Each recipe features a bottle available from HTFW, giving you plenty of inspiration for making the most of your summer drinks collection.
1. Au Strawberry Burst Lemonade
Sweet strawberry and sharp lemon make this a simple, refreshing summer serve. Au Strawberry Burst Vodka provides the fruit flavour, while fresh lemon and chilled lemonade prevent the cocktail from becoming overly sweet.
Ingredients
- 50ml Au Strawberry Burst Vodka
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 100ml lemonade
- Fresh strawberries
- Lemon wheel
- Ice
Method
Add the vodka, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with chilled lemonade and garnish with sliced strawberries and a lemon wheel.
2. Au Miami Mango Fizz
Made with Au Limited Edition Miami Mango Vodka, this bright tropical cocktail combines mango, passionfruit and lime in a refreshing tall serve.
Ingredients
- 50ml Au Miami Mango Vodka
- 25ml passionfruit purée
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 75ml soda water or lemonade
- Half a passionfruit
- Ice
Method
Shake the vodka, passionfruit purée and lime juice with ice. Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice and top with soda water for a lighter drink or lemonade for a sweeter finish. Garnish with half a passionfruit.
3. Au Pineapple Crush Colada
This easy variation on a Piña Colada replaces traditional white rum with Au Pineapple Crush Vodka. Pineapple juice and coconut cream give the drink its familiar tropical character, with lime adding freshness.
Ingredients
- 50ml Au Pineapple Crush Vodka
- 75ml pineapple juice
- 25ml coconut cream
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- Pineapple wedge
- Cocktail cherry
- Crushed ice
Method
Add all the liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice, then garnish with a pineapple wedge and cocktail cherry.
For a frozen version, blend the ingredients with a generous scoop of ice until smooth.
4. Hacien Pineapple Tequila Paloma
The Paloma is one of the most refreshing tequila cocktails, traditionally combining tequila, lime and grapefruit. Using Hacien Pineapple Blanco Tequila introduces an additional layer of tropical fruit.
Ingredients
- 50ml Hacien Pineapple Blanco Tequila
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 100ml pink grapefruit soda
- Small pinch of sea salt
- Grapefruit wedge
- Ice
Method
Run a lime wedge around the edge of a highball glass and dip part of the rim into salt. Fill the glass with ice before adding the tequila, lime juice and a small pinch of sea salt. Top with pink grapefruit soda, stir gently and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
5. Dead Man’s Tropical Rum Punch
Fruit juice, pineapple rum and grenadine create a colourful cocktail that is ideal for summer parties. Dead Man’s Fingers Pineapple Rum with Skull Glass also provides a distinctive glass in which to serve it.
Ingredients
- 50ml Dead Man’s Fingers Pineapple Rum
- 50ml pineapple juice
- 50ml orange juice
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 10ml grenadine
- Orange slice
- Pineapple wedge
- Ice
Method
Shake the rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and lime juice with ice. Strain into an ice-filled glass, then slowly pour in the grenadine to create a layered sunset effect.
Garnish with an orange slice and pineapple wedge. Stir before drinking.
6. Hawkstone English Garden Collins
This British take on a classic Collins uses Hawkstone The Botanical One Gin, fresh lemon and elderflower cordial. Cucumber and mint complete the garden-inspired presentation.
Ingredients
- 50ml Hawkstone The Botanical One Gin
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml elderflower cordial
- 75ml soda water
- Cucumber ribbons
- Fresh mint
- Ice
Method
Add the gin, lemon juice and elderflower cordial to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish with cucumber ribbons and mint.
7. Hawkstone Hedgerow Cider Cup
Blackberry liqueur and Hawkstone Hedgerow Fruit Cider make this a fruitier alternative to a traditional summer cup. Serve it in a large wine glass with plenty of ice and fresh berries.
Ingredients
- 25ml London dry gin
- 15ml blackberry liqueur
- 10ml fresh lemon juice
- 125ml Hawkstone Hedgerow Fruit Cider
- Fresh blackberries
- Mint leaves
- Ice
Method
Fill a large wine glass with ice and add the gin, blackberry liqueur and lemon juice. Top with chilled Hawkstone Hedgerow Fruit Cider and stir gently.
Garnish with fresh blackberries and mint leaves.
8. Hawkstone Summer Cider Spritz
Light, crisp and simple to prepare, this cider spritz combines Hawkstone English Cider with elderflower and soda water.
Ingredients
- 25ml elderflower liqueur
- 100ml Hawkstone English Cider
- 50ml soda water
- Thin apple slices
- Cucumber ribbons
- Fresh mint
- Ice
Method
Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the elderflower liqueur and Hawkstone English Cider before topping with soda water.
Stir gently and garnish with apple slices, cucumber ribbons and fresh mint.
9. Gin Mare Mediterranean Basil Smash
Fresh basil complements the herbaceous character of Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin Lantern Gift Pack, creating a vibrant cocktail for outdoor dining and summer entertaining.
Ingredients
- 50ml Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin
- 25ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 6 to 8 fresh basil leaves
- Basil sprig
- Ice
Method
Place the basil leaves, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker. Gently press the basil to release its aroma before adding the gin and ice.
Shake thoroughly and fine-strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a sprig of basil.
10. Cîroc Strawberry Riviera Spritz
Fresh strawberries, sparkling wine and Cîroc Strawberry Limonade Spirit come together in a colourful spritz that is ideal for summer celebrations.
Ingredients
- 50ml Cîroc Strawberry Limonade
- 75ml Prosecco or another dry sparkling wine
- 50ml soda water
- Fresh strawberries
- Lemon wheel
- Ice
Method
Fill a large wine glass with ice and add the Cîroc Strawberry Limonade. Pour in the sparkling wine and soda water before stirring gently.
Add sliced strawberries to the glass and garnish with a lemon wheel.
How to Make Better Summer Cocktails
Summer cocktails do not need to be complicated. A few simple details can make home-prepared drinks look and taste considerably better.
Use plenty of fresh ice and chill sparkling ingredients before opening them. Freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice will also give cocktails a cleaner, brighter flavour than bottled alternatives.
Garnishes should complement the ingredients in the glass. Strawberries, pineapple, grapefruit, cucumber, mint and basil are all easy to find and can transform a simple mixed drink into a more impressive summer serve.
For larger gatherings, fruit punches and cider cups can be prepared in jugs. Multiply the ingredients by the number of guests, but wait until just before serving to add cider, lemonade, soda water or sparkling wine.
Find Your Next Summer Bottle at HTFW
Whether you prefer tropical vodka, pineapple tequila, fruit cider, flavoured rum or a more herbaceous Mediterranean gin, the HTFW range offers plenty of options for summer cocktail making.
Choose a bottle, stock up on fresh fruit and ice, and start experimenting with your own seasonal serves. Remember to measure carefully and enjoy responsibly.
