Words by Simon Difford
When Wimbledon kicks off, the British summer has officially begun. Cue hordes of tennis fans making their annual pilgrimage to sit on Aorangi Terrace in the rain, eat strawberries and quaff champagne.
Nothing says "Wimbledon" quite like strawberries. And over the tournament fortnight, 1600 catering staff will churn out incredible quantities of them - nigh-on 30 tonnes, or over 2 million berries, enough to stretch 40 miles when laid end-to-end.
Appropriately, some of the cocktails below contain strawberries, some feature champagne, some have fitting names, while others are simply refreshingly delicious.
1. Apple Grass
With: Bison grass vodka, spiced vanilla liqueur, ginger syrup, apple juice, and lemon juice.
We say: A brilliant "grassy" cocktail for the only Grand Slam tournament played on grass.
View the recipe
2. Courtside
With: Strawberries, raspberries, vodka, elderflower liqueur, apple juice, lime juice, sugar syrup, soda water.
We say: Fruity, floral and vodka-laced – enough to forget about the rain. Our recipe is topped with soda water, but be decadent and splash on some champagne.
View the recipe
3. English Garden
With: Dry gin, apple juice, elderflower liqueur, and lime juice.
We say: Quintessentially English in flavour - anyone for tennis?
View the recipe
4. Frozen Honey Deuce
With: Vodka, lemon juice, honey syrup, and black raspberry liqueur.
We say: Starts sour and finishes sweet.
View the recipe
5. Difford's Fruit Cup No. 1
With: Dry gin, dry curaçao, rosso vermouth, aromatic bitters, ginger ale and cola.
We say: Inspired by the Pimm's Cup below, but much better!
View the recipe
6. Fruit Cup Spritz
With: Prosecco, bianco vermouth, triple sec, rosso vermouth, and soda water.
We say: A light summery spritz with flavours reminiscent of Pimm's.
View the recipe
7. Game Set Match
With: Bourbon, vermouth rosso alla vaniglia, carciofo amaro, aromatic bitters, and orange bitters.
We say: A Sweet Manhattan with amaro as well as bitters. A winning combination!
View the recipe
8. Gin & Tonic
With: Dry gin and tonic water.
We say: The classic English highball. Great anytime of the year, but brilliant on a summer's afternoon/evening.
View the recipe
9. Honey Deuce
With: Vodka, lemon juice, honey syrup, soda water and black raspberry liqueur.
We say: It's the combination of the name, the tennis tournament, and the garnish that makes this otherwise very ordinary Vodka Collins sweetened with berry liqueur special.
View the recipe
10. Oddball Manhattan Dry
With: Bourbon, Yellow Chartreuse, dry vermouth, and aromatic bitters.
We say: Not as odd as it sounds, the Chartreuse combines harmoniously to make this Manhattan an Oddball.
View the recipe
11. Pimm's Cup (classic Pimm's)
With: Fruit cup liqueur, orange, lemon, cucumber, strawberries, lemonade, and ginger ale.
We say: You've not properly experienced an English summer until you've drunk one of these whilst sheltering from the rain.
View the recipe
12. Roman Highball
With: Amaro, ginger ale, lime juice, and soda water.
We say: Refreshing and Pimm's Cup-like.
View the recipe
13. Sabot
With: Dry gin, triple sec, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white, and sparkling wine.
We say: A White Lady charged with fizz. At Wimbledon, "Competitors must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white."
View the recipe
14. Second Serve
With: Amaro, fino sherry, lime juice, sugar syrup, and soda water.
We say: Fino sherry, amaro and lime juice drive this brilliantly refreshing cocktail.
View the recipe
15. South Side Rickey
With: Dry gin, lime juice, sugar syrup, mint leaves, and soda water.
We say: Think gin-based Mojito – refreshing and easy drinking.
View the recipe
16. Strawberry Daiquiri (Frozen)
With: Gold rum, lime juice, sugar syrup, strawberries, Xanthan gum.
We say: A Strawberry Mivvi for grown-ups.
View the recipe
17. Strawberry Fields
With: Strawberries, vodka, lemon juice, honey syrup, egg white.
We say: A refreshing vodka-based strawberry cocktail with lemon juice balanced by honey. Drops of balsamic and a dusting of black pepper add interest.
View the recipe
18. Strawberry Margarita (Frozen)
With: Reposado tequila, triple sec, lime juice, sugar syrup, strawberries, and xanthan gum.
We say: Slightly sweet but yummy with an interplay between tequila, rich strawberry and tart fresh lime.
View the recipe
19. Strawberry Vodkatini
With: Vodka, dry vermouth, sugar syrup, strawberry purée, and black pepper.
We say: Grainy vodka-laced strawberry fruitiness with dry vermouth adding balance and depth of flavour.
View the recipe
20. Wimbledon Martini
With: strawberries, light white rum, strawberry liqueur, sugar syrup, and cream.
We say: Dating back to the 1990s, when anything in a 'V' shaped glass was termed a Martini, this remains an essential cocktail for the tournament due to being rum-laced strawberries and cream.
View the recipe
Join the Discussion
... comment(s) for Wimbledon cocktails
You must log in to your account to make a comment.