Spirits for Summer: Must-Try Flavours Before the Season Ends

Summer may be winding down, but there is still time for garden catch-ups, relaxed evenings and another toast in the sunshine. If your usual gin and tonic feels a little predictable, these playful summer spirits bring sweet-shop nostalgia and plenty of flavour to the glass.

From fruity flavoured gin to dessert-inspired rum and bold vodka with flavour, here are four Chuckling bottles to try before the season slips away.

Chuckling Spirits Made for Summer Sipping

Spirits include familiar favourites such as gin, rum and vodka. Summer spirits are simply bottles that taste great served chilled, poured over ice or mixed into refreshing summer drinks.

Fruity and sweet-shop-inspired flavours make them a fun choice for barbecues, garden parties and relaxed evenings with friends. Our summer selection gives classic spirits a nostalgic twist and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

1. Banoffee Rum

With National Rum Day falling on Sunday 16 August this year, there is an extra excuse to try something beyond your usual rum and cola.

Chuckling Banoffee Rum combines fruity and sweet notes with a smooth finish. It is a fun alternative to traditional rum and ideal for anyone who enjoys dessert-inspired drinks.

For a simple summer serve, pour a measure over ice and top with ginger ale. Add a wedge of lime to freshen the sweeter flavours. Cola also works for an easy drink that needs no cocktail shaker.

Try it with: Biscoff-flavoured cookie or caramelised biscuit. The spiced caramel flavour complements the rum’s sweet banana and toffee notes. For a richer serve, try our Banoffee Rumtastic Cocktail recipe, made with Banoffee Rum, Biscoff spread and crushed biscuits.

2. Liquorice Allsorts Vodka

Here is one for the adventurous drinker.

Liquorice Allsorts Vodka blends vodka with the unmistakable taste of classic liquorice sweets. It is bold, nostalgic and noticeably different from the fruit-led flavours often found in summer drinks.

Serve it over plenty of ice with lemonade for a lighter, longer drink. For something more colourful, try our Liquorice Allsorts Vodka Cocktail, which combines the vodka with Banoffee Rum, grenadine, blue curaçao and lemonade. 

Try it with: Intense Vintage Cheddar. This is our pairing suggestion, but the cheese’s strong, tangy flavour and crunchy salt crystals can provide a savoury contrast to the sweet flavoured vodka. For anyone searching for vodka with flavour beyond standard fruit infusions, this is an unusual bottle to explore.

3. Rhubarb & Custard Gin

Rhubarb and custard is a sweet-shop classic, and this flavoured gin captures both sides of it: fruity rhubarb and smooth vanilla custard.

For a simple summer serve, pour it over ice and top with lemonade. Add fresh raspberries or a strip of lemon peel for an easy finishing touch. For something more special, try our Rhubarb & Custard Gin Martini, a fruity cocktail made with vanilla vodka, passion fruit, pineapple juice and lemonade.

Try it with: a Limoncello Cheddar Barrel served on a digestive or ginger biscuit. The bright lemon flavour complements the gin’s sweet and tangy rhubarb notes, while the biscuit adds a little crunch. A creamy mature cheddar is another good option for a more traditional cheeseboard. 

 

4. Blueberry Bonbon Gin

Blueberry Bonbon Gin is the fruitiest of these summer spirits. It brings together gin with juicy blueberry and the tangy character of a classic bonbon, creating a smooth, refreshing drink with a pleasant finish.

Keep the serve simple with ice, tonic water and fresh blueberries. Lemonade is another option when you want to bring out more of the sweet bonbon flavour. For something more refreshing, try our Blueberry Bon Bon Ginjito, which gives the classic mojito-style serve a fruity blueberry twist.

Try it with: Authentic Smoked Cheddar. The sweet berry notes contrast nicely with the naturally oak-smoked cheese and its subtle hint of paprika. Add plain cheese biscuits and fresh fruit to create an easy summer tasting plate.

This is a great flavoured gin for anyone who enjoys fruity flavours but still wants a familiar gin-based serve.

 

Make the Most of the Last Summer Evenings

Try something a little different while the warm evenings are still here. Serve Banoffee Rum over ice, mix Rhubarb & Custard Gin with lemonade, or set out all four flavours with cheese and sweet treats for a relaxed tasting night.

Choose a smaller bottle to sample something new, or go for a full-size bottle for parties and sharing with friends. The Chuckling Cheese Company offers selected spirits in 5cl, 20cl and 70cl sizes, subject to availability.

Explore the Chuckling Spirits Collection and find the flavour you’ll be pouring next.