Diamond Jubilee party drinks

Diamond Jubilee party drinks

1st Jun 2012

The cupcakes have been frosted, the sandwiches have been filled with cucumbers and coronation chicken and the sausages are just waiting for you to fire up the barbeque. There's plenty of classic British grub to be served up for your Diamond Jubilee celebration - but what will you give your guests to drink?

A jug of Pimm's punch can be a refreshing drink on a hot day. It's easy to make and a favourite for parties. Start by washing and thinly slicing a cucumber, an orange and few strawberries. Then throw it all in a pretty glass jug with a few sprigs of fresh mint and a generous heaping of ice.

Next, pour in 125ml of Pimm's No. 1 liqueur and top it all off with lashings of lemonade. For a twist on the old classic, you can replace the lemonade with ginger ale or you can give the drink a real kick by pouring in a dry cider.

Gin punch is another classic favourite, and who doesn't enjoy a shandy in the sunshine?

Meanwhile, if you're more a purist when it comes to your tipples, you might want to opt for a traditional ale or an English sparkling wine.

These days, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to locally-made bubbly that gives the continental varieties a run for their money. Just some of the labels to look for include Nyetimber, English Oak Vineyard and RidgeView Estate.

For a non-alcoholic beverage, try a mixture of chopped strawberries with equal parts lemonade and orange juice. Or opt for something a bit more tropical with a blend of pineapple juice, blueberries and limeade.

Whatever drinks you decide to serve up, make sure you have plenty of party cups on-hand. You might also want to think about some garnishes like sliced  fruit on Union Jack flag cocktail sticks or orange wedges perched on the rim of the glass.

Of course, you don't want to forget the quintessentially British drink - a nice hot cup of tea. So be sure to brew up a big pot and cover it with a festive tea cosy to keep the contents warm.

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