5 drinks that pair perfectly with BBQ food
The clouds are clearing and we're starting to see a lot more sun, which means barbecue season is upon us. You might've already put an order in with your local butcher, and bought plenty of decorations to get your garden barbecue-ready. But, if you want to hold a truly memorable get-together, you should put a lot of thought into the drinks you'll be serving, too.
Along with the usual beers and soft drinks, it's a good idea to offer light and refreshing cocktails that will cut through the heaviness of barbecue food. We've put together a list of our 5 favourite barbecue-friendly drinks. Read on to find out what you should be serving your guests this summer.
Mint Julep
Mint Juleps might as well have been made for barbecues. They're refreshing and cooling — plus, the taste of bourbon they offer does a beautiful job of complementing BBQ sauce.
These cocktails are quite easy to make. All you need is some bourbon, sugar, ice, and a few sprigs of mint. They're traditionally served in a silver cup like these ones from Cocktail Kingdom.
To save yourself from having to play bartender all day, put everything but the ice into the cups, and invite your guests to add their own when they would like a drink. Soda can also be added at the last minute to make the drink longer and water the bourbon down.
Sangria
Sangria is fruity, cool, and refreshing, which means it's the perfect summer drink. So, consider making a pitcher of it for your next barbecue. Simply mix a chopped apple, chopped orange, three tablespoons of brown sugar, two shots of orange liqueur, two shots of brandy and a bottle of red wine. Chill overnight so the flavours have chance to infuse.
While it is traditionally made using red wine, sangria can work with white and rosé, too. Epicurious has a great guide to making sangria without a recipe, which talks you through customising a pitcher of sangria according to your preferences. You can find a selection of high-quality Spanish wines at Bottled & Boxed.
Tom Collins
The sourness of a Tom Collins contrasts perfectly with barbecue food. We recommend starting with a long glass filled with ice, then adding two shots of good-quality gin and an equal amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Top with soda, then garnish with a lemon twist — if you don't already have a canelé knife, you can get one from Divertimenti.
Frozen Strawberry Daquiri
Frozen cocktails are sure to impress your guests. The strawberry daquiri is a classic, and has a sweetness that makes it the perfect replacement for dessert. To make a batch, blitz 200ml white rum, 50ml of freshly squeezed lime juice and 500g of frozen strawberries in a blender. If necessary, blend in ice to make the consistency just right. Serve in a margarita glass and pop a strawberry on top. Perfect.
Paradise Rum Punch
Bring a feeling of paradise to your own back garden with a beautiful rum punch. Made with plenty of fruit juice, this cocktail is incredibly refreshing and very easy to drink.
The best way to serve this is in a large punch bowl, so everyone can help themselves. Mix 2 litres of orange juice, 2 litres of pineapple juice, and 1.5 litres of white rum. Then, add 250ml of grenadine syrup and 1 litre of lemonade. If you want to make the best impression, offer your guests pineapple-shaped glasses to drink from. You can pick up a lovely set from Not On The High Street.
Serve any (or all) of these drinks at your next barbecue, and your guests are sure to be impressed. They work very well with barbecue food, are incredibly refreshing, and might just bring a sense of paradise to your garden. Enjoy!
Along with the usual beers and soft drinks, it's a good idea to offer light and refreshing cocktails that will cut through the heaviness of barbecue food. We've put together a list of our 5 favourite barbecue-friendly drinks. Read on to find out what you should be serving your guests this summer.
Mint Julep
Mint Juleps might as well have been made for barbecues. They're refreshing and cooling — plus, the taste of bourbon they offer does a beautiful job of complementing BBQ sauce.
These cocktails are quite easy to make. All you need is some bourbon, sugar, ice, and a few sprigs of mint. They're traditionally served in a silver cup like these ones from Cocktail Kingdom.
To save yourself from having to play bartender all day, put everything but the ice into the cups, and invite your guests to add their own when they would like a drink. Soda can also be added at the last minute to make the drink longer and water the bourbon down.
Sangria
Sangria is fruity, cool, and refreshing, which means it's the perfect summer drink. So, consider making a pitcher of it for your next barbecue. Simply mix a chopped apple, chopped orange, three tablespoons of brown sugar, two shots of orange liqueur, two shots of brandy and a bottle of red wine. Chill overnight so the flavours have chance to infuse.
While it is traditionally made using red wine, sangria can work with white and rosé, too. Epicurious has a great guide to making sangria without a recipe, which talks you through customising a pitcher of sangria according to your preferences. You can find a selection of high-quality Spanish wines at Bottled & Boxed.
Tom Collins
The sourness of a Tom Collins contrasts perfectly with barbecue food. We recommend starting with a long glass filled with ice, then adding two shots of good-quality gin and an equal amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Top with soda, then garnish with a lemon twist — if you don't already have a canelé knife, you can get one from Divertimenti.
Frozen Strawberry Daquiri
Frozen cocktails are sure to impress your guests. The strawberry daquiri is a classic, and has a sweetness that makes it the perfect replacement for dessert. To make a batch, blitz 200ml white rum, 50ml of freshly squeezed lime juice and 500g of frozen strawberries in a blender. If necessary, blend in ice to make the consistency just right. Serve in a margarita glass and pop a strawberry on top. Perfect.
Paradise Rum Punch
Bring a feeling of paradise to your own back garden with a beautiful rum punch. Made with plenty of fruit juice, this cocktail is incredibly refreshing and very easy to drink.
The best way to serve this is in a large punch bowl, so everyone can help themselves. Mix 2 litres of orange juice, 2 litres of pineapple juice, and 1.5 litres of white rum. Then, add 250ml of grenadine syrup and 1 litre of lemonade. If you want to make the best impression, offer your guests pineapple-shaped glasses to drink from. You can pick up a lovely set from Not On The High Street.
Serve any (or all) of these drinks at your next barbecue, and your guests are sure to be impressed. They work very well with barbecue food, are incredibly refreshing, and might just bring a sense of paradise to your garden. Enjoy!