Our 2021 Sizzling Summer Cocktail Spirits

We’ve been experimenting with some of our favourite new and existing tipples recently, recreating a range of highly recommended cocktails from the masters themselves. These are a little bit different, yet not so tough to get right. Enjoy.

X by Glenmorangie (Amazon £30)

Now this is a really exciting edition to the Glenmorangie family, ‘X’ is a single malt Scotch whisky specially made for mixing. How does that work we hear you say?

Well, X is sweeter (more fruity essentially) and richer than its siblings, making it ideal for tall cocktails. This new edition has actually been developed with some assistance from a range of top global bartenders.

Expect notes of pear, vanilla and honeysuckle to orange sherbet and chocolate fudge, this has got it all and really adds a new dimension to a cocktail. The liquid is aged in a combination of bourbon casks, then finished in new char oak casks.

What’s more, those helpful folks at Glenmorangie have designed a series of refreshingly simple serves – each needing just 2-4 ingredients and easy to make at home using X by Glenmorangie. Check out https://www.glenmorangie.com/en-gb/mixology

Recommended cocktail: Orange Mingle

45ml (11/2oz) Glenmorangie Original
10ml (1/3oz) Aperol
15ml (1/2oz) lemon juice
10ml (1/3oz) orange juice
2 dashes orange bitters
2 bar spoons orange marmalade
Egg whites

Instructions

1. Bring everything together in your favourite cocktail shaker and stir to dissolve the marmalade
2. Add ice cubes and shake well, before straining into a perfectly chilled glass
3. For another layer of texture, whip up an egg white foam. But don’t feel you need to – the drink tastes great without
4. Either way, an edible flower on top, gives a fragrant pop of colour.

Belvedere Organic Infusions Vodka (Amazon £45)

Quite possibly one of the finest vodkas on the market, Belvedere have just launched their new infusions range made with organic fruits and botanicals, which includes Lemon & Basil with a touch of Elderflower, Pear & Ginger with a drop of Linden Honey and Blackberry & Lemongrass with a hint of Sage.

Proudly made with nature, Belvedere Organic Infusions are the brand’s first certified organic spirits, meaning all ingredients are farmed without artificial pesticides, additives or chemicals. This allows the natural taste of each ingredient to shine through and their true character to come to life in the vodka, which adds a whole new dimension to a cocktail.

From fresh and bright, to vibrant and crisp, the new Organic Infusions range comprises unique and intriguing flavour combinations, not typically found in vodka:

Lemon & Basil With A Touch Of Elderflower: A succulent texture with lemon tart and herbaceous basil, followed by floral elderflower and juicy Muscat grapes.

Pear & Ginger With A Drop Of Linden Honey: A luscious mouthfeel of juicy pear, warm spiced ginger and rich set honey.

Blackberry & Lemongrass With A Hint Of Sage: A rich texture of ripe blackberries and fragrant sage, with notes of peppery lemongrass and vanilla.

We experimented with a bottle of the delicious Lemon & Basil with a touch of Elderflower and discovered our new, super simple, favourite cocktail…

Recommended cocktail: Vodka Gimlet

2 ounces vodka

3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Garnish: lime wheel

Instructions

1. Add vodka, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker, and shake with ice
2. Pour into a glass
3. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

Glen Moray Elgin Classic (The Whisky Exchange £23)

It’s time to introduce you to another whisky, absolutely ideal for cocktails. Glen Moray single malt is a fantastic staple, whether you like whisky straight up on the rocks, with ginger ale or something a little more extravagant. It’s also very affordable, which is a big plus for cocktail making.

Glen Moray have enlisted the help of some very talented food and drink experts, challenging them to dream up refreshing concoctions with their lovely whiskies, that really work with their smooth and fruity flavours.

Recommended cocktail: Joel’s Glen Moray Sunshine Punch

The rich, malty notes of Glen Moray combine beautifully with the ripe citrus ingredients and the sweet flavours of honey and fresh vanilla.

375ml Glen Moray Elgin Classic

1 fresh vanilla pod, split

The zest of one fresh lemon

Zest of half an orange

2 tablespoons honey

5 dashes cocktail bitters (optional)

1 small piece of fresh ginger, chopped

1 small apple, sliced

350ml chilled green tea.

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients to a large bowl
2. Stir and allow to settle for a few hours or overnight
3. Strain using a small sieve and store in the fridge until needed
4. Serve over ice in a short tumbler, with a slice of orange
5. Makes ten drinks.

No.3 London Dry Gin (The Whisky Exchange £30)

Another corker of a gin for cocktail making. No.3 is meticulously distilled in a 100-year-old, brick-encased, copper pot still. For me, it represents the perfect balance of juniper, citrus and spice.

In fact, this stuff is so good that it has been named the World’s Best 3 times. It’s smooth, suave and very sophisticated. The bottle is a work of art too!

We love the below cocktail, which is super easy to make.

Recommended cocktail: Cloud 3

35ml/1.1oz No.3 London Dry Gin

15ml/0.7oz Elderflower cordial

10ml/0.3oz Lemon Juice

15ml/0.5oz Egg white

Sparkling wine

Lemon.

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients except for the Sparkling Wine into a cocktail shaker and shake without ice
2. Now add ice and shake again
3. Double strain into a chilled Champagne flute and top up with sparkling wine
4. Express a lemon twist on top of the foam.