In weather as warm as today, we cannot stress enough the importance of staying cool and hydrated—hence why we’ve put together a few beverages to help quench your thirst.
First up, vino! Or a Spanish Rosé wine to be precise. Marques de Alarcon Rosado (€5) from Spain’s central La Mancha region is perfect on its own or with salads, chicken or fish. Although 12 percent alcohol, it’s well balanced with ripe, fruity flavours that are only delightful for the day that’s in it.
MONT beer (€2.50/33cl)
I’m no die hard beer fan—but this is one I could happily sip away at. Perhaps it’s the pure Wicklow mountain water they used to brew it or it’s perfectly balanced citrus notes along with a crisp, dry finish. This little Pilsner does the trick!
Strawberry Lemonade
It looks pretty and it tastes pretty good too! You’ll need 4 lemons, a half punnet of strawberries, 250g sugar and 200g water. Pop the sugar into a saucepan with the 200g of water and slowly bring to the boil stirring continuously until the sugar has dissolved. Juice all your fruit and add it to the freshly made sugar syrup after it has cooled down for a few mins. Pop it all into a jug and add some ice—tah-dah!
A Ginger and Lemon health kick
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as these. It’s not exactly the go-to drink if it’s great taste you’re after but refreshing is what this baby is all about. As well as an immune system booster, this revitalising berverage will wake you up on the spot. All you need is the juice of half a lemon, the juice from a piece of ginger (about half the size of your thumb) and mix together. If it’s too strong for you, a drop of honey will do just the trick.
A good old G&T never fails. We know you’re perfectly adept when it comes to making the perfect concoction for this popular drink… just don’t forget the glorious lime. So key.
Shake up a minty Mojito these evening too for an invigorating boost. The Cuban highball, made with white rum (Bacardi), fresh mint leaves, a dash of soda water, some fresh lime and a spoon of caster sugar may be just the thing to satisfy your thirst.
Richmount Elderflower Cordial (€7) is made from freshly picked fragrant elderflowers growing in Longford. The family run business has done a spectacular job in creating a flawless drink which you can dilute with more water to reduce it’s sugary taste or mix with sparkiling water for an extra refreshing drink.
Why not go all out, imagine you’re on the beach, hear those ocean waves while you sip on a Piña Colada. According to Jamie Oliver’s drinks tube, you’ll need 50ml pineapple juice, 50ml Bacardi Carta Blanco, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon coconut cream and six to seven chunks of pineapple. Pop all of these into a blender until smooth and then pour into a frozen glass. Add a pineapple triangle for the ‘extra summer vibes’ effect, and enjoy.
