Best drinks for a barbecue this summer

There’s still some summer left for you to whip out the barbecue and get your grill on. For your ideal summer barbecue (or BBQ for our American friends), we’ve got the best alcoholic drinks. Refreshing, easy to make, and they pair well with grilled foods. 

Here are some of our top choices:

Best drinks for the barbecue this summer

First, let’s talk tonics: Port & Tonic. Tequila & Tonic. Whisky & Tonic.

The Classic G&T is always a winner. Gin mixed with tonic water and garnished with a lime wedge is a timeless choice that’s both refreshing and easy to make. You can also take it further by experimenting with different flavoured gins (like cucumber or elderflower) and garnishes (like fresh herbs or berries) for a twist on the classic.

But why stick with gin when there are lots of other spirits that pair with tonics? The Tequila & Tonic is beautiful, more herbaceous and just as refreshing. Take just 40ml of Blanco or Reposado and top with a premium Indian or Light Tonic Water in a Highball glass with lots of ice and a wedge of grapefruit to garnish

Whisky can also be mixed with tonic water. The Tully & Tonic takes the sweet, rich, creamy flavours of Tullamore D.E.W and pairs with the light, thirst-quenching qualities of tonic water. Simply add 50ml Tullamore D.E.W. Original and 150ml premium bottled tonic water to a glass filled with ice and garnish with a wedge of freshly cut orange. It would work with lemonade too if tonic water isn’t your thing. 

Then there’s the Port & Tonic. The drink you never knew you loved. Take Graham’s Blend Nº5 White Port, the first ever white Port blended for mixing, and make the brand’s signature Port & Tonic with quality tonic water, ice, lemon and mint. Serve with toasted, salted almonds for the best result. Trust me. 

Margaritas

Tequila, lime juice, and triple sec. It’s always worked. It always will. Maybe the ultimate refreshing, tangy drink. The typical recipe is 50ml Blanco Tequila, 30ml Cointreau, and 20ml fresh lime juice. But you can play with it. Use a Reposado or Añejo Tequila. Make it a Spicy Marg with a chilli liqueur or jalapeño slices. Add a salt rim and have fun with what kind you pick, like Himalayan Pink Salt. Bring more fruit to the party with mango, watermelon, cucumber, pineapple, grapefruit, or strawberry. You could even make a frozen Margarita. It’s your drink. Here’s a Piña Coconut Margarita recipe that borrows from another great summer drink for inspiration.

In a shaker, combine 50ml El Jimador Tequila Blanco, 20ml lime juice, 10ml coconut cream, 10ml pineapple juice, and 5ml simple syrup and ice. Shake until chilled and strain into an ice-filled glass with a chilli rim. Garnish with a pineapple wedge or a pineapple leaf if you’re feeling fancy.

Spiked Lemonade

Homemade lemonade is a wonderful summer treat but if you really want to keep things simple, you can do the usual. Get a nice vodka, mix it with lemonade and add fresh mint or berries to garnish. Lovely. But if you want to do things the MoM way, then use bourbon instead. Utilise the warm, caramel notes of bourbon and add a rich, smoky element to your summer drink that will go great with barbecued food.

Just add 50ml bourbon to an ice-filled glass, top with lemonade, and garnish with a little mint or lemon peel. Viola, the Kentucky Lemonade. 

Pimm’s Cup

The quintessentially English summertime drink. There’s nothing better than a Pimm’s No 1 Cup on a hot summer’s day, made with cucumber, lemon, strawberries, and mint topped with lemonade. It’s Pimm’s O’Clock whenever you damn please. 

Caipirinha

You’ve had a Mojito, now try the classic Caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail. It’s made with cachaça (a Brazilian sugarcane spirit), lime, and sugar. It’s strong, sweet, and citrusy.

Cut a lime into quarters, remove the bitter white core if desired, and chop into smaller pieces. Place half a lime’s worth in a tumbler with 2 heaped teaspoons of caster sugar, then muddle the lime to release the juice. Fill the glass 3/4 with crushed ice, add a 50ml shot of Abelha Cachaça, and whisk with a cocktail stirrer. Top up with more ice, insert a straw, and enjoy your Caipirinha.

Paloma

A drink that is starting to get the recognition it deserves but will surely be ubiquitous in the future because of how good it is. The classic Paloma mixes Tequila with grapefruit soda (or fresh grapefruit juice and soda water), lime juice, and a pinch of salt. It’s tangy, slightly bitter, and very refreshing.

But we like a Smoky Paloma, especially for a barbecue. Swap the Tequila for a mezcal in the traditional recipe for a smoky twist.

Moisten the rim of your glass with a grapefruit or lime wedge then dip the rim in salt to coat it evenly. In a shaker, combine 50ml Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, 50ml pink grapefruit juice, 25ml lime juice, and 30ml agave syrup. Add ice to about half of the shaker’s capacity and give it a robust shake for around 15-20 seconds. Pour the mixture into your prepared glass, making sure to strain out the ice. Top up the drink with grapefruit soda, depending on your desired fizziness. Finish off by garnishing with a grapefruit or lime wedge. 

Mint Julep

The Mint Julep is a Southern classic and they sure know how to barbecue. It’s made with bourbon, fresh mint, sugar, and crushed ice and its brand of cool, minty, bourbon-y goodness is perfect for sipping in the heat.

Add 6-8 fresh mint leaves and 10ml syrup to a julep cup and gently use a muddler to express the oils in the mint. Add crushed ice, stir it all together, then 40ml of your Maker’s Mark Bourbon and give it another stir. Garnish with a mint sprig.

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