3 Artisan Twists on Classic Cocktails for Lazy Summer Days & Long Evenings
There’s something about summer that changes the way we drink. The sun lingers just a little longer, ice clinks a little louder, and somehow a well-made cocktail feels like the crown jewel of the season.
Here at Tack Room Distillery, we’ve always believed that a drink should be more than a drink. It should be an occasion in itself. The summer classic cocktails should be refreshing, full of flavour, and most importantly crafted with a little bit of flair, whether you’re hosting a big garden gathering or simply stealing a quiet moment in the evening light. This summer, I’m inviting you to revisit a few classic cocktails and see what happens when you give them a little artisan lift.
So, let’s give some beloved classic cocktails a cheeky artisan makeover using our award-winning gins, vodkas, and liqueurs
The Dorset Garden Martini
A London Dry Martini with a fresh, citrus-kissed twist
The Martini is a timeless classic. Elegant, crisp, and brimming with quiet confidence. But swap out your usual gin for our Contemporary London Dry which is bright with citrus and layered with 14 botanicals, and suddenly, you’ve got something even more intriguing.
In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour sixty millilitres of our gin and fifteen millilitres of dry vermouth. Stir with patience, letting the flavours mingle until perfectly chilled. Strain into a frosted martini glass and garnish with a ribbon of cucumber and a sprig of fresh mint.
It’s a cocktail that feels at home anywhere, but in the garden, with the late afternoon sun on your face and the sound of laughter in the background, it takes on an extra dimension.
Ingredients:
60ml Tack Room Distillery Contemporary London Dry Gin
15ml dry vermouth
1 thin cucumber ribbon (for garnish)
1 sprig of fresh mint
Method:
Fill a mixing glass with ice and add gin and vermouth.
Stir until well chilled (about 20 seconds).
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with the cucumber ribbon and mint sprig.
Tip: For summer evenings, try serving in frosted glasses straight from the freezer it keeps the drink icy longer while you gossip about who overcooked the BBQ sausages.
Rhubarb & Blood Orange Negroni Spritz
Your Italian holiday in a glass, no passport required
The Negroni is unapologetic—a bold, bittersweet Italian beauty. But in summer, I like to give it a lighter touch, without losing its depth. Our Rhubarb & Blood Orange Gin is perfect for the job, adding a fruit-forward zing that plays beautifully with Campari and sweet vermouth.
Pour thirty millilitres each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth into a wine glass filled with ice. Give it a gentle stir, then top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with a slice of fresh orange.
If you’re entertaining, mix a large jug of the gin, Campari, and vermouth ahead of time and keep it chilled. When guests arrive, you can simply pour over ice, add soda, and serve with an easy flourish.
Ingredients:
30ml Tack Room Distillery Rhubarb & Blood Orange Gin
30ml Campari
30ml sweet vermouth
50ml soda water
Slice of orange
Method:
Fill a wine glass with ice.
Add gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
Top with soda water and stir gently.
Garnish with the orange slice.
Pro Hosting Hack: Batch the gin, Campari, and vermouth in a jug ahead of time, then just pour over ice and top with soda when guests arrive. It makes you look like a cocktail pro while you’re still flipping burgers.
Garden Party Fizz (Low & Lovely)
A non-alcoholic G&T alternative for sunny afternoons
Not every summer drink needs to carry a full measure of alcohol. Our Gin Essence makes a superb low-alcohol option, brimming with botanical flavour but gentle enough for all-day sipping.
In a tall glass filled with ice, pour fifty millilitres of Gin Essence and top with a generous measure of elderflower tonic water. Drop in a couple of fresh raspberries, muddling them gently at the bottom, and finish with a thin slice of lemon.
For a relaxed afternoon, set up a self-serve table with your Gin Essence, a few bottles of tonic, bowls of sliced citrus, herbs from the garden, and berries in every shade. Guests will enjoy building their own creations, and you’ll be free to enjoy the party instead of standing behind the bar all evening.
Ingredients:
50ml Tack Room Distillery Gin Essence (low alcohol)
100ml elderflower tonic water
2 fresh raspberries
1 slice of lemon
Method:
Fill a highball glass with ice.
Add the Gin Essence and tonic water.
Gently muddle the raspberries at the bottom for a pop of colour and flavour.
Garnish with the lemon slice.
Garden Tip: Set up a self-serve “mocktail station” with fresh fruit, herbs, and mixers—your guests can play bartender while you relax.
How to Make Summer Cocktail Evenings Shine
Good classic cocktails start with good ice and more than you think you’ll need. Keep your glasses chilled, your garnishes fresh, and your base spirits close at hand
Prep in Advance. Chop garnishes, chill glasses, and pre-mix base spirits before guests arrive, less fuss, more fun.
Shade & Seating: If you’re outdoors, make sure there’s comfy seating in the shade. Classic cocktails are best enjoyed with a breeze, not a sunburn.
Don’t overcomplicate the menu. Have one or two “house cocktails” for the evening. It’s stylish, saves time, and keeps your drinks menu on brand.
So here’s to a season of easy elegance, to drinks that sparkle with flavour and conversation that flows just as easily. This summer, let your garden become your favourite cocktail bar—and let Tack Room Distillery provide the spirit for the occasion. What’s your favourite Classic cocktail?
Cheers.