When you’re sick of downing bucket loads of water; tired of the same old cocktails and bored of the regular pint at the end of the day, give your summer drinks a bit of a twist. Here’s my day in drinks - pretty simple, but it keeps me hydrated...
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
I wake up pretty early, 5am on a regular day. Although my morning always starts with a glass of water, the star of the morning is a Vietnamese Iced Coffee. My love for this brew came about a couple of years ago when a friend presented me with a quirky coffee maker, an unbelievably incredible Vietnamese coffee (brought over from Vietnam) and a recipe. The original recipe calls for condensed milk; even though it tastes amazing - it’s more of a treat than an everyday thing. I replace it with some sort of nut milk. This is a real pick me up.
Organic Peppermint Iced Tea
It’s 8:30; time for a refresher. My cupboards are always full of organic teas: matcha green, peppermint and earl grey are by far the best sellers in the house. During the summer, a standard cup of tea doesn’t really do much to hydrate you but letting it cool, pouring it over a tall glass of ice and topping it up with cold water does. I go for peppermint as it has an invigorating sensation; a bit of a booster to get ready for those long meetings!
Cucumber, Mint and Lemon Infused Water
This bad boy doesn’t really have a designated time - it’s more of an all day pleaser. Infusing water is a great way to add some flavour to your H2O; helping your kids get their litres up for the day. A simple solution to beat dehydration - slice a cucumber (not too thin), slice a lemon or lime and cut a few sprigs of mint (giving it a good rinse, especially if it’s not organic). Bung in a jug and top with fresh water. You can go for sparkling too.
Farsons Shandy
Alcohol is not a big part of my life. I’m happy to stay away from it, but sometimes you just want something refreshing but not water, something alcoholic but not too much. Shandy! A funny drink that probably gets you a bit of judgement when ordered, but it’s so soothing. Smooth, light and great in the evening, or even at a light lunch.
Campari Soda
There's nothing quite like a refreshing bitter drink to keep your senses vibrant. I like my Campari with soda water, but there are various ways of pouring this easy mix; give Kinnie, Tonic Water or Orange Juice a try. I'll stick to the classic - keep things simple.
7Up Float
Retro alert - this was a household favourite when I was growing up. Vanilla ice-cream topped with 7Up. The bubbles would cluster around the ice-cream and create a strange yet addictive taste that as a kid I found entirely fascinating. As a big kid now, I seldom prepare this drink; but reliving the nostalgia for the purposes of this list (ahem, excuse) was worth another sip.
Everyone has their favourite go-to drink for the summer, and whether it’s alcoholic or not, you’ve got to keep the drinking going when on the islands. What refreshing drinks wet your whistle?