Seasonal Sippers: Six Ways to Toast the Great British SummerBy Alicia Grimshaw
Whether you’re looking for a cool and delicious accompaniment to that picnic or the perfect pairing to your BBQ on a long, balmy summer evening, Bacardi’s Global Head of Education & Mixology, Joe McCanta, has you covered with a spritz cocktail for every summer occasion.
For a Taste of the French Riveria: Grey Goose Le Grand Fizz
Effortlessly extraordinary, the Le Grand Fizz will forever change the way you enjoy a spritz – featuring Grey Goose, lime and St-Germain elderflower liqueur, it’s the perfect summer serve.
The perfect spritz for: Aperitivo hour for vodka lovers.
Ingredients
35 ml Grey Goose Vodka
15 ml Fresh Lime Juice
25 ml St-Germain
60 ml Cold Soda Water
Lime to garnish
Method
1. Build ice into an oversized Cabernet wine glass.
2. Add the Grey Goose Vodka and freshly squeezed lime juice.
3. Top with St. Germain elderflower liqueur and chilled soda water.
4. Garnish with two lime wedges and a Grey Goose stirrer
Joe McCanta advises: “The Grey Goose Le Grand Fizz is our most iconic summer serve. It is a sophisticated – and more interesting – twist on a traditional vodka and soda. Having been served everywhere from Coachella to the Cannes Film Festival, the Le Grand Fizz if perfect for adding a touch of French elegance to a summer soirée. Too much lime juice can make this serve too tarte, while too much elderflower liqueur will make for a sickly-sweet version, so be sure to follow the measurements to find the perfect balance.”
For a Taste of the English Countryside: Bombay Sapphire Rose Spritz
A light and delicious take on the classic G&T cocktail, a tasty combination of vermouth, orange and elderflower.
The perfect spritz for: A sundowner sipper for gin drinkers.
Ingredients
50ml Bombay Sapphire
100ml Premium Elderflower Tonic
25 ml Martini Rosato Vermouth
2 Orange Wedges
Method
1. Gently squeeze the orange wedges into a balloon glass
2. Add Martini Rosato and Bombay Sapphire gin
3. Fill the glass with cubed ice, stir and mix
4. Gently top with chilled premium elderflower tonic
5. Stir with a bar spoon to combine all ingredients
Joe McCanta advises: “The Bombay Sapphire Rose Spritz is the spritz for gin lovers. It nods to the traditional Italian spritz with a Martini vermouth base, but with a gin and elderflower twist that tastes like summer in a glass. If you can’t find elderflower tonic, you can opt for a regular tonic with a splash of honey, which will bring out the floral notes. For a less zesty, sweeter serve, try raspberries in place of the orange wedges to garnish.”
For a Taste of Southern France: The St-Germain Spritz
Simple, elegant and quintessentially French: there’s no finer way to unwind than with this signature apéritif. Mix the ingredients over ice in a collins glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Vive l’Apéritif!
The perfect spritz for: Brunch and al fresco dining.
Ingredients
40ml St-Germain
60ml Sparkling wine (Champagne or Prosecco)
60ml Sparkling water
Method
1. Combine all of the ingredients over ice in a Collins glass
2.Stir gently
3. Garnish with a lemon twist
Joe McCanta advises: “St-Germain spritzed with champagne or prosecco makes a perfect summer drink. Light and fragrant, the St-Germain Spritz has a similar alcohol content to a glass of wine, but with an added dose of sophistication. The combination of champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine blended with the citrusy, light and floral notes of St-Germain make this a sipping drink to enjoy in a sunny garden.”
For a Taste of a Sun-Soaked Italian Piazza: Martini Fiero and Tonic
Bold flavoured and brightly coloured, Martini Fiero’s bittersweet orange flavour and striking red colour are both 100% natural. Designed to be paired 50/50 with tonic over ice and an orange garnish for maximum impact with minimal fuss.
The perfect spritz for: A twist on the traditional.
Ingredients
75ml Martini Fiero
75ml Tonic Water
Orange slice for garnish
Method
1. Pour 50% Martini Fiero and 50% tonic water into a balloon glass
2. Serve over cubed ice with orange slide garnish
Joe McCanta advises: “Martini was made for spritzers – and Martini Fiero is a contemporary take on vermouth combining citrus, bittersweet orange, crisp white wines and wormwood for bold and zesty flavours. Many spritzers use soda, but the flavours of this vermouth pair perfectly with tonic – one sip of this will transport you to the Italian Riviera! Where possible, opt for a balloon glass – it adds to the occasion! The brilliant thing about this cocktail is that it has all the ease of a simple two-ingredient serve, such as a gin and tonic, but with an added layer of sophistication.”
For A Taste Of The Caribbean… Bacardí Raspberry Spritz
The irresistible sweet and sharp flavours of Bacardi Raspberry are given extra sparkle in this super simple but wonderfully refreshing long drink.
The perfect spritz for: Capturing the summer festival spirit at home.
Ingredients
50ml Bacardi Raspberry rum
150ml Lemonade
Raspberries to garnish
Method
1. Build over cubed ice in a highball
2. Stir and garnish with two raspberries
Joe McCanta advises: “Rum may not be an obvious choice when you think of a summer spritzer, but as a spirit, it is definitely having a moment, and this super simple serve is a delightful Caribbean-twist on a traditional spritz. You can elevate the serve by dialling up the garnishes, such as adding a few sprigs of mint from your garden. Crushing the berries also help to bring out the sweet berry tones of the rum.”
For A Taste Of Italy: Martini Vibrante Spritz
A non-alcoholic spritz for any occasion, which is unmistakably MARTINI ®, just without the alcohol
The perfect spritz for: An alcohol-free alternative
Ingredients
75ml Martini Vibrante
25ml Grapefruit Juice
Method
1. Combine 75ml Martini Non-Alcoholic Vibrante with 25ml Grapefruit Juice over a generous serving of ice in a high ball or balloon glass
2. Top with soda and a grapefruit twist to garnish for the perfect alcohol-free summertime Spritz
Joe McCanta advises: “Few alcohol-free cocktails deliver the taste of a summer spritz like this serve. Martini Vibrante has all of the bittersweet, orange notes of the classic Martini, just without the alcohol – it’s even made from the same grapes. The grapefruit juice adds a tangy and refreshing twist, which makes this ideal to sip on over a long, hot summer’s day. This is a great option for those avoiding alcohol or taking a more mindful approach to drinking this summer.”
