Classic cocktails for summer nights

1/8/24

When it comes to balmy evenings, there’s nothing better than sitting outside with a classic cocktail made for summer nights. That’s why our Wimbledon caterers have put together this essential drinks list – containing a number of top-tier cocktails (and mocktails) you and your guests will love. So pour, mix, sip and enjoy – here are our favourite classic cocktails made for summer nights.

1. Mojito

Straight out of Cuba, the mojito was allegedly invented as a medical cure – a mix of lime, sugarcane juice and mint – with the white rum coming later.

To prepare one, muddle the juice of a lime with a teaspoon of granulated sugar and a few crushed mint leaves. Then, pour over the rum (one shot is equal to 25ml) and top up with soda. Non-drinkers can leave out the rum, and try a sparkling water alternative to soda water, too.

2. Cosmopolitan

If there’s a trendier drink than a cosmo, we don’t know about it! Apparently created in a Manhattan restaurant, it’s no surprise it featured heavily in Sex and the City (which is based in New York).

According to Wikipedia, the original recipe states ‘2 oz vodka, 1 oz cointreau, 1 oz lime juice and .5 oz cranberry juice’. For a virgin version, switch the vodka for soda instead.

3. Whiskey sour

A classic whiskey sour brings together bourbon (roughly 2 shots), lemon juice (roughly 1 shot), a dash of sugar syrup, 2 dashes of bitters and – somewhat strangely – an egg white (that’s for creaminess). Or, you can swap the whiskey for Assam tea (you’ll need the same quantity).

To make, shake everything together, then strain. Use a peeler to strip off a twirl of lemon zest and squeeze it over the drink before serving with a wedge of orange.

4. Dry martini

To whip up one of these – James Bond’s signature drink – use the ratio of 2:1 gin:vermouth. With olives being the traditional garnish, you can even add a dash of the brine to make a ‘dirty martini’, or add in a splash of champagne for the ‘millionaire’s martini’.

While it’s quite tricky to make an alcohol-free version of a martini, you could nod to the original by combining sparkling water with bitters and olive brine.

5. Strawberry daiquiri

A daiquiri is made with rum, and the strawberry variety is one of the most popular – which uses half a kilo of fresh, blended strawberries mixed with 100ml rum (that’s 4 shots) together with the juice of half a lime and around 2 tbsp sugar syrup.

Our top tip is to push the strawberry mix through a sieve to press out some of the seeds, and serve with a strawberry garnish. Once again, just use sparkling water, soda water or even lemonade as a rum substitute.

6. Margarita

There’s a fine art to making a good margarita – and it’s all in the preparation. First, take a glass and rub a piece of lime along the rim. Then, roll the glass in salt. Next, take a cocktail shaker and fill with 1 shot of lime juice, 1 shot of triple sec and 2 shots of tequila. Finally, strain, then serve over crushed ice.

There isn’t really a substitute for a good margarita, but you can make up a similar tart-tasting drink with freshly-squeezed orange juice in place of the alcohol. You can also use honey or sugar syrup to get that balance of sweet and savoury.

7. Espresso martini

From a dry martini to an espresso one – traditionally served with a roasted coffee bean resting on the foam top. Urban legend says the drink was born in Britain after a punter asked for a drink that would ‘get him tipsy and wake him up at the same time’. That same idea has gone into more recent mix-ups, like vodka red bulls.

Prepare your espresso martini by combining 1 shot of coffee liqueur, 1 shot freshly-made espresso and 2 shots of vodka, mixing well in a cocktail shaker. Strain, then serve over crushed ice.

8. Piña colada

If you like piña colada… You’ll love this easy-to-mix recipe. A Parties To Go favourite, a piña colada is extremely easy to make virgin, too (just leave out the rum). Or, if you want an alcohol-free version but don’t want the hassle of making one, lots of well-known brands make smoothie versions.

Whip up 2 shots of white rum, 2 shots of coconut cream and 120ml pineapple juice, or alternatively use a coconut-flavoured rum (such as Malibu) to really dial up the tropical notes. You could also add a dash of banana liqueur, if you like.

9. Bloody mary

The bloody mary is a truly divisive cocktail – while some love its savoury flavour, others consider it almost like a cold, alcoholic soup.

To make a decent one, you’ll need a lot of ingredients – namely, vodka, tomato juice, hot sauce and the iconic stick of celery. Aromatic, fresh herbs finish it off – as well as the trusty salt and pepper pots.

The main ratios to remember are twice as much tomato juice as vodka, then the rest is really up to you – it’s a drink you can ‘season to taste’!

10. Mint julep

From mojito to mint julep, this famous cocktail marks the end of our top ten tipples.

2-3 shots of bourbon, sugar syrup (to taste) and a generous handful of crushed mint leaves are all it takes to prepare one – make sure you strain before serving, and ‘churn’ the ingredients together with a long-handled spoon. As with most cocktails, it’s best served over ice.