For this summer’s outdoor drinking, I’m leaning into ultra-cool, thirst-quenching drinks of a light and fresh nature. Sure, warmer days usually have most people oriented to crushable, frisky beverages, but there’s an array of things released in recent months that seem to absolutely nail the “Best for Drinking in Stinking Heat” brief.
A focus here are drinks I can clutch in my fist. Sure, tinnies are nothing new, but the idea of keeping things ultra-portable and lightweight seems apt for the increase in picnic and beachside activities that are at the centre of sun-drenched days.
Crispness, dryness and bitterness are the holy trinity of refreshment, and all three show up in spades in this incredibly delicious, legit riff on an IPA sans the booze (it’s less than 0.5 per cent ABV). It’s ideal for switching in for otherwise boozy sessions or just treating yourself while having fun in direct sunlight. Brilliant from Heaps Normal once more.
If you’re thinking, “Oh no, not another boring, flavourless, prepackaged wine seltzer”, don’t worry. This one is brilliant: vivid with its crunch of pinot grigio, refreshing with its fizz of sparkly soda water and exceptional with its splash of apple juice. Utterly delicious, and fun.
New South Wales brewery Yulli’s made an RTD and they did it with tequila, lime and soda. It’s light and frisky, has easy appeal, feels fresh and bright thanks to a little jalapeno and grassiness from agave and tequila, and is zingy with its cut of lime. I go from the can, but if you’re classy then over ice with an orange wedge garnish also works.
A blend of Adelaide Hills fruit, sauvignon blanc and the unusual red grape variety prieto picudo makes a peachy, pretty and pink pét-nat. It’s rosehip tea meets lemon sorbet with tart red cherry in tow. What’s not to like?
This cool collaboration has resulted in one of the most stellar canned beverages known to humankind. It’s bitter, tart, juicy and refreshing thanks to blood orange-focused vermouth meeting botanical-spiked moscato wine and bespoke tonic water. Ballistically good drinking.
Read more: Australian bartenders weigh in on the drink of summer.
