Ros cocktails - Julia Charles

The go-to choice for easy warm-weather drinking, here ros wine also makes the perfect ingredient in 40 refreshingly different summer cocktails.

The recent rise of ros as THE summer drink started with the arrival of 'fros' (a cheeky concoction of fruity frozen ros blended with strawberry syrup and served slushie-style) but bartenders worldwide are now turning their attention to the pink stuff (in all its styles from dry and crisp to ripe and sweet) and using it as the base for more complex, sophisticated drinks. Some are subtly spiked with vodka, gin, whisky or tequila, others are sweetened with sticky fruit-based liqueurs such as Cointreau and cassis, some are sharpened up with tangy citrus juices like pink grapefruit and lime, a few are pinned with the herby note of rosemary- and basil-infused syrups or accented with delicate floral cordials, such as elderflower and rose. Ros also works beautifully in a fruit-filled summer punch, served in large bowls or pitchers and packed with juicy orchard and berry fruits.

Here you'll find recipes for all styles of drink from short to long, flat to sparkling, tart to sweet and fun to fancy. Choose an elegant sparkling aperitif such as a Pom Pom or a Blackberry Bellini; a sophisticated sipper like the Rosy Glow or Pink Gimlet; a long refresher like a minty Rojito or Spanish Copa de Frutas; or a tooth-tingling icy treat such as a Twisted Fros or Raspberry and Ros Caipirinha; or why not share the good news with friends and fill a bowl with Just Peachy Punch or serve up a pitcher of Bourbon and Blue Iced Tea.