There are very few things summer asks of us that can't be improved by something cold, sparkling and poured over plenty of ice.
Enter: the spritz.
Light, refreshing and almost impossible to get wrong, it's our kind of summer drink. No complicated cocktail kit. No twelve-ingredient recipe. Just a good glass, lots of ice, something delicious to pour and a garnish if you're feeling fancy.
Here are five easy non-alcoholic spritzes we'll be making all summer long.
01. The Limoncello Spritz
Sunny, citrusy and made for afternoons that accidentally turn into evenings.
You'll need:
Polka Limoncello Spritz
Plenty of ice
Fresh lemon
A sprig of rosemary
Fill a large wine glass generously with ice, pour over chilled Polka Limoncello Spritz and finish with a wheel of lemon and rosemary.
That's it.
Best served: Outside, preferably with something salty nearby.
02. The Yuzu & Mandarin Spritz
Bright, zesty and a little unexpected.
You'll need:
Polka Yuzu & Mandarin Spritz
Ice
Fresh mandarin or orange
A sprig of thyme
Pour over ice and add a slice of mandarin or orange. Finish with thyme for a fresh, slightly herbal edge.
Best served: With seafood, summer salads or a very good bowl of crisps.
03. The Aperitivo Spritz
For when you want something a little more bitter, grown-up and very Italian.
You'll need:
60ml Polka Italian Aperitif
90ml Polka Sparkling Wine
A splash of soda
Ice
Fresh orange
Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the Italian Aperitif, top with sparkling and a small splash of soda, then finish with a generous slice of orange.
No shaking. No cocktail equipment. No fuss.
Best served: Before dinner, with olives, cheese and an aperitivo platter in the middle of the table.
04. The Pink Grapefruit Spritz
Fresh, tart and ridiculously pretty.
You'll need:
Polka Sparkling Rosé
A splash of pink grapefruit soda
Ice
Fresh pink grapefruit
Fill your glass with ice, add chilled Sparkling Rosé and finish with a splash of grapefruit soda. Garnish with a wedge or half-moon of fresh grapefruit.
Best served: At long lunches, baby showers, garden parties or anywhere you want the drinks to look particularly lovely.
05. The Cucumber Botanical Spritz
Crisp, refreshing and perfect when the temperature starts climbing.
You'll need:
30ml Polka Botanical Spirit
Premium tonic or soda
Ice
Cucumber ribbons
Fresh mint
Fill a tall glass with plenty of ice, add Botanical Spirit and top with your choice of tonic or soda. Add a few ribbons of cucumber and a sprig of mint.
Best served: Very, very cold.
The Polka Rules of Spritz
We're using the word rules loosely here.
More ice is better. Fill the glass properly. A glass packed with ice actually keeps your drink colder for longer and stops it becoming watery too quickly.
Chill everything first. Your bottle, your mixer and if you're particularly organised, your glass.
Choose one good garnish. You don't need a fruit salad floating around in there. Lemon. Orange. Grapefruit. Cucumber. Rosemary. Pick one or two and leave it at that.
Use the nice glasses. Summer is reason enough.
Make It a Spritz Afternoon
If you're having people over, skip making individual cocktails altogether.
Put a few bottles of Polka on ice, set out big glasses, a bucket of ice and bowls of sliced citrus, cucumber and fresh herbs. Let everyone build their own.
Add olives, good bread, cheese, something salty and a playlist.
You've got yourself a summer afternoon.
Shop the summer edit here.