find out more: Psychopomp Microdistillery Summer Cup Gin Liqueur
The Alcohol-Free Discovery: Bunta Beer
One of the most exciting launches of the year comes in the form of Bunta Beer, the UK’s first non-alcoholic Indian craft beer.
Created by entrepreneur Gunikka Ahuja, the 0.5% Citrus Lager has been specifically designed to complement spicy food. Featuring notes of orange peel and coriander seed, it’s light, refreshing and remarkably food-friendly.
With only 60 calories per can, it’s ideal for those looking to moderate their alcohol intake without sacrificing flavour. Whether paired with a fragrant biryani, a spicy curry or a barbecue feast, it offers a genuinely fresh take on the traditional “curry and a pint” experience.
The bold pink can doesn’t hurt either. Expect to see plenty of them at festivals, picnics and rooftop gatherings this summer.
Find out more: Bunta Beer
The Luxury Pour: Aureus Vita Martini
For those moments when only the extraordinary will do, Aureus Vita is one of the most fascinating spirits I’ve encountered this year.
Distilled just once annually by John Hall using his pioneering Fibonacci-Hall Method, this ultra-premium gin is inspired by the Golden Ratio and crafted to reveal ten distinct flavour stages as you drink it.
At 61.8% ABV it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted, but when transformed into a classic Martini, it becomes something rather spectacular.
Available through Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and Hedonism Wines, this is less an everyday gin and more a collector’s piece for serious spirit enthusiasts.
Aureus Vita Martini
- 56.5ml Aureus Vita
- 35ml Dry Vermouth
Pour the gin into a mixing glass before adding ice to preserve the botanical oils and flavour sequencing. Stir slowly, strain into a frozen Martini glass and enjoy a Martini like no other.
Find out more: Aureus Vita Gin
The Essential Summer Sidekick: Double Dutch Mixers
Of course, even the finest spirits need the right supporting cast.
Double Dutch’s newly expanded range of premium canned mixers couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Their handy 150ml cans are perfectly designed for picnics, festivals, garden parties and impromptu summer gatherings.
With flavours including Pink Grapefruit Soda, Cucumber & Watermelon Soda, Elderflower and their signature tonic waters, they make it easier than ever to create bar-quality serves wherever the weekend takes you.
It’s a simple idea executed brilliantly: premium mixers, perfectly portioned and ready for sunshine.
Shop the range: Double Dutch Mixers
Final Pour
If there’s a theme running through this summer’s drinks trends, it’s versatility. Consumers are increasingly looking for drinks that fit every occasion — whether that’s a sophisticated whisky highball during Wimbledon, an alcohol-free beer at a barbecue, a premium gin gift for Father’s Day or an elegant Martini to mark a special moment.
My advice? Embrace the season. Fill the ice bucket, gather your friends, experiment with a few new serves and make the most of those long summer evenings.
Please drink responsibly. Alcohol should be consumed in moderation and only by those of legal drinking age.
