The Best Cocktails to Make with Cognac

Cognac’s versatility is underappreciated, and we think it makes one of the best cocktail stars out there. It adds incredible depth of flavour and a welcome splash of oomph to your mixes, a belief that was only cemented by the unforgettable cocktails made and enjoyed in The Three Drinkers in Cognac

The Cognac cocktails might not be as famous as some of the other spirits, but we’re trying to change that so let’s start with some delicious cocktails made in the show!

French Twist

Towards the end of Episode One, Beckie Sullivan shows us how to pull together this wonderful French Twist cocktail, with richness yet lightness, and sweetness yet tang – all in perfect harmony. Aidy, Helena and Eddy compete to make the best garnish, so you can design your own here or just steal one of theirs... maybe just pick the winning one though...

Ingredients
50ml Cognac (we used Courvoisier VSOP)
30ml Dry Curaçao
40ml Sparkling Water (we love Fever-Tree)
10ml fresh lemon juice
20ml simple syrup
Garnish (creative one yourselves!)

Method
Give everything except the sparkling water a good long shake with ice until chilled, then double strain over ice and top up with your soda!

Sidecar

One of the most famous ways to let Cognac shine through is the Sidecar, and that’s exactly what Aidy makes in Episode Three. There’s tangy lemon and sweeter orange but the star of the show is that delicious Cognac.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like triple sec)
10ml fresh lemon

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and pour. To make the cocktail into more of an experience, rub lemon over the glass so that you smell it before you taste it!

Sidecarmalade

Aidy and Maxime didn’t leave it there though! Gloriously simple, the great thing about the Sidecar is how adaptable it is... enter the Sidecarmalade! Using two local additions really gives the cocktail a new lease of life. Verjus (green juice) is basically unfermented grape juice, but with a feel much more like lemons and limes. The tartness is balanced out by delicious sweet marmalade for a cocktail that combines sweet and tangy citrus perfectly.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like triple sec)
10ml verjus
Dollop of marmalade

Method
Brush some marmalade around the inside of the glass for a gorgeous glistening effect. Shake everything with plenty of ice so the marmalade is mixed throughout, then strain and pour!

The Gala Highball

Highballs are one of the best ways to show off a quality spirit because all you have to do is add a mixer and plenty of ice. Ginger ale works wonderfully well, but our choice in Episode One of The Three Drinkers in Cognac was Sicilian Lemonade for more zip and refreshment.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac (we used Courvoisier VSOP)
80ml Sicilian Lemonade
Plenty of ice

Method
Highballs are simple so let’s keep it that way – pour everything over ice and give it a little stir.

French 75

When we say French 75, you’ll probably think of gin, but Cognac was traditionally used more, and it works so well. The Champagne adds great lightness and elegance to this bittersweet blend that is fruity, rich, and refreshing. Nom! Of course, Cava or Crémant work just as well!

Ingredients
30ml Cognac
10ml fresh lemon
10ml syrup
Champagne to top up
Lemon twist (garnish)

Method
Shake everything except your Champagne with ice and strain into your flute. Pour that gorgeous fizz over the top and just ease it into its new surroundings with a gentle non-bubble-breaking stir. Top off with lemon!

The Harvard

A twist on the Manhattan, The Harvard isn’t the most well-known of cocktails, but it is one of the oldest, first appearing in Kappeler’s 19th-century cocktail book. If you like cocktails that pack a punch, look no further. Hearty fruits from the vermouth and Cognac are balanced out by some bright citrus, dashes of bitters and a little sweetness. Delicious.

Ingredients
30ml Cognac
30ml Italian sweet vermouth
10ml syrup
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Orange twist (garnish)

Method
Mix everything with ice and once it’s fully stirred and chilled, strain and garnish! Voila!

There are plenty of other amazing cocktails in the show using other fantastic ingredients from the Cognac region too so if you want even more ideas, or just to see exactly how some of the above cocktails are made, get watching!

The Rise of Moscato: What Is It and Which Should I Try?

What is Moscato?

Moscato is a sweet, floral, and slightly fizzy wine made from the muscat grape, known for its peach and orange flavours and low alcohol content. As you might have guessed, Moscato is just the Italian word for the muscat grape family!

Historically viewed as a dessert wine, Moscato has become incredibly popular with lyrics like ‘still over in Brazil sipping Moscato’ and, ‘lobster and shrimp and a glass of Moscato” rapped by Lil’ Kim and Drake in recent years. The subtle fizz (frizzante), the easy-drinking notes of peach, orange, and nectarine, and often sub 10% ABV means drinkers have flocked to this varietal in their droves making it America’s fastest-growing wine!

Another reason behind the Moscato surge is its food-friendliness. Not only is it a delicious sipper on its own and a fantastic cocktail ingredient, but the sweetness of the wine also pairs with spicy dishes incredibly well. Is there anything this wine cannot do?

Muscat vines are versatile and are grown not just all over Italy but also in France, Spain, and Australia to name a few. There are actually hundreds of varietals within Muscat so it’s a wine that includes many different types, the most popular being Moscato di Asti and whilst most is white, you can also expect to see pinks and reds out there, each with varying levels of fizz, acidity, and sweetness. Let’s get into the best of them…

Which Moscato should I try?

Michele Chiarlo Moscato d'Asti Nivole 2022

The wall of peach, apricot and honey fragrance is intense in this d’Asti, which is a benchmark of the varietal. The bubbles are only slight, the fruit feels fantastically fresh and at only 5%, the light sweetness is quaffable all night long.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £18.73

Hugh Hamilton Goldilocks Moscato 2022

Australia is loving Moscato over the last few years, and this release from the McLaren Vale region is a top example. Previously pink, Goldilocks is back to blonde with one of the freshest and juiciest Moscato wines out there. Ripe orange and fleshy melon feature in this summery delight.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 6.5%
Find here: £13.50

Still Moscato - Bodegas Ochoa Vendimia Tardía Moscatel 2021

This is a Spanish Moscato from the Olite, the wine capital of Navarra. At the boozier end of Moscato, this is a tropical delight that’s punchy with raisins, orange blossom and notes of honey on toast. Definitely one to enjoy with desserts!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £16.95

Pink Moscato - Yellow Tail Pink Moscato

One of the more familiar faces on supermarket shelves, this Australian Rosé style Pink Moscato is a strawberry dream. Raspberry and crunchy green apple round off a sweet and refreshing expression wonderfully. A glass of summer.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 7.5%
Find here: £7.99

Red Moscato (Black Muscat) - Quady Elysium 2021

The Black Muscat varietal is used to make the trendy Red Moscato, and this liquid from Quady in California is a top-notch example. Still bursting with ripe berries and aromatic rose, there is also a vibrant acidity and caramelisation behind the crimson hue, as well as a very delicate touch of spice that isn’t there with paler Moscato.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £14.99

Sweet Moscato - Domaine Boudau Muscat de Rivesaltes 2022

Over to Languedoc-Roussilon in France for Domaine Boudau’s sweet and fruity style. There is a richness and complexity here that goes beyond most Moscato blends, and a silky texture that fills the mouth with sweet tropical citrus - think sun-kissed lemon, pineapple, and lychee. Elderflower, poached pear, and candied orange add layers to what is a mouth-wateringly intense sweet Moscato.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15.5%
Find here: £18.50

If you’re interested in trying new types of wine just like Moscato but don’t know where to start, then how about you let an expert sort it all for you? Try these Wine Subscription Services to get a whole range of different and exciting wines straight to your door.

The Best British Ciders To Try

For a long time, cider lagged behind British icons such as craft beer, gin, and whisky but that is changing. Over the last decade, modern British cider has generated more and more anticipation and interest, and competition is intense.

For those of you that want to explore the flourishing scene, or for those card-carrying cider guzzlers who want to try something different, explore our tried and tested Best British Ciders below, just in time for World Cider Day!

WHAT IS CIDER?

In a nutshell, cider is an alcoholic drink most commonly made using fermented apple juice, so similar to the winemaking process. However, because the fruits used contain less sugar, the alcoholic content normally ends up being lower. It’s been around since the Romans, but in the 13th century it really took off when people found out it was actually safer to drink than the water in many places!

Often more associated with beer, cider is more like wine in that the terroir, temperature, and apples (though not just apples!) create completely unique and varying regional profiles. From dry to sweet and modern to traditional, every cider is different.

It’s worth pointing out that in America, ‘hard cider’ is alcoholic but ‘sweet cider’ is often more of a fruit juice. France, Spain and the USA all produce fantastic ciders, but British Cider is some of the finest so let’s get stuck into the most common kind of cider you’ll find – apple.

APPLE CIDERS

Cornish Orchards Golden Cider

Cornwall produces some mouth-watering ciders, and this is a classical fruit-forward expression. Fantastically fizzy, a variety of bittersweet and dessert apples dominate this crisp and ultra refreshing cider. For a hot summer day, a chilled serve of this is perfection – clean, ridiculously easy-drinking and full of flavour.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £2

Henry Westons Vintage Cider

Since Henry in 1879, generations of the Weston family have been producing cider in the Hereford village of Much Marcle. They scooped a double gold for this Vintage and their cloudy version at the Cider Masters Awards last year, and for another cider, we’ll revisit later! This mellow but full-bodied blend carries an oaky, deep flavour that allows apple to be the star of the show, in a silky smooth medium dry mouthfeel. There’s a reason it’s one of the UK’s most popular ciders and at 8.2%, it really is dangerously moreish.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 8.2%
Find here: £2.10

Burrow Hill Sparkling Cider

Cider has been made at Burrow Hill for centuries and all this experience has led to huge success at the national championships. Behind that gorgeously designed bottle is a medium dry pour revealing red apple skins and autumnal notes of warming cinnamon and zesty orange. At the centre of it of course, is the apple, eleven varietals of which meld for a robust and bittersweet flavour. This also screams food-friendly and would be a great one to crack open at the BBQ. Burrow Hill is also home to the innovative Somerset Cider Brandy which is definitely worth a look and a try too!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 6%
Find here: £3.15

Gospel Green Brut Cider

Hailing from Hampshire, this is a premium pale gold cider made using the same production techniques as Champagne. Double fermentation adds new levels of complexity with tantalising elderflower and brioche supporting the zip of green apples. With fine bubbles, light acidity, and velvety smoothness, this traditionally made expression is a fantastic cider to try if you love sparkling wines and want something new.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 8.4%
Find here: £12.99

FLAVOURED CIDERS

Thatchers Blood Orange Cider

This is a stunning sweeter style of cider flavoured with natural blood orange for sweet, tangy, and floral feel. Sweet apples like Fuji and Gala have been picked to make this bottle of summertime that hits with flavoursome fizz before mellowing into well-balanced vibrance. Some flavoured ciders are sickly sweet, but even at 4% ABV, this gets it just right.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £2.30

Brothers Toffee Apple Cider

Brothers are relatively new kids on the block and have already built a reputation for experimenting with all kinds of curious flavours from Cherry Bakewell to Rhubarb and Custard. Beginning life as a stall at Glastonbury in 1995, drinkers wanted to buy the cider all year round and the rest is history. Their Festival Apple is the go-to cider for the upcoming festival, but it’s their Toffee Apple that we want to shout about. Undeniably, this is a sweet cider that won’t appeal to some, but we say give it a chance. There are still subtle sharp apple notes, but mostly it’s that instantly recognisable toffee apple flavour with vanillery cream soda. A far cry from traditional farmhouse apple cider sure, but for something totally unique as a treat, it’s delicious.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £2.45

Napton Cidery Recipe No5

For such a new producer, Napton has made a big cider splash. What started as a hobby making use of unwanted apples from the nearby village has become a top-class cidery on the national and even international stage. Recognized by the great taste awards and International Cider Challenge, their only fruit cider, blackcurrant, is dreamy. Fresh blackcurrants bring all the sweetness to a super elegant and refined cider.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £3.50

Lilley's Mango Cider

Somerset producer Lilley’s provides a fantastically varied range, but their Mango is a favourite of ours. It’s light and aromatic but with exotic mango sweetness providing great oomph. There is no cloying sweetness and certainly no blandness, just sunny refreshment, and fantastic natural flavour. It’s also a dream to wash down Indian food with.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £2.35

NO/LOW CIDERS

Westons - Stowford Press Low Alcohol 0.5% Cider

One of the highlights of the most recent Cider Masters was the high-standard of low-alcohol entries, and this Stowford Press cider has stunning depth of flavour and character, earning it the Gold medal (the latest in a growing list of gongs by the way). Bittersweet with apple and honey notes, it’s gorgeously smooth and refreshing and makes for the perfect summer sipping alternative.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 0.5%
Find here: £1.80

Prefer cocktails on a sunny day? Check out The Most Popular Cocktails for Summer here! Or how about combining the two with these glorious Summer Cider Cocktails!?

6 Easy Apple Cider Cocktails for Summer

When you think of a cider cocktail, you probably jump to steamy autumn concoctions, but it’s actually perfect for adding gorgeous fruity depth to summer refreshers too! Bourbon, gin, wine... whatever your poison, check out how they marry cider for a moreish mix below!

Apple Cider Bourbon – for the bourbon lovers

A spin on the classic whisky sour, the caramel, vanilla, and spice notes from the bourbon meld with the hearty cider for an apple pie-esque delight. If your bourbon has a touch of sweetness to it, then the tartness of the lemon and cider will offset perfectly but add a little syrup if necessary. Bringing it all together is the egg white for that silky froth and after a sprinkle of cinnamon, voila!

Ingredients
35ml bourbon
80ml apple cider
20ml lemon juice
1 egg white
10ml syrup (optional)
Sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

Method
Shake up bourbon, lemon juice, apple cider, egg white and syrup if you prefer for 20 seconds. Add ice and shake it all over again until it feels chilled. Strain into a serving glass, dust with cinnamon and enjoy.

Cider 75 – for the gin lovers

Taking over effervescent duties from the champagne of the French 75 here is the cider, so make sure you get a bubbly one. Less floral and lighter than the original, this is a fruiter, zipper mix with punchy flavour. A good juniper-forward gin will match the lemon and apple flavours really nicely, or go fruit mad with a berried gin.

Ingredients
50ml gin
20ml lemon juice
80ml apple cider (bubbly)

Method
Ridiculously easy. Shake everything except the cider with a load of ice and fine strain, before topping up with the fizzing cider and gently stirring.  

Cider Spritz – for the sparkling wine lovers

This is a hearty twist on the summer classic, with Aperol’s herbal orange pairing up with a cider of your pairing – though we recommend trying Thatchers Blood Orange. Alongside your sparking wine, this will be sweeter than the original, with two loads of bubbles for complete refreshment. Orange notes, floral notes with a touch of bitterness – this is a summertime winner.

Ingredients
70ml cider (try Thatchers Blood Orange)
70ml sparkling wine (Prosecco or Caava)
20ml Aperol
Apple slices (garnish)
Cinnamon stick (garnish)

Method
All you have to do is combine and stir everything here (gently, don’t kill those bubbles!)

Cider Sangria – for the white wine lovers

This is a lighter, crisper, and less rich sangria compared to the usual mix. With earthy warmth, ginger beer and cider always go well together, and a nice dry acidic white (Sauvignon Blanc would be perfect) cuts through deliciously. A couple of different apples adds layers, lemon and orange brings fresh citrus and every sip is super comforting.

Ingredients (for a jug)
2 different types of diced apple
1 sliced lemon
1 sliced orange
250ml apple cider
250ml ginger beer
1 bottle of white wine

Method
The great thing about sangria is that it’s just combining everything into a big pitcher, so add everything in, give it a good stir and if you like, let it refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Top Tip: Roll the diced fruits in cinnamon sugar and leave overnight before adding!

Cider Margarita – for the tequila lovers

Most apple ciders have an earthiness to them that really sings with the earthy fresh agave of a blanco tequila. With lime and triple sec in the mix, this is one tangy Margarita, but with enough cider sweetness to balance the levels, and heaps of freshness.

 Ingredients
30ml apple cider
50ml tequila (ideally Blanco)
20ml lime juice
20ml Triple Sec
Sugar, salt and cinnamon (for rim)

Method
Rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, and roll it in the sugar, salt, and cinnamon mix. Shake all of your ingredients with ice and strain over the prepared glass and fresh ice. Vamos!

Orchard Martini – for the vodka lovers

Vodka is probably the most pairable spirit and it provides a great backbone to this cider cocktail that combines apple cider with Triple Sec and lemon juice for sweet tartness and intense fruity flavour. If you find that there’s not enough sweetness from your cider and/or vodka, then a little orange juice works a treat to sweeten the deal.

 Ingredients
40ml vodka
25ml Triple Sec
60ml apple cider
20ml lemon juice
15ml orange juice (optional)
Pinch of cinnamon

Method
Super simple, just shake the lot with ice until it feels cold to the touch. You can add the cinnamon in at this stage, or sprinkle over at the end, it’s up to you but it does add a warm touch that works nicely.

Well, if you’ve eyed up one of these stunning cocktails, you’re gonna need the star of the show, so check out our Best British Ciders here!

Emma Watson Releases Wine-Inspired Gin

Whilst this may be the latest in a long line of A-list side hustles to enter the drinks arena, Emma Watson’s new Renais is in fact more familiar ground for her than you might expect.

Launched with brother Alex who boasts ten years in the industry, the two have revisited the region where their father Chris has owned vineyards for decades, Chablis… but not to make wine, to make gin!

The base spirit going into Renais is created from distilled grape skins and lees, many of which are grown on the family’s own vineyard. The botanical run down of Chablis Grand Cru grapes, linden flowers, cubeb berries and acacia honey are certainly striking for a gin, as is the focus on terroir.

At the launch, Alex commented on this process, saying, ‘I wanted to do something that no one had ever done: to capture the essence of a specific terroir, the uniqueness of Chablis, by drawing on the traditions, techniques and ingredients from the land, and embodying those characteristics in a gin.’

Meaning ‘rebirth’, the name Renais also hints at the sustainability behind the gin. Not only are reclaimed grape skins a centre stage botanical, but the stills are solar powered, the packaging is biodegradable mushroom, and any carbon emissions left are offset – something that has been officially certified by Climate Partner.

With expert wine production running through the family, a clear sustainable terroir-led vision, beautiful packaging and crucially, a deliciously modern, floral and vibrant gin, this is a celebrity-fronted drink that’s easy to get behind.

A limited inaugural run has been launched in May, with future batches coming in June priced at £45 for a 700ml bottle, and available direct from the Renais site, where you can also find some rather tasty looking cocktail concoctions made with it.

The Best Sidecar Variations

As is the way with many of the most loved cocktails we enjoy, the origins of the Sidecar are not exactly clear. Named after the motorcycle attachment that was at the peak of its popularity then, it was invented sometime around the first world war, either in London or Paris. Harry’s Bar in Paris claims a soldier arriving in a sidecar invented it there, the Ritz in Paris insists on something similar and on British soil, Pat MacGarry of Buck’s Club in London is often cited as the creator. Who knows?!

What we do know is, it’s a simple mix of cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice that has become a bartender’s essential. This simplicity however also lends itself to some cracking twists, so see which of these Sidecar variations takes your fancy!

The Original – for the Cognac lovers

As the most famous cognac cocktail, you can see Aidy and Helena explore the original Sidecar in the third episode The Three Drinkers in Cognac. Historically, the ‘French school’ of bartending teaches equal parts, whilst the ‘English school’ advises two parts Cognac to one parts Cointreau and lemon. This is all about personal taste and we like plenty of Cognac with a touch less lemon so the former can be the rightful star of the show, but experiment!

Ingredients
30ml cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like cointreau)
10ml fresh lemon

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and pour.

Top Tip: To make the cocktail into more of an experience, rub lemon over the glass so that you smell it before you taste it!

Sidecarmalade – for the marmalade lovers

Thought up by Aidy and Maxime during the same episode mentioned above, this is a twist inspired by local ingredients, but one that you can easily do at home too! Verjus means green juice and is essentially unfermented grape juice but with flavours reminiscent of lemon and lime. This is a little tart so delicious, sweet marmalade is added for a gorgeous balance of sweet and tangy citrus.

Ingredients
30ml cognac (we used Rémy Martin 1738)
20ml orange liqueur (like cointreau)
10ml verjus
Dollop of marmalade

Method
Brush some marmalade around the inside of the glass so it’s glistening and shake everything with plenty of ice so the marmalade is mixed evenly throughout, then simply strain and pour! 

Amaretto Sidecar – for the Amaretto lovers

If you’re a fan of sweeter cocktails then step this way because instead of cognac, we’re using Amaretto here. There’s still a generous splash of lemon juice to offset this, but the nuttiness and indulgence of the wonderful Italian liqueur with the intense orange and vibrant lemon is so flavoursome. Use plenty of ice though!

Ingredients
60ml amaretto
20ml orange liqueur
20ml fresh lemon juice
Optional garnish: orange slice

Method
Shake with plenty of ice, strain and serve. Simple and ready to enjoy.

Bourbon Sidecar – for the Bourbon lovers

Bringing those classic whiskey notes of oak, warm spice, and vanilla, this is a much less fruity and floral number than the original. It’s a deeper, more brooding twist but with the help of a little syrup, the overall feel actually isn’t miles away from the cognac version so it’s definitely worth a try.

Ingredients
50ml Bourbon
25ml Cointreau
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
1tsp simple syrup
caster sugar
orange twist for garnish

Method
Roll the rim of the glass in a little lemon juice so caster sugar sticks to it. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until ice cold. Strain into a glass and garnish with the orange twist - delicious!

Boston Sidecar – for the rum lovers

If you’re not familiar with the Boston Sidecar, then it’s kind of a Daiquri-Sidecar hybrid. Also, Between the Sheets is basically the same drink but with lemon instead of lime so if you’ve ordered one of those and enjoyed it then give this a go. The tropical notes of the rum plays off the rich and fruity cognac nicely, with the lime and triple sec providing vibrance and needed bitterness.

Ingredients
20 ml light rum
20ml brandy
20ml triple sec
15ml lime juice

Method
Sidecars are so simple – just shake everything with ice and strain into a cocktail glass! Garnish with orange or lime if you wish!

Tahona Sidecar – for the tequila lovers

Only the lemon juice remains from the original here, with tequila the show stealer. Refreshingly tart with a little sweetness, this is a bold cocktail buzzing with bright citrus that balances out perfectly.  

Ingredients
45ml tequila (a good reposado works well)
30ml dry/orange curacao
15ml fresh lemon juice
Orange twist (garnish)

Method
Combine everything in a mixing glass and get shaking with ice. Strain into a pre-chilled glass and away you go!

We love our mixology at The Three Drinkers, so see our best riffs on the Old Fashioned here!

Sips and Tips to Help the Bees!

At this point we all know about the importance of bees and we all know that the bee population is decreasing at a scary rate, but what can we do to help? Of course we can plant more wildflowers as a source of food and shelter for bees, or make sure to buy veggies that have not been grown with harmful pesticides. Alternatively, you can always get yourself one of the following drinks and know that your Friday night glass of something is in fact helping the bees!

Beeble Honey Whiskey

Beeble whiskey started with just one bee-hive. The beekeepers didn’t want to waste the last bits of honey still stuck to the frames taken from the hives, so they had the brilliant idea to soak the frames in whiskey, creating a dreamy honey infused spirit! This drink has delightful sweet and floral notes, and is perfect over ice. This is a great company to support, working hard to minimise waste as well as supporting the Bees for Development charity.

Size: 500mL
ABV: 30%
Find here: £32

Gosnells Wildflower Mead

A local London company, Gosnell’s has made a delightful mead (a honey based drink) using the nectar of 45 different indigenous plant species. The result is a light, refreshing low alcohol drink perfect to take along to your summer picnics, or to use as an alternative to tonic water in your next G&T! If you are looking for another excuse to buy a couple of these tins, Gosnell’s is also running a “Pints for Pollinators” campaign where for every pint of Wildflower Mead sold, they will donate 5p to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust!

Size: 440mL
ABV: 4%
Find here: £10 for 4

Spier Wines

Of course there are multiple vineyards actively helping to protect the bees, but for now let’s highlight Spier. This farm from Stellenbosch not only has amazing value-for-money wines, it also is using natural farming wherever possible! By lowering the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides, the bee population is able to flourish (and of course help out with pollination - an essential step in grape growing). We suggest you try the 2020 Pinotage. This wine has lovely smooth tannins, as well as red and black fruit flavours such as dark cherries and juicy ripe plums.

Size: 750mL
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £10.95

Afon Mêl

Another great mead option, this time hand-crafted in Wales! All honey is sourced from the Afon Mêl farm, where the bees' habitat is the number one priority. Try the award-winning Heather Mead. This is a beautiful golden drink with notes of caramel and of course - heather.

Size: 750mL
ABV: 13%
Find here: £28

Beesou Honey Aperitif

Perhaps this slightly different bee-interpretation might tickle your fancy? This natural bitter aperitif made with British honey as well as cinchona bark, pink grapefruit and bitter orange. This is the perfect addition to your bar cart for the summer. Think of all the bee-autiful cocktail variations (our personal favourite is of course the beegroni).

Size: 13%
ABV: 750mL
Find here: £29.99

Warner’s Honeybee Gin

Warner’s distillery is another classic British distillery doing their part in helping our yellow and black friends. The distillery has even hired their own personal beekeeper for the farm to make sure that the bees are happy and healthy. The Honeybee gin has won multiple awards, and you sure can taste it! This gorgeous gin has notes of elderflower, rose and chamomile with a lovely sweet note from the honey. 

Size: 750mL
ABV: 40%
Find here: £38

The Best Cosmopolitan Variations

The Cosmo! Yet again, its origin story is as blurry as a whole night drinking them. Many different bartenders have claimed it as their own, most notably Toby Cecchini in 80s New York bar The Odeon.

More famously though, Sex & The City were the ones to put it on the map, with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda never going too long without one. As we mentioned in our Iconic Cocktails from TV & Film breakdown, there are even forums dedicated to analysing the different Cosmos in the films!

The silver screen fired the Cosmopolitan to cocktail stardom and although it’s still popular, it’s ordered less and less these days. What better time then, to remind you of how great it is and to introduce you to some twists with these brilliant Cosmopolitan Variations!?

The Original – for the vodka lovers

Whenever you embark on a mixology tangent, it’s best to nail down the original first, right? A classic Cosmo packs a sweet and tangy punch, but one that feels fresh and clean rather than cloying or slush-puppy-ish in any way.

Ingredients
45ml (1.5oz) quality vodka (you could use citrus flavour)
15ml (0.5oz) Triple Sec
30ml (1oz) cranberry juice
A dash of lime
Garnish: orange zest

Method
Shake up good vodka with triple sec, cranberry juice, a handful of ice, and a dash of lime juice for added zip. Get your shake on, and then pour the mix into a martini glass with orange zest for the quintessential Cosmo experience! 

Cosmobellini – for the wine lovers

Fairly self-explanatory, this is a hybrid of the original Cosmo and the Bellini. Transforming into a refreshing brunch cocktail, this is a mellower, softer experience with less intense tang, and more gentle aromatics and sweetness. A bit of fizz always makes a nice switch-up.

Ingredients
30ml (1oz) vodka
10ml (0.3oz) triple sec/Cointreau
15ml (0.5oz) cranberry juice
10ml (0.3oz) white peach puree
A dash of lime
30ml (1oz) Prosecco

Method
A lot of shaking here to mix everything, so just add all ingredients except the Prosecco, strain into a chilled flute and top up with your bubbles to serve. Voila! 

The French Cosmopolitan – for the cognac lovers

We love Grand Marnier at The Three Drinkers, and swapping out the orange liqueur for it makes so much sense. Whilst it is still half orange (all be it bitter orange), the other half is cognac which adds a smooth richness and a different kind of fruitiness.

Ingredients
45ml (1.5oz) vodka
20ml (2/3oz) Grand Marnier
25ml (5.6oz) cranberry juice
A dash of lime
A dash of grenadine 
Garnish: orange zest

Method
Shake everything with a generous helping of ice until it feels cold to the touch, then strain. The garnish is up to you as any citrus goes, but we think some orange makes the most sense!

Strawberry Cosmo – for the strawberry lovers

This is a really simple twist on the original, but if you just want to try something only a little different it’s perfect. Fresh, muddled strawberries take the place of cranberry juice for a less tangy, more sweet fruity freshness.  

Ingredients
45ml (1.5oz) vodka (citrus flavour works well)
15ml (0.5oz) Triple Sec
30ml (1oz) muddled strawberries
A dash of lime
Garnish: strawberry

Method
Muddle sweet strawberries and shake with vodka, triple sec, fresh lime, and a load of ice. Double strain into a chilled glass and add a sliced strawberry garnish to finish.

Citrus Cosmo – for the citrus lovers

The Citrus Cosmo is the fruitiest variation, with serious zip and tang. There are tonnes of good lemon or lime-flavoured vodkas out there (check out our Best Flavoured Vodka), and whichever you pick, just add the opposite for the juice e.g. using lime vodka? Use fresh lemon juice below. Served with tonnes of ice, this is a lively citrus-forward take on the original that’s delicious over summer.

 Ingredients
45ml (1.5oz) lemon/lime vodka (like Masons Citrus)
15ml (0.5oz) cranberry juice
20ml (2/3oz) fresh orange juice
20ml (2/3oz) fresh lemon/lime juice
Dash of syrup (optional)

Method
All the hard work is done squeezing the fruits here – once that’s done, simply shake it all with ice, strain and pour! If you want it a little sweeter, add a dash of syrup.

ELDERFLOWER Cosmo – for aromatic lovers

With no cranberry or orange liqueur, this aromatic blend may be deemed heresy by the traditionalists, but cocktails are about experimentation! It’s wonderfully fragrant and floral with completely different notes to a usual Cosmo. It’s fresh, slightly tropical, and super refreshing – give it a go!

Ingredients
45ml (1.5oz) vodka (try Shanty Seaweed)
20ml (2/3oz) elderflower liqueur
20ml (2/3oz) pineapple juice
Dash of lemon
Dash of rose water (optional)
Garnish: basil

Method
Shake, shake, shake with ice, strain, and serve over large ice cubes and sip in the sun.

Vodka will always be centre stage in a Cosmo so the easiest way to mix it up is to embrace one of the many amazing, flavoured vodkas available right now!