WHEN it comes to summer sips, refreshing cocktails top the list.
And this month saw the launch of much-loved aperitivo Aperol Spritz in a ready-to-drink format.
Shoppers can now pick up the 200ml bottles in packs of four at specific supermarkets– taking all the hassle out of cocktail making.
And it is not the only big-name tipple that has been canned for your convenience.
Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin sips and scores a selection of pre-mixed cocktails.
Aperol Spritz, 4x200ml, £13 (£3.25 each), 9% ABV, Sainsbury’s
AT last! A pre-mixed version of our favourite Italian aperitif is finally available.
The instantly recognisable bright colour of an Aperol Spritz is synonymous with summer, so the timing of this little bottle is perfect.
A bittersweet aperitivo with genuine Aperol is made with citrus oil alongside herb and rhubarb extracts, and typically mixed with prosecco and topped up with soda water.
The ready-to-drink version is more spendy than the others I tried, but there is more booze, so it makes sense.
The balance of the bitter orange and herb-scented Aperol to fizz is on point too, though it comes across a little sweeter perhaps.
A great glugger with real glam.
Drink as it comes, or pour over ice and add an orange slice.
Rating: 5/5
Malibu & Cola, 250ml, £2.20 each, 5% ABV, Tesco
WHO doesn’t remember their first taste of a Malibu and fizzy cola combo?
One sniff of this and you will be transported back to your first holiday with your mates in Magaluf!
And for many drinkers, it remains a perennial pub garden or party favourite.
This ready-to-go version with its waft of creamy coconut and vanilla is the real deal but the cola that’s been added lets it down a tad.
One drawback to a pre-mixed drink is, while you do get the brand-name booze, the mixer might not be your usual staple.
This one is overly sweet with bubbles that fall flat quickly.
Mind you, that’s not unlike how it was back in the day on those cheap Spanish holidays, so it is authentic.
Rating: 3/5
Bacardi Mojito, 250ml, £2.10 each, 5% ABV, Sainsbury’s & Tesco
BACARDI is bang on with this version of a mojito, made using its own rum and with a classic lime flavour and minty taste.
It is a tricky style of cocktail to drink from a can, though, as traditional mojitos really need a long glass with tons of ice and fresh mint leaves.
Still, it is very light and crisp if sipped very cold and it will still taste good under a blue sky.
Perhaps too light for some who like a heavy hand on the old white- rum pour.
But great for picnics or anywhere where portable glugs are required.
You could always add some wedges of lime and mint leaves, then pour on to rocks and give it a mix to get a more authentic drink.
Rating: 2/5
Absolut Vodka Raspberry Lemonade, 250ml, £2.08 each, 5% ABV, Asda
BUYING brand-name pre-mixes can be a lot more affordable than forking out on a full-size bottle of the spirit and ingredients, especially if you tend to drink only occasionally.
With this in mind, if you don’t have vodka regularly, this might be a good option.
Mind you, this is a dangerously drinkable tipple as you can’t taste the vodka in it.
You know it’s there, though, thanks to the warming finish.
The rest of it is terrifically tangy and fruity, with a lovely sweet and sour thing going on.
For the price, it’s a great starter cocktail, though.
It is not for those who want to receive a really boozy kick.
Rating: 3/5
Gordon’s Gin & Tonic, 250ml, £1.98 each, 5% ABV, Asda
WHEN it comes to a big-brand gin that most of us would be able to name, Gordon’s has to be up there.
And this pre-mix is a real classic in a can, perfect for that train ride home or a drink in the park.
Flavourwise, it is citrussy and juniper-scented – exactly what you would expect from Gordon’s, and the tonic is sharp and perfectly sparkling.
Compared to the others, I think it’s brilliant value too, costing a couple of quid for 250ml.
You will probably realise how much gin you normally add to your tonic when you make it yourself, however, as this feels very light on the booze, despite matching the others at 5% ABV.
Rating: 3/5
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka & Cranberry, 250ml, £2.15 each, 5% ABV, Tesco
VODKA and cranberry, aka a Seabreeze, was a bit of a classic back in the Nineties.
These days you don’t have to queue at the bar for one as Smirnoff has made a tinned version.
Unlike the Absolut pre-mix, however, this one is not a gorgeous glugger.
The cranberry juice doesn’t feel or taste fresh and the entire drink is thin and synthetic, as though it is made of chemicals.
There’s a lingering unpleasant bitterness on the finish, too.
A big brand like Smirnoff should be doing much better than this.
Stick to a bottle of Smirnoff with a carton of fresh juice.
Rating: 1/5
Pimm’s No1 & Lemonade, 250ml, £2.30 each, 5.4% ABV, Morrisons
WHAT could be more quintessentially British than a Pimm’s in the garden on a summer’s day?
This canned version from the original makers has a smidge more booze than most of its rivals – and it is also really rather good.
Like a mojito, this is a drink that’s usually served with foliage and fruit salad in a tall glass or a jug, and obviously you can’t have pieces of cucumber and strawberry floating around in your can.
But if it is well chilled and you don’t mind drinking the tipple out of a tin, it still hits the spot.
Perfect for packing into a hamper for posh picnics when the sun decides to finally stay out.
Rating: 5/5
Archers & Lemonade, 250ml, £2.25 each, 5.4% ABV, Sainsbury’s
HERE’S another tipple that will offer a serious dose of nostalgia for an audience of a certain age – rather like me.
A taste that lots of us will recall from our early drinking days, the fuzzy peach scent is still as familiar as ever.
This Archers offering is punchy on the peach and it is as sweet and syrupy as it always used to be, freshened up by the citrussy lemonade bubbles.
Drink it super-chilled and it is a pure blast from the past that tastes like summer holidays.
But while the ingredients have been wonderfully mixed, it still won’t be to everyone’s taste unless you have a very sweet tooth.
Rating: 4/5
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