August 19, 2014

Summer Drinks Festival

A long, hot summer makes for thirsty work and where cheaper to stock up on premium spirits than at the airport where top branded bottles come duty free? After the holidays and now that we're moving late into the season, there's no better reason than ever to bring a taste of summer inspiration home with you.

World Duty Free has teamed up with leading mixologist, Charlie McCarthy, to create and blend some of the season's best flavours in a month-long campaign that has seen some of my favourite bloggers recreating their very own.

Below you'll find the line up and I'm sure you'll stick around to tell me which one tickles your fancy?
I've a good mind to try them all.

First up, we have the Queen's Blush from Tom at Daydream in Blue with vodka, strawberry and basil making an appearance... A sweet and sour sip, I'm sure.

Summer Drinks Festival with World Duty Free - Vodka



The charming, Fifi McGee, tried her hand at a Hendrick's Floradora to warm her new home with friends... She confesses that she can't remember much except for loving the rose petal and raspberry hues.

Summer Drinks Festival with World Duty Free - Gin

 While Laura at Heroine in Heels took to the park with friends to get her shake on with a Pink 76...

Summer Drinks Festival with World Duty Free - Vodka & Cointreau

The lovely Erica got a shakin' at home in her kitchen with pals -expertly mixing cointreau with champagne, Belvedere vodka and pomegranate juice.


Selena from Selena the Places went on a long walk to the heath with her loved one and basked in the sunshine, suitably supping an English Garden cocktail complete with gin, apple juice and a touch of elderflower.

Summer Drinks Festival with World Duty Free - Gin and Elderflower

Monica, aka The Travel Hack, threw a big party for her Australian pal and put all hands on deck to recreate the Old Cuban and a classic mojito. Apparently there were many more pictures throughout the night - I think she ought to do an outtake post, don't you?


Certainly the most intriguing of the Summer Drinks Festival has to be La Tomatina, lovingly crafted by Lucy at Supergolden Bakes. Inspired by a festival where a hoard of Spaniards lob tomatoes at one another, it shouts SUMMER! and sunkissed flavours in a glass and is, I imagine, the perfect Sunday brunch aperitif (read 'hair of the dog').

World Duty Free Summer Drinks Festival - Tomato
Of course, Samantha from Thoroughly English took to the rooftop of her South London pad to take in the views now she lives in the capital and chose the Peachy Keen - sweet, fruity flavours with the warm undercurrent kiss of Southern Comfort to complement the Turner-esque summer skies. 
World Duty Free Summer Drinks Festival - Southern Comfort
Helen at the Crazy Kitchen found herself hot and flustered baking back in July and so squirreled away to a peaceful corner of her garden to enjoy the taste of an Aperol Spritz in the fading light of the evening- just as she might during an Italian sunset where this cocktail is very popular.
Summer Drinks Festival
I even found myself getting in on the action with a bottle of aged golden Bacardi and a cocktail shaker. I'd forgotten how enjoyable cocktails can be as part of a long Sunday lunch with my mother and sister, who kept stealing my masterpiece before I could get a good pic! I'm also lucky enough to cultivate a huge hierba buena (spearmint) plant in my garden, which is vital for an authentic rum cocktail and speaks of warmer climes. 
Summer Drinks Festival - Rum
It's been a tough decision but next time, I'll be trying my hand at La Tomatina cocktail, closely following the You Tube cocktail tutorial playlist expertly provided by World Duty Free below. For me, the earthy taste of sun-ripened tomatoes perfectly captures a balmy British summer - just perfect in the rain and shine. 

What about you? Which of the above would be your summer poison?

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