Many of us love a refreshing cocktail when the sun comes out – whether booze-filled or mocktail – but the ingredients list can be hefty.
Rather than measuring and shaking any number of liquors and fruit presses, ready-made cocktails can be the perfect choice – leaving us with more time to enjoy the rare spell of sunshine.
Putting a handful of brands to the test, we tried out a range of different drinks so you know what to pick for your next summer shindig – and there’s something for everyone.
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Starting off strong (literally!) with MOTH Drinks, a line of premade cocktail cans.
While you won’t find them in your local Poundland, savvy shoppers may find them worth the investment because these drinks have a lot of bite.
The margarita is just 125ml, but with a 14.9% ABV, it packs a hell of a punch.
The brand covers all of the premium classics: espresso martini, cosmopolitan, negroni, mojito, old fashioned and aperitivo spritz.
The standout for me was the Paloma – crisp grapefruit mixed with tequila, soda and lime.
This thirst quencher was my personal favourite from the entire taste test – 10/10.
BEST BASICS
Branching out with new cocktails can feel like a risky choice – particularly if you’ve paid £10+ for the privilege! – and sometimes the tried and tested flavours are the best choice.
Served – a brand founded by Ellie Goulding – pride themselves on creating clean drinks using no artificial flavourings and no added sugar, while not scrimping on taste.
They have just four flavours, perhaps proving their commitment to perfecting the basics, and I tried each out fresh from the fridge.
The passionfruit martini was full of flavour, while the mojito and margarita were thirst quenchers.
The piña colada wasn’t as sweet as others I’ve tasted, though I personally prefer a less sugary drink.
Another tried and tested classic is the Bellini – the typical brunch drink of prosecco and peach purée.
I split a bottle from Cipriani Drinks with friends while enjoying a sunny afternoon out, and it was another standout from the round-up.
When the classics are done right, they’re done right – with the sweet peach cutting through the crisp bubbly.
While this could be replicated from home fairly easily, both the packaging and drink itself added an element of luxury to the day that I’m not sure my chipped IKEA glassware could match. Recommend!
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT…
For anyone looking to avoid the dreaded label of ‘basic’, we tried out some more unique options, too.
Premium brand Niche Cocktails has the classics covered, but I was more intrigued by their newer flavours: Summer Pudding Gin Fizz and Matcha Mojito.
As a matcha drinker, I loved the complex flavour profile of the mojito, with the bitter matcha adding a fun layer to the fresh mint.
The gin fizz was on the far sweeter side, but makes for a nice flavour combination for those who like a fruitier drink.
If you aren’t one for cocktails in general but want to branch away from your usual pint, Vocation Brewery is worth a look.
I tried their three cocktail-inspired beers: Death by Margarita, Death by Amaretto Sour, and Death by Daquiri.
While they are still distinctly beers, the added elements made them feel lighter and perfect for a grab-and-go drink at the park.
A margarita girl through and through, I surprised myself with my favourite – the amaretto beer gets top marks from me!
Last but not least, another top pick for something a little different was Angels Dare’s Secret Orchard canned cocktail.
The UK-based brand has a few different offerings – including an alcohol-free (La Bonnie Vita) which was very tasty – but my favourite, Secret Orchard, had some of my favourite flavours of the taste test.
Gin, peach, apple, elderflower and mint – it tasted like summer in a can.
