The perfect drinks to accompany a picnic in the park

Whether you are partying up with friends in the park or attending a family garden gathering, it’s always best not to turn up empty-handed. Even if someone else is manning the barbecue or providing the mezze spread, no al fresco meal or meetup is complete without a refreshing drink. We have put together a list of drinks to enjoy in the sun, from the classiest of non-alcoholic iced-tea and shareable spritzes to canned gin- and vodka-based serves: any occasion is covered.

Saicho teas

While tea has long been enjoyed chilled, it has traditionally been sugary sweet ice teas that have been the norm. In contrast, offering complex and refreshing alternatives to alcoholic drinks, sparkling teas such as Saicho Teas are bringing something entirely new to try this Summer. Saicho comes in three varieties – Jasmine, Darjeeling and Hojicha – all of which are a great non-alcoholic alternative to sparkling wines. Cold-brewed for 24hours to extract the most delicate and complex flavours from the tea leaves, Saicho teas are then finely balanced with a hint of sweetness and a dash of acidity. As a finishing touch, sparkling the tea enhances the flavour and creates an effervescent drink that can be enjoyed simply chilled or as part of a spritz style cocktail. Purchase a bottle here for just £7.99.

Kopparberg cans

For single serves, you can’t go wrong with the extensive collection from Kopparberg. Their Hard Seltzer range is bold, fruity and perfect for the summer, coming in three flavours: Passionfruit, Black Cherry and Mixed Berry. These are a lighter alternative to you classic canned cocktails, only 93 calories per drink, carb and gluten-free – and even vegan friendly. Equally refreshing to enjoy in the park or alongside a picnic is the Passionfruit and Orange Cider, an exotic take on a pub favourite. Lastly, Kopparberg now boasts three delicious flavoured gins for G&T lovers. Choose from Passionfruit and Orange; Strawberry and Lime; and Mixed Fruit. 

Wilfred’s non-alcoholic aperitif

Wilfred’s refreshing aperitif uses only naturally bittersweet ingredients, to conjure all the crisp, citrussy and refreshing flavours of a spritz, without any alcohol. Designed to be served simply with tonic water, this alcohol-free aperitif is made from a blend of zesty bitter orange, herbal notes of rosemary, rhubarb and just a hint of clove. While the cocktail originates from Italy, it is a spritz that Londoners yearn for when the first inkling of sunshine graces our gardens, rooftops and terraces. Wilfred’s is the go-to drink of the season for drinkers and non-drinkers alike, with a host of British ingredients and completely no alcohol. The bittersweet Wilfred’s spritz gently effervescing can transport drinkers to holidays missed, or soothe the parched during sunshine-filled days in parks, picnics and early evening drinks. Purchase a bottle here for just £18.

Swift’s Park Drop

The award-winning team at cocktail bar Swift Shoreditch have launched Park Drop, a bottled cocktail delivery service for east London’s most popular parks. The bottled cocktails, which launched last year in response to lockdown, will be delivered within one hour, chilled and ready to drink to wherever people are situated using the location app, what3words. Swift’s Park Drop will deliver to picnic-goers in Victoria Park, London Fields or Haggerston Park. Once the guests have found a spot to hang out they can open the what3words app, find the three words for their three-metre-square location, and use them when ordering on the Swift’s Park Drop website page here. Swift Park Drop will be offering a refreshing selection of the bar’s popular serves; Spicy Margarita, Smoky Coconut Old Fashioned; Elderflower Gimlet; and Rhubard and Custard Milk Punch.

Liberation Cocktails

Whether it’s a stroll with a significant other, a picnic with the gang, backyard barbecues or garden parties with your favourite six, Liberation Cocktails lets you take it outside without compromising on taste or quality. For a reunion to remember, the impressive five-litre expertly blended cocktail party kegs each hold 33 mixologist grade cocktails and last over a month once tapped – the garden party gift that keeps on giving! Perfect to have to hand for all your al fresco entertaining needs, the party kegs are priced at just £99 and are available in three delicious flavours. The pre-mixed serves are also available in 75cl bottles, perfect for those looking for something easy to carry and enjoy on the move. Available in mixed packs of six and 12 or a case of 24, each provides a generous perfect serve anywhere, anytime. All products can be ordered online here, with free delivery on orders over £40.

6 O’Clock ready-to-drink cans

Artisanal British gin maker 6 O’Clock Gin’s ready to drink range is filled with fruity flavours including Exotic Orange; Damson and Ginger; and a light alternative to their classic London Dry and tonic. The canned cocktail range has been expertly crafted using the strikingly smooth 6 O’Clock Gin, which is then precisely balanced with rich and revitalising seasonal fruits to create a refreshing range of gin combinations. The rich and velvety smooth Damson Gin is kicked up a notch with flashes of ginger, citrus and spice. Designed with a purist gin drinker in mind, the “Light” variety combines the classic London Dry distillate with a light premium tonic. For those looking for something zestier, the Exotic Orange Gin and Tonic provides a tangy, refreshing mixer-style drink. These quintessential British summer tipples are the perfect accompaniment to any picnics or barbeques. Purchase a case here.

Grey Goose Cocktails to go

In partnership with select bars across the UK – starting with London Cocktail Club in Clapham – Grey Goose is bringing delicious, bar-quality drinks to cocktail fans across the UK, made and canned on the spot by your local bartender and ready to sip in the park, on the move, or at home. These limited-edition cocktails are available exclusively at Clapham’s London Cocktail Club for £7.50 for a single drink and two for £10 as part of a happy hour deal. What’s more, those ordering four cocktails will receive a handy carry case – ideal for impressing friends and family at your next alfresco outing. Choose from three seasonal serves – the Grey Goose Le Fizz, Grey Goose Tropical or Grey Goose Berry – and simply collect directly from the window hatch at London Cocktail Club Clapham Common. 

The editorial unit