Summer in Australia is a beautiful thing, especially after the depths of Melbourne winter. As the days stretch long and the air hums with the promise of barbecues and bare feet, our drink choices need to reflect that energy.
This year, the spirit world has delivered a genuinely exciting lineup, from textural innovation in vodka to the ultimate in portable party starters. Forget the basics; these are the bottles and cans that are going to define your next few months of sun-soaked celebrations.
Never Never Signature Vodka
Never Never built its empire on the bold flavour of juniper, but they’ve just dropped their first permanent vodka, and it’s a game-changer built on one word: texture.
Moving far beyond the idea of vodka as a “neutral” spirit, this Signature Vodka is crafted from Australian wheat spirit and enriched with distilled olive, coconut, and avocado oils. It sounds wild, but the result is pure genius.
This is an ultra-smooth vodka with a silky mouthfeel and subtle notes of light olive and coconut cream that makes it absolutely exceptional. If you’re a martini aficionado, this is the bottle built for you. If you’re still not convinced, the team at Never Never have collaborated with Melbourne cocktail institution Byrdi to bring their signature creative flair to showcase the spirit in a few very delicious ways for a limited time.
Ruski Lemon Black 8%: Double the Kick, Classic Flavour
Nostalgia hits different when it’s stronger. Ruski, the original Aussie lemon vodka RTD you know and love, has embraced the trend for higher-ABV value with their new Lemon Black 8% double serve.
This isn’t just about a bigger kick, as the flavour is still just as bold. It maintains that fun, crisp, classic lemon profile that everyone remembers. It’s affordable, it’s fun, and it’s ready to be the life of your backyard barbecue this summer for a refreshing, and unapologetically Australian start to the evening.
El Toro Pocket Cocktails: Emergency Party Starters
The most genius invention of the summer has to be the El Toro Pocket Cocktails. Designed for convenience and sheer cheekiness, these are single-serve kits that put a bar-quality drink right in your pocket.
The range includes the Emergency Margarita and our personal favourite, the Pocket Paloma. Each capsule contains a perfect measure of El Toro Blanco Tequila and its corresponding premium mixer. Forget the shaker and forget the recipe, these solve the age-old problem of wanting a great cocktail on the go. Just add ice (and maybe a splash of soda for the Paloma) and you’ve got a perfectly balanced serve.
El Toro Coconut Tequila: Vacation in a Glass
If you’re looking for a spirit that instantly transports you to a hammock on the beach, look no further. El Toro’s Coconut Tequila is the very definition of a summer sidekick.
It takes their bold agave-based Clásico Tequila and infuses it with rich, velvety coconut. The result is a smooth, tropical, and toasted spirit that still maintains a beautiful agave character. It’s approachable for the tequila curious but exciting for the agave veterans. Use it for a creamy Coconut Margarita, blend it into a mango-spiked highball (we love this recipe), or simply pour it over ice. It’s a versatile spirit that brings the holiday vibe to every sip.
Summer drinking should be effortless and joyful. Whether you’re crafting the perfect, silky-smooth martini with a textural vodka, cracking open a boosted nostalgic pre-mixer, or mixing up a tropical tequila cocktail, this year’s selection proves that innovation and fun can absolutely go hand-in-hand.
Stock up the fridge, fire up the grill, and raise a glass to the golden days ahead!
– The Plus Ones Team
