When the warm summer sun is beating down from a clear blue sky, there are few better ways to relax and cool off than with a cold, refreshing drink. Whether your tipple of choice is beer, wine, cocktails, juice or plain old water, a cool beverage always goes down well on a hot day.

If you’re planning on taking advantage of the hot summer weather with a BBQ or garden party, you may well want to up your game when it comes to drinks presentation. Putting a little extra effort into making your beverages look delicious is a fantastic way to make your spread look fantastic and get your guests in the party mood.

Turbo Charge Your Gin and Tonic

The humble gin and tonic has come a long way in the last few years. These days, a lot of bars serve the old favourite in a goblet-style glass and add a range of florals, herbs and spices to the mix. If you want to impress your guests with your G‘n’Ts, invest in a few large goblets for your party. As well as ice and lemon, pack your drinks with peppercorns, cardamom, juniper berries, cucumber and any other ingredients that take your fancy. Serve over ice and enjoy.

Summer Fruit Punch

A fruit punch is a great way to cater for a large BBQ or party. Whether you opt to make your mix alcoholic or booze-free, you can serve your punch in a large bowl, packed with fruit and ice. Buy a punch bowl with a ladle and matching cups for maximum visual impact.

Cocktail Jugs

Cocktail jugs are another good way to serve drinks to large groups. Mix up a few jugs full of your favourite drink – things like mojitos, Moscow mules and Cuba Libres all work very well when served from jugs – but remember not to add the ice until the last minute as melting ice will only water down your drinks and make them less tasty. Add a sprig of mint or a few slices of lemon to the jugs to make them look even more appetising.

H2O Style

It’s very important to drink plenty of water in hot weather so make sure you serve lots of H2O at your party. Like cocktails, water is perfect for serving in jugs. Add lemon, cucumber or summer fruits to the mix to bring a little colour to your party.