THE COOL CLUB
There is nothing more satisfying than watching the dark gloomy nights transition to light and the occasional (emphasis on occasional) reminder that Summer is almost here when you’re woken by glorious sunshine in the United Kingdom. The season of beer gardens, BBQs, tennis and picnic parties, where we all come out of hibernation and learn to be social again after our only communication being with our dog or the cast members of a binge-worthy drama. If like many across the UK, you feel refreshed, energised, and in an overall better headspace following cutting down on drinking post-Christmas, you may find you are part of a sober-curious movement that has drastically risen across the nation. This feeling paired with the fact we are all having to cut down on our social life to prioritise our cost of living may make you feel like this summer can’t be as fun, but what If we told you that you were wrong? Picnics are a great sunshine activity which can be a great day on a budget and a lot less pressure when taking it easy. If it sounds like a bit of you, we’ve put all our favourite low and no alcohol to make your picnic planning that little bit easier.
Low Alcohol Elderflower Rose Spritzer
We’re all aware of our wine spritzers and Italian Spritz’ are great way of cutting down on our ABV percentage but opting for a delicious Elderflower Rose Spritz on a summer’s daytime picnic hits different. The combination of the elderflower, rose, and bitters, creates a perfect super-floral low-alcohol alternative with an extra punch – and of course, served with a handful of Polar Cube ice! Not only this but it is the perfect picnic tipple because it is super easy to make whilst outside and amongst nature as it doesn’t require a cocktail shaker. You can pre-make the cocktail and simply transport it in large sealable bottles, but it is just as easy and quick to prepare on the picnic blanket. All you need is a cooling bag stocked with some portable glasses, a bag of Polar Cube ice, and a bottle of Rose and St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur alongside a large bottle of soda and some optional Peychaud bitters. Simply add the Polar Cube ice to the glasses, pour over the Rose and St. Germain then top with soda and bitters, garnish with Thyme and lemon wedges if feeling fancy!
Ingredients
X 1 handful of Polar Cube ice
X 25ml Rose Wine
X 8ml St Germaine
Dash Peychaud’s Bitters
Top with: Soda
Garnish with: Lemon and Thyme
Moscow Mule Mocktail
When it comes to mocktail alternatives, it can sometimes be difficult to recreate the same wow factor original cocktails achieve. Often, we should just leave a good thing alone (like Mean Girls). Yet, low and behold – the Moscow Mule Mocktail. Who yes, we’re going to say it, is just as tasty as the original and comes without the dreaded hangover. Not only this but it is super easy to batch-make in transportable sealable bottles for a Picnic. All you need is Polar Cube ice, fresh lime juice, pear syrup, and ginger beer to create the Moscow Mule mocktail, with some additional cherries and oranges for garnish. Sweet and sour with an added kick from the ginger beer, it gives you all you need for a sober summer picnic without feeling left out. First, pour pear syrup and lime juice into a Collins glass and stir to combine before filling with Polar Cube ice. Next top with ginger beer and garnish with an orange wheel and a cherry, enjoy!
Ingredients
x juice of 1/2 a lime
x 1 handful Polar Cube ice
Top up: ginger beer
Garnish: an orange wheel & a cherry
Low Alcohol Lillet Strawberry Spritz
Nothing says summer than the taste of sweet strawberries in a delicious cocktail but if you’re wondering how to achieve this in a low-ABV cocktail then the Lillet Strawberry Spritz is the perfect tipple for you. Again, another super easy cocktail to prepare before or during your summer picnic. All you need is a bag of Polar Cube ice, a bottle of Lillet Blanc, a punnet of strawberries, thyme, and prosecco. To create, simply add the Lillet Blanc, strawberries and thyme to the glass before filling it with Polar Cube ice. Top with Prosecco, which can be combined with soda to reduce alcohol consumption further then garnish with a strawberry and spring of thyme. Every sip is like a taste of summer, and we won’t be told otherwise
Ingredients
x 1 handful of Polar Cube ice
x 85ml Lillet Blanc
x 2 strawberries (sliced)
x 3 sprigs of thyme
x 150ml Prosecco
Garnish: a sprig of thyme and a strawberry
Sea Breeze Mocktail
If we know anything, it’s that any mocktail with the name breeze in is going to go down well in the summer sunshine, but a breezy cocktail that is easy to batch Is going to go down even better at a summer picnic. Often the downside of mocktails is that the juice and sugar contents are over-powering to substitute alcohol. Well, if you prefer less sweet cocktails then this is the perfect mocktail alternative for you. The Sea Breeze mocktail is light and refreshing without being overly sweet. What’s more, if you want to try some alcohol-free spirits then the Sea Breeze cocktail is where to start. This mocktail is ever so slightly more complex so we recommend batching up at home in a transportable sealable bottle to make your picnic more relaxed and enjoyable. To create, fill a cocktail shaker with Party Ice and pour in the Pentire Adrift, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice before shaking to combine and decant, repeat this until you have enough mocktail for your summer picnic. We recommend taking short glasses to your picnic and serving over Super Cubes and garnishing with lime.
Ingredients
x 1 handful of Party Ice
x 50 ml Pentire Adrift (Non-alcoholic Gin)
x 50 ml Grapefruit Juice
x 100 ml Cranberry Juice
x 2 Super Cubes
x 1 slice Lime to garnish
Low Alcohol Pimm’s Iced Tea Sharer
This one may seem like it is an acquired taste, but we promise it will go down a treat and can be prepared up to a day ahead of your summer picnic. To begin, grab a large jug and place four tea bags and mint in before pouring in 1.2 litres of boiling water from the kettle and leaving to infuse for ten minutes. Next, remove the tea bags and stir in sugar. Once cool remove the mint and add the orange juice, lemon juice and Pimm’s before ensuring to chill thoroughly in a transportable sealed bottle for your picnic, best served over Polar Cube ice with strawberries!
Ingredients
x 1 bag of Polar Cube Ice
x 4 tea bags
x 20g mint leaves
x 100g caster sugar
x juice 2 large oranges, plus slices to serve
x juice 2 lemons, plus slices to serve
x 400ml Pimm’s No 1
Garnish: Strawberries and Mint
