Sparkling drinks for your summer party

Summer parties call for light, refreshing drinks, and sparkling wine is a great base for a myriad of cool cocktail options.

Summer parties call for light, refreshing drinks, and sparkling wine is a great base for a myriad of cool cocktail options.

Lifestyle expert Shoana Jensen suggests combining either sparkling wine, cava, or prosecco with flavoured vodkas, fruit juices, or liqueurs to create a drink that you and your guests will love.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, but it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

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Purchase an inexpensive bubbly for these drinks — the finer notes of expensive Champagne will be lost in these drinks.

Consider the little touches. Whether that means a few frozen grapes at the bottom of the glass standing in for ice cubes, or the use of 100% natural fruit juice instead of a sugary variety, those considerations will add elegance to the drink.

Don’t forget about the non-drinkers. Offer them virgin versions of your cocktails by subbing in club soda or tonic water. Better yet, create one or two special drinks for them.

Grape Sparkler:

Grape-flavoured vodka (1oz) — (or choose your favourite flavour)

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Sparkling wine, cava, or prosecco

White grape juice

Frozen grapes

Add 1 oz vodka to the bottom of a champagne flute or wine glass.

Fill the rest of the glass with a 50/50 mixture of sparkling wine and juice.

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Add a few frozen grapes to the glass to help keep the drink cold.

Serve.

Kir Royale:

Sparkling wine, cava or prosecco

Splash of cassis

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Fill flute with sparkling wine.

Top off with a splash of cassis.

Serve.

Sparkling Kiwi-Cran (non-alcoholic):

Club soda

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Kiwi-cranberry juice, or your favourite flavour of fruit juice (use a 100% natural juice, not one with artificial sweeteners)

Mix together one part club soda and one part kiwi-cranberry juice in flute or wine glass.

Serve.

Sonic (non-alcoholic):

Club soda

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Tonic water

Raspberry compote (crushed raspberries)

Mix together one part club soda, one part tonic water in a flute or wine glass.

Add a spoonful of raspberry compote to give the drink some colour and an additional flavour element.

Serve.

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What’s your favourite way to use sparkling wine? Add your ideas in the comments below.