Seasonal Sips: Cocktails to Make the Most of Fresh Seasonal Produce 

Arguably, one of the best aspects of the warmer weather beginning to creep in is the endless opportunities to experiment with cocktails. After all, what goes better with a balmy afternoon with friends, than a crisp and refreshing spring cocktail? However, are there any ways to make your favourite cocktails in healthier, more environmentally-conscious manners? 

With this in mind, the experts at The Bottle Club have compiled a list of the most searched-for spring cocktails, utilising seasonal vegetables (we know this sounds strange, but trust us) and fruits you may have lying around in your fridge - allowing you to avoid waste, while getting some of your five a day. After collecting some of the best recipes we could find, the Seasonal Sips Report was created. 

Cocktails that make the most of UK spring seasonal produce

 

There are more ways than you’d imagine to incorporate fresh fruit and vegetables into your cocktails - that don’t just involve making what is, essentially, an alcoholic green smoothie. For example, cucumbers have been a cocktail staple for centuries, either added straight into the drink or placed on the rim as a decoration. Olives are also an essential element of martinis, and you can’t make a Bloody Mary without tomato juice. 

Opting for more fruit and veg-heavy cocktails this spring will make it easier for you to shop locally, allowing you to save money while also supporting smaller businesses. Seasonal fruit and veg are guaranteed to be tastier, as they will more than likely have been grown close to home, without having to travel far. 

As well as this, you can be safe in the knowledge that your produce has not been sprayed with pesticides and preservatives, as it will be more likely to be organic. It could also be richer in nutrients if it has been grown locally, as it has not needed to be frozen. With this in mind, we have shared five recipes that incorporate spring seasonal ingredients:

1. Apricot Martini - Lemon Vodka, Apricot Liqueur, Apricot Nectar, Lime Juice. 

This cocktail is perfect for people who are fans of sweet, syrupy drinks - and it also packs a punch when it comes to having a high quantity of fresh fruit. Apricots are a less common ingredient when it comes to alcoholic beverages, but they can be stored in the fridge and can last up to a week, meaning they are unlikely to go bad and have to be thrown away. 

2. Nectarine Mojitos - Necatarine, Lime, Mint, Rum, Club Soda.

Ideal for those who prefer their drinks to be sharp and sour, this classic mojito is the perfect addition to any spring or summer day, allowing you to indulge in its fruitiness as you bask in the sun. Nectarines are a great source of vitamins A, C, and fibre, as well as being packed with antioxidants.

3. Grapefruit Paloma - Tequila, Lime Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Soda Water.

This is another cocktail brimming with interestingly tangy flavours, with the addition of tequila offering a spicy, agave element. Grapefruits come into season from November to June, making them easy for you to get your hands on throughout the spring months. The sour fruit is also rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.

4. Rhubarb Sour - Gin, Rhubarb, Lemon Juice, Egg White.

Another vegetable that pops up just in time for spring is rhubarb. Commonly grown in West Yorkshire, rhubarb can be picked up very locally, allowing you to effortlessly create this sweet yet tart cocktail. Rhubarb is packed with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, while locally-sourced eggs are high in protein and vitamin D. 

5. Carrot Margarita - Carrot Juice, Tequila, Liquor, Lime Juice.

Finally, we have the seasonal sensation that is the carrot margarita. Pomegranates are boosted by vitamin A, while limes are rich in vitamin C, providing you with some nutrients, as well as enjoyment.

Why are certain cocktails more popular depending on the season?

 

Tim Martin-Harvey, our resident expert, weighed in on the matter:

“There are many factors that influence our drinking habits, but the sun being out has to be one of the most inspiring. It is no secret that Brits love to congregate in a beer garden as soon as the smallest hint of sun breaks through the clouds, with many admitting that the departure of the colder weather makes us crave a cocktail more than usual. 

“However, while the chillier months may have us reaching for beverages with warming, comforting properties, such as chocolate, caramel ad eggnog, the summer calls for something refreshing and light - which is where fresh fruit comes in. As well as this, lots of people use up their annual leave in the spring and summer, reserving it for when it is finally warm enough to sit outside with friends and family. 

“Festival season kicking in is also something that encourages people to get creative with their fruity cocktails. After all, nothing says ‘summer’ more than sprawling out on a picnic blanket with friends as your favourite band plays, putting your cocktail-making skills to the test. As well as this, fresh fruit and veg bought from a local market is the perfect way to stock up on ingredients without breaking the bank, leaving you with more disposable income to spend on, well, more festival tickets.

“It is also no secret that the end of the colder months usually comes hand in hand with attempting to eat healthier and stick to New Year’s Resolutions. This can, for some people, mean trying to incorporate more fresh fruit and vegetables into their diet. With the cost of living crisis continuing to encourage people to avoid food waste as often as possible, making cocktails with fruit and veg can be a great way of using up leftover salad ingredients.”

The most popular spring cocktail recipes revealed

 

To determine the country's favourite spring cocktails, we analysed Google search volume data from January to current on the most searched recipes. Did your favourite drink make the cut? 

With a 9900% increase in searches in the lead-up to spring, the Mint Julep is the most popular cocktail recipe of the season. The recipe is really simple to make and only requires a handful of ingredients, including sugar, mint, bourbon and crushed ice. The blend of mint and bourbon make for a refreshing cocktail, perfect for barbeque season, and garden parties. 

Unsurprisingly, the classic Gin & Tonic came in second place, with a 9600% increase in searches on Google. Over on TikTok, the recipe had amassed more than 71 million hashtags, which shows just how popular the simplistic cocktail really is. It’s light and refreshing and can be tweaked for personal taste. 

Hailing from South America, the Pisco Sour is a tart but flavourful cocktail, perfect for spring. Since January demand for the Peruvian cocktail has increased by 8700%, making it the third most popular cocktail of the season. The recipe was created back in 1920, by American bar owner Victor Morris, as he took inspiration from the classic whiskey sour cocktail recipe. 

Cocktails that make the most of summer seasonal produce

 

While spring is usually the perfect time to indulge in fruity cocktails, summer is, if possible, even better. As previous summers in the UK have involved intense heatwaves for days on end, it is difficult to not get excited for what is to come in 2023 - and because the weather is definitely a reason to celebrate, many people are going to be reaching for delicious summer cocktails. However, do the predicted trends for summer drinks differ that drastically from that of spring? And if so, what causes the trends to shift?

As many of us are guilty of scrolling through social media platforms for hours on end, it is no surprise that many drinks trends are driven by viral tipples. For example, after the launch of HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’, non-binary Emma D’Arcy sent the internet into a frenzy after revealing their favourite alcoholic beverage was a negroni sbagliato with prosecco. The video itself received a staggering 3.9m views on HBO’s TikTok account, much to the dismay of bartenders everywhere.

A simple search for ‘summer cocktails’ will inundate your TikTok feed with an array of brightly-coloured tipples - and many of them are embracing the trend of loading their drinks with fruit, vegetable garnishes or herby sprigs. A recent video by join_jules, which received over 80k views, detailed how to make a carrot margarita - highly seasonal for summer, as they are harvested in the UK from June to August. 

Another video by secret.london shared Viajante 87 bar’s interpretation of fermented vegetable cocktails, highlighting how easily leftover veggies can be utilised in fun and creative ways. Xo.redroses received over 99k views on their video showcasing how to make a ‘cucumber cocktail’, adding a concoction of cucumber, chopped onion, tomato juice and avocado to a glass to create a refreshing, nutritional beverage. 

With all of this in mind, Tim Martin-Harvey, our resident expert at The Bottle Club, has compiled a list of summer cocktail recipes that incorporate seasonal ingredients: 

1. Strawberry Margarita - Strawberries, Tequila, Lime Juice, Triple Sec. 

Strawberries are seasonal during the summer months in the UK, making it easy to get your hands on a fresh, perfectly ripe punnet from most local markets. As well as this, they are extremely high in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants - and, most importantly, taste absolutely delicious. 

2. Blueberry Mojito - Blueberries, Lime Juice, Mint, White Rum, Club Soda.

Blueberries are in their peak season from mid-June to mid-August, once again making them highly accessible to people who are eager to add a vibrant, fruity element to their cocktails this summer. This blend would be ideal for lovers of sweet yet sharp flavours, as the sweetness of white rum would create a pleasant juxtaposition against the sourness of the lime juice. 

3. Watermelon Spritz - Vodka, Sparkling Wine, Watermelon, Simple Syrup.

Head to your local markets in the late spring to summer months for watermelons, as this is when they are most seasonal in the UK. As well as being sweet and juicy, watermelons are also boosted by lycopene and a host of amino acids, allowing them to add an infusion of nutrients to your cocktails this summer. 

4. Bloody Mary - Vodka, Tomato Juice, Lemon Juice, Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco.

Bloody Marys have been a classic addition to cocktail menus for decades, offering an unusually decadent explosion of flavour that tantalises your tastebuds. Tomato juice, while not for everyone, is infused with potassium and vitamin C, and tomatoes are seasonal throughout the UK during the summer months. 

5. Chilli Martini - Chilli, Simple Syrup, Lime Juice, Pineapple Juice.

Finally, we have a sweet and spicy beverage, complemented by a sugary infusion of pineapple juice. Summer-ripening chilli is in season throughout August and September and is packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

Despite all of these fruits and vegetables being extremely healthy in their own ways, it is worth noting that the addition of alcohol to these drinks means that they cannot be classified as nutritious!

Summer 2023 alcohol trends report 

 

While fruit and vegetables are necessary additions to any cocktail, for some, the main character is the inclusion of alcohol. Due to this, we have crunched the numbers when it comes to the hottest alcoholic beverages of summer 2023, allowing you to stay ahead of the upcoming cocktail trends. 

First up was rosé wine, which received an increase in demand of 849% from January to now. This could be due to the fact that rosé can be a great middle-ground for people who do not like red or white wine, offering a sweet crispness and a fruity aftertaste. 

In second place was whisky, with its popularity up by 847% in recent months. While it is no secret that most whiskies boast a fairly acquired taste, their surge in recognition could be down to a large number of celebrities starting their own whisky brands. From David Beckham

to Bob Dylan, A-listers are showing no sign of stopping when it comes to bringing whisky to the mainstream masses. 

Interestingly, in 10th place was beer, receiving an increase of 351% in searches on Google. A recent article revealed that beer sales were down 8% since 2019 and the national lockdown, which could have been prompted by certain beer production giants, such as Foster’s, opting to slash their ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage. While the ABV was lowered to 3.7%, the price of the drink was put up, possibly encouraging people to seek alternative beverages. 

Methodology: 

To determine the most popular cocktail recipes of the season, we collated a seed list of popular spring cocktail recipes and then analysed Google Search Volume data to determine which recipes had seen the highest increase in popularity from January till current. 

To develop the Summer Trends Report, we analysed The Bottle Club traffic and product data, uncovering which brands and product categories have seen the highest increase in popularity in the lead up to spring - from January to current.

We explored data from eufic to discover the seasonal produce for spring and summer in the UK. Using this information, we provided a selection of cocktail recipes.