The sun may not have its hat on but according to our calendar, it's summer so we're choosing our drinks accordingly.

Our product review sees us sipping the latest sunshine-centric can from the clever chaps at Empirical Spirits in Copenhagen and for when evenings draw in, we open a tip-top bottled Old Fashioned from the team at Hawksmoor London.

We go in full summer mode with this week's book recommendation, the fabulously retro, unashamedly kitsch 'Trader Vic's Tiki Party', however, our bar review is much more serious as we head to the light-filled space upstairs at Swift in Soho.

And it's destination Athens where we catch up with Vasillis Kyritsis and Nikos Bakoulis from the award-winning bar The Clumsies (proudly positioned at number three on the World's 50 Best Bars list if you don't mind!) Tune in for their expert tips on pimping up your G&T, using seasonal ingredients and making simple and delicious refreshing drinks.

Summer essential: Don't miss the Luxardo Secret Piazza running in the delightful courtyard at Hush, 8 Lancashire Court, London W1S 1EY until end of September 2021. Offering a season of delicious drinks including the Colada Italiana, Piazza Spritz and Dolce Vita, as well as a sumptuous food menu, it's the place to get a taste of the Med without leaving central London.

For bookings and further details, see hush.co.uk

What we're drinking:

Tom Collins

50ml Old Tom Gin

25ml lemon juice

15ml sugar syrup

Soda water

Lemon slice and cocktail cherry to garnish

Method:

Add first three ingredients to a Collins glass and stir. Fill glass with ice, top with soda water and stir again. Garnish with lemon slice and cocktail cherry.

What we'll be drinking next week…

Piña Colada (sound track optional)

You'll need:

50ml white rum

25ml Coco Reàl Cream of Coconut

25ml fresh pineapple juice

5ml freshly squeezed lime juice

And a blender. Be warned: this one is going to be noisy, but it's worth it!

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.com

To see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their websites below:

The Clumsies

Empirical Spirits Co

Hawksmoor at Home

Hush

Luxardo

Swift

Trader Vic's Tiki Party

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