Did you know that because strawberries have seeds on the outside and come from a single ovary, they’re technically not berries are in fact in a group all of their own? And for many people, they’re on their own in top spot when it comes to best fruits too because when ripe and juicy, is there really anything better?
I’m sure Strawberry Day is pencilled into your calendar, so here are the very best easy to make strawberry-based cocktails whatever you drink... unless you hate strawberry of course.
Strawberry Daiquiri – for the rum lovers
One of the most famous strawberry cocktails, we just had to include this classic. Daiquiri’s can easily end up as sweet slush puppies, so keep an eye on the sweetness and be generous with the lime juice to get that tang, and pick a rum with some nice depth.
Ingredients
60ml rum (light ideally, e.g., Havana Club 3YO)
50g strawberries
20ml lime juice
15ml syrup
Strawberry (optional garnish)
Method
Setting up the blender is the hardest thing about this cocktail. Simply add everything in with ice and double strain over the glass. Use crushed ice to give your blender a head start!
Cherub’s Cup – for the vodka lovers
Floral elderflower, sweet strawberries and syrup, dry rosé with a touch of effervescence, tangy lemon and a smooth ‘n’ sturdy vodka spine, the Cherub’s Cup is an angel in a glass. The fresh strawberries and berry notes in the Rosé combine to create unbelievably refreshing bubbles fizzing with flavour, lifting the crisp vodka harmoniously.
Ingredients
30g strawberries
20ml lemon juice
20ml syrup
60ml vodka
25ml elderflower liqueur
50ml Rosé
Mint (optional garnish)
Method
Muddle the strawberries with lemon juice and syrup (just a heated 1:1 ratio of water and sugar). Add your ice, vodka and elderflower liqueur (St Germain is an inventory must for mixologists). Shake well. Strain and top with Rosé! One last thing, enjoy!
Strawberry Margarita – for the tequila lovers
Salty, sweet, bitter, and sour, the Margarita has everything. So why make any changes? Well, include strawberries and you’ll see why. Everyone know strawberries and lime rhyme phonetically and in terms of flavour, adding a lovely juicy texture to the popular cocktail.
Ingredients
50ml tequila
20ml fresh lime juice
20ml triple sec
80g ish strawberries (fresh or frozen)
A dash of syrup (optional)
Lime wheel or strawberry, salt rim (optional garnish)
Method
First, shake everything with ice. Depending how mushy you want your strawberries, you can either full on blend them, muddle them or just break them up with the shake. You can add a dash of syrup also if you like but the strawberries should be sweet enough. Strain the ingredients into a small glass and garnish with an appetising lime wheel and a salt rim if you fancy. Voilá!
Red Derby – for the whiskey lovers
This is a bright and delicious twist on the classic Brown Derby. The slight spiciness of the Bourbon plays off the relentless refreshment of the strawberries and grapefruit juice, with the luxurious honey pulling everything together. Play around with the ratios for your taste and we’re sure you’ll love this.
Ingredients
50ml Bourbon
40ml grapefruit juice (any colour)
80g ish strawberries (fresh or frozen)
20ml honey
Strawberry (optional garnish)
Method
Chop the strawberries and add everything to the shaker! Remember to shake well so the honey is thoroughly mixed and ideally double strain into a glass! Simply beautiful.
The Strawberry Smash – for the gin lovers
This is a gorgeous glass of summer sunshine bursting with strawberry flavour, and stopped from being overly sweet by cutting fresh lemon juice and a few drops of bitters to finish. The Strawberry Smash is as refreshing as it gets!
Ingredients
50ml gin (we like Brixham Market Garden Strawberry Gin)
25ml lemon juice
20ml strawberry syrup (we like Monin)
3 dashes of aromatic bitters
Mint leaves
Strawberry and mint (optional garnish)
Method
If you go for a Strawberry Gin as we recommended here, you can go for less strawberry syrup unless you’re a strawberry obsessive! Muddle a little mint and add everything to a shaker except the biters. Strain over some crushed ice in your glass and add the bitters.
Strawberry Fizzer – perfect for the sparkling wine lovers
The key thing with this is good quality and natural flavours. Juicy ripe strawberries and a natural lemonade are vital to avoid that synthetic taste, and if you’ve got those this is stunning. The sweetness of the strawberries and lemonade, the freshness of the Cava, and the vodka to centre the cocktail and give it some heart.
Ingredients
80g ish strawberries (fresh ideally)
25ml vodka
40ml natural lemonade
50ml Cava
Strawberry (optional garnish
Method
It’s as simple as shaking everything except the Cava and making sure the strawberries are nicely broken up. Strain twice so that it’s lovely and smooth and top up with bubbling Cava!
If you’re not quite ready to bring in those summer vibes yet then at the other end of the spectrum we have some amazing winter warmers with these Hot Toddies.