Once upon a time, summer berries had a relatively short growing season. Even though you can now enjoy every type of fruit all year round, there’s still something inherently and joyously summery about berry-based desserts and drinks. Soft fruits like raspberries, strawberries and blueberries each lend their own distinctive flavour to cocktails, so get your blender out and start experimenting!
Strawberry Daiquiri
Probably the most famous of the proto-daiquiris, the Strawberry Daiquiri is an enduring summer favourite – perfect for sunny days in the garden or on the beach. You can make your Daiquiri in the shaker – muddle some strawberries first with a little sugar syrup and a squeeze of lime before adding a measure of white rum and lots of ice. But if you have a blender, you can whizz all the ingredients up to a pleasing smoothie-like texture. You can make life even easier – and tastier – with an Edmunds ready-to-drink Strawberry Daiquiri!
Raspberry Mule
Give a classic Moscow Mule a summery makeover. Muddle 6 or 8 raspberries in the bottom of a shaker to break the fruit down. Add a generous measure of vodka, lime juice and a splash of sugar syrup before shaking thoroughly with ice. Strain into an ice-filled tumbler and top with ginger beer – your choice of ginger beer will give this drink its spicy kick, so you may need to experiment with different brands. Serve with a slice of lime and a straw.
Blueberry Martini
Another classic cocktail – this time enlivened by the addition of blueberries. This Martini has a vodka base – you can either use a shot of off-the-shelf blueberry-infused vodka or stick with your favourite vodka and simply add a half measure of blueberry liqueur. Either way, muddle half a dozen blueberries in the bottom of your shaker, add your spirits, together with a squeeze of lime and a splash of sugar syrup, and shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a trio of blueberries on a cocktail stick.
Berry Caipirinha
This fruity twist on a classic Caipirinha makes a brilliant summer drink bursting with berry flavours. Simply muddle a handful of mixed berries – blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries – with sugar syrup and fresh lime slices in a shaker. Add cachaça – a Brazilian spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice – together with a good handful of ice and shake till ice cold. Strain into a highball glass and top with more ice and a slice of lime. Don’t have any cachaça? Use vodka instead and turn it into a berry Caipiroska.
