Diageo Summer Cocktail Recipes

Nov 02, 2025

Diageo Summer Cocktail Recipes

 

Summer is here, and that means the build-up to silly season and (hopefully) lots of opportunities for our guests to enjoy bright, bubbly Aperitivo serves in the afternoon sun.

Updating your menu to reflect the season is a great way to maximise that aperitivo moment and drive footfall. If updating your entire menu isn’t viable, a seasonal special with one or two well-selected drinks can have a similar impact.

We wanted to share some recipes we’ve been enjoying to help bolster your cocktail lists or Aperitivo hour specials.

 

Tea TEN Spritz

  • Ingredients: 30ml Tanqueray No. 10, 30ml Fresh Grapefruit Juice, 15ml Honey Syrup (1:1), 30ml Chamomile Tea – chilled, 90ml Prosecco
  • Approx: 1.9 Std Drinks
  • Method: Build directly in a wine glass over ice. Stir gently to integrate and chill. Garnish and serve.
  • Glass: Wine
  • Ice: Cubed
  • Garnish: Grapefruit wedge & chamomile flower (if available)

 

Watermelon Breeze

  • Ingredients: 20ml Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, 30ml Cold Drip Coffee, 10ml Honey Syrup*, 5ml Fresh Lime Juice, 100ml Fresh Watermelon Juice (ensure no added sugar), small pinch sea salt
  • Approx: 0.4 Std Drinks
  • Method: Build directly in a highball glass over ice. Stir gently to integrate and chill. Garnish and serve.
  • Glass: Highball
  • Ice: Cubed
  • Garnish: Mint sprig and a small watermelon wedge

*To make honey syrup: combine 1 part honey with 1 part water and stir to dissolve.

 

Ciao Bella

  • Ingredients: 30ml Ketel One Vodka, 15ml Vanilla Liqueur, 15ml Strawberry Puree (e.g. Monin), 15ml Lemon Juice, 60ml Prosecco, 30ml Soda
  • Approx: 1.6 Std Drinks
  • Method: Build all ingredients in glass. Add ice and stir to combine. Garnish and serve.
  • Glass: Wine
  • Ice: Cubed
  • Garnish: Lemon wheel & strawberry slices

 

Ruby Royale

  • Ingredients: 30ml Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, 15ml Pomegranate Syrup (e.g. Monin), 25ml Lemon Juice, 100ml Prosecco
  • Method: Add the first three ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice until chilled (approx. 10–15 seconds). Fine strain into a champagne flute and top with cold Prosecco. Garnish and serve.
  • Glass: Flute
  • Ice: N/A
  • Garnish: Raspberries skewered on a cocktail pick

 

Key Takeaways

  • Creating a summer cocktail list or special is a great way to drive spend at your venue by offering bright, summery serves for sunny afternoons.
  • Lean into light, bubbly, or low-ABV drinks — perfect for the Aperitivo moment.

 

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Facebook: Diageo Bar Academy


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