SUMMER IN A GLASS

From cocktail-ready spirits to non-alcoholic favourites, these drinks capture the flavours and feelings of summer for a top-tasting celebration

words Lucy Higgins

Fruity, flavoursome and oh-so refreshing, there’s a heady choice of alcoholic beverages for a summer celebration. Choose a local favourite for a delicious and decidedly Cornish tipple.

Taste of sunshine

Tarquin’s Gin needs little introduction. Since its inception in 2012, Tarquin Leadbetter has taken the gin scene by storm with his Cornish Dry Gin, which he handcrafts in small batches in a copper pot still on the Cornish coast. Nine years later, there’s a whole range of exquisite, award-winning gins to choose from. From Strawberry and Lime and Cornish Sunshine Blood Orange to Pink Grapefruit and Elderflower, our favourite pick for summer weddings has to be Rhubarb and Raspberry. Lovingly infused with the most delicious rhubarb and raspberries, this beautiful blush-coloured gin boasts tasting notes of lemon sherbet, fresh raspberries and soft juniper on the nose, and rhubarb sorbet, crisp pine and Eastern spice on the palate. It’s a crisp, fruity alternative to a classic gin and tonic, with a tart raspberry jam, zesty citrus and frangipane finish. Top it up with ginger ale, raspberries and a sprig of mint, and your guests will be in G&T heaven! tarquinsgin.com

Joy in a can

We’re massive fans of Tinkture’s Rose Gin, a delightfully delicate gin made with David Austin roses here in Cornwall (which also come in ‘Little Guy’ size as a perfectly stylish favour). Whether you pair it with lemon cordial and soda to make a Rose Gin Tom Collins, or simply a splash of tonic for a classic Tink and Tonic, it’s a winning choice for a summer wedding. Their cocktail in a can, Tink & Booch, also hits the spot for sun-filled festivities. Designed with the aim of making the “cleanest cocktail in the world (that still tastes amazing)”, the distinctive and thirst-quenching blend pairs the floral notes of the rose gin with organic lemon and lime kombucha. The result is a beautifully aromatic cocktail in a coolly designed can – sophisticated in flavour and big on refreshment. wearetinkture.com

Sparkle and shine

Based on the edge of Penzance, Polgoon’s family-run vineyard and orchard produces a range of artisan Cornish wines, ciders and juices. Its sparkling wines are perfect for a Cornish wedding, with the 2016 Seyval Blanc Sparkling White proving an extra-special choice. With green pear on the nose followed by delicate citrus notes and a good balanced acidity, it’s a stunning celebration wine; serve it as your welcome drink alongside canapés (it’s a dream match with Cornish seafood and charcuterie). If you fancy a floral flavour for your sparkling, opt for the Sparkling Elderflower Wine. Pressed and fermented using the méthode traditionelle to produce a light, dry sparkling wine, it’s infused with a subtle splash of elderflower juice and described as “an English summer meadow in a glass”. Heavenly. polgoon.com

Exotic blend

While the beauty of Mainbrace is in its uniquely spliced rum combining two blended styles from Guyana and Martinique, it was dreamt up on the Helford Passage. Produced using locally sourced sugar cane as well as traditional pot and column still distillation, it employs the same methods used to create rum for the British Navy as far back as the 1700s. With no sweeteners or colourings added to the blend, it sings out with grassy notes that quickly subside to caramel, toffee and a subtle spiciness. And you don’t have to take our word for it – since its inception in 2019, Mainbrace Rum has won a plethora of awards, including seven in 2021 already! Delicious on its own, it also pairs perfectly with mixers to create some summer-ready cocktails: add fresh orange juice, ginger beer, ice and orange garnish for an Always Sunny, or lime juice, ice and lime garnish for a Splice the Mainbrace – both perfect drinks for your guests to sip on a Cornish summer’s day. mainbracerum.com

Not drinking? Not a problem. Alcohol-free alternatives have got a lot more grown-up so you can put down the warm lemonade and indulge in a seriously stylish switch-up of your top tipple.

Alternative to: Gin and tonic

A delicious alternative to clear spirits, Pentire celebrates the rare botanicals that thrive on Cornwall’s north coast while offering non-drinking guests exceptional liquid refreshment. Crisp, fresh and herbaceous, Pentire Adrift embraces the likes of rock samphire, sage, citrus and Cornish sea salt, as well as Pentire’s own plant blend, to create a refreshing spirit, which pairs perfectly with a light tonic and lemon garnish. For something a little zestier, try Pentire Seaward – an invigorating blend of pink grapefruit, wild seaweed, woodruff, sea buckthorn and sea rosemary. Serve with a light tonic or soda with ice and a grapefruit wedge for a zingy summer delight. pentiredrinks.com

Alternative to: Sparkling

While creative alcohol-free options are a common feature at modern weddings, it can be tricky to replicate the toast without raising a glass of fizz. That’s where Saicho’s sparkling teas come in. Designed to be served chilled in a champagne flute or coupe, the innovative Darjeeling, Jasmine and Hojicha teas are cold-brewed to extract the most delicate and complex flavours from the tea leaves, then finely balanced with a hint of sweetness and a dash of acidity. As a finishing touch, sparkling the tea enhances the flavour and creates those all-important bubbles to be enjoyed as an alternative to champagne or Prosecco. saichodrinks.com

Alternative to: Aperol Spritz

Tasking itself with “reinventing the spritz”, Wilfred’s aperitif creates a refreshing non-alcoholic alternative to an Aperol Spritz. Inspired by traditional methods and free from artificial flavours, sweeteners and colours, the carefully crafted aperitif combines the fresh taste of bitter oranges with natural rosemary, rhubarb and clove. Evoking the summery vibes of sitting al fresco in an Italian piazza, serve with tonic water, ice and a slice of orange and delight in the citrusy and irresistibly delicious flavours of a drink that’s all spritz and no alcohol. wilfredsdrinks.com

Alternative to: Wine

Perfect light drinks for a summer’s day, the range of cordials from Jukes Cordialities has been created by renowned wine taster and writer, Matthew Jukes. Created to mix with still or sparkling water (depending on how you usually like your wine!), these non-alcoholic drinks “do everything that wine does on the nose, palate and finish but without any grapes or alcohol involved”. The collection includes a white (Jukes 1 – built on peach blossom, cucumber, plums, tart apples and pineapple husk); a bright red (Jukes 2 – with layered red fruit flavours and a faint smokiness) and our personal favourite, a rosé (Jukes 8 – based on melon, pomegranate, pear, rhubarb and apple) – a delicate and elegant summery treat for your taste buds! jukescordialities.com