KENTSUMMER
PLAN THE ULTIMATE
SUMMER GARDEN PARTY
SUMMER MAY WELL BE FLEETING IN OUR TYPICALLY TEMPERATE COUNTRY , BUT IT IS EQUALLY FABULOUS – AS SOON AS THE SUNSHINE REARS ITS HEAD , MOST OF US RUSH TO THE SHOPS QUICKER THAN A STAMPEDE OF MIGRATING WILDEBEEST TO STOCK UP ON EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR THAT ULTIMATE OF GATHERINGS : THE SUMMER GARDEN PARTY . FIRSTLY , PICK A DATE AND LET YOUR FRIENDS KNOW – IT ’ S LIKELY YOU ’ LL BE INVITED TO A FEW ACROSS OUR SHORT-LIVED SUNNY SEASON , AND DATE CLASHES NEED TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS – THEN , ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FOLLOW OUR HANDY TIPS AND GUIDELINES AND YOU ’ RE GOOD TO GO .
A ( NOTHER ) NOTE ON INVITATIONS …
As already mentioned in the introduction above , getting your ‘ save the date ’ notification out there is as important as compiling the guest list itself , so a great way to save time ( and benefit the environment while doing so ) is to invite your friends digitally via Paperless Post . Anything but bland , their online invitations ooze personality and feature lots of designer collections from the likes of Kate Spade and Gwyneth Paltrow ; updating time or place changes can be done at the click of a button ; you ’ ll receive an immediate RSVP , so working out your numbers is a breeze ; and , importantly , you can set up online polls to work out who likes to drink what and whether you have any veggies / vegans in your midst … Check out www . paperlesspost . com and see what suits you .
FIRST THINGS FIRST : ESSENTIALS CHECK LIST :
• A large parasol or gazebo
• A makeshift bar
• Enough comfortable furniture , plus spare foldaway deckchairs
• Serving platters , picnic cutlery , colourful paper plates and oodles of napkins
• A brilliant , big-enough BBQ , plus tools and resting plates
• Mesh food covers
• Glasses , paper cups and mugs
• Coasters and mats
• Enough allotted flat spaces for guests to place their glasses
• Outdoor lights for when day turns to night , plus blankets to keep late-night revellers warm
WHAT TO DRINK :
Nothing screams ‘ summer celebration ’ like cocktails , so cocktails you must drink . They ’ re a great way to kick start the day being both ‘ special ’ in that we don ’ t drink them all the time , and a very effective social lubricant too .
Stick to one star of the show , which brings something different to your party – we ’ d recommend a twist on a classic using Bullards ’ Pineapple , Ginger and Lime Gin – pitched as the perfect summer refresher , this gorgeous and refreshing gin is available nationwide and is a decadent harmony of flavours combining juicy roasted pineapple with feisty ginger warmth and citrusy lime leaf . Aimed at gin connoisseurs who are looking for something different and delicious that can be enjoyed as a long drink , it ’ d best poured over ice with a dash of ginger ale and a slice of lime .
Creating cocktails one at a time is hugely time consuming though , so to complement your signature cocktail , also opt for a couple of classics such as the margarita ( 2 shots tequila , 1 shot lime juice , 1 ⁄ 2 shot triple sec , served shaken and strained into a saltrimmed glass ), and the cosmopolitan ( 1 shot vodka , 1 ⁄ 2 shot triple sec , 1 ⁄ 2 shot cranberry juice , 1 ⁄ 2 shot lime juice , served shaken and strained into a Martini glass ) and make batches of them in jugs beforehand that can be easily poured over ice . Remember the non-drinkers too – a virgin peach Bellini is a thirstquenching 50 / 50 combination of peach juice and sparkling lemonade that you can garnish with mint to make a little more party appropriate .
We love … Soho Street Cocktails ’ genius new pour , shake and serve 1.5-litre bags of readymade classic cocktails , which deliver on bar-standard flavour and consistency for a fraction of the effort and price ; £ 28.99 , masterofmalt . com
Top cocktail tip :
Ice is one of the most important ingredients in your cocktails – especially when , fingers crossed , you ’ ll be sipping them to stay refreshed on a warm summer ’ s day . To complement a freezer-draw full of bags of ice cubes ( handy but melt quickly when left out ) make your own ice by filling clean oven trays and as many other large , flat containers as you can fit in your freezer with filtered water . Once frozen solid , bash into smaller blocks , or add a whole block to a punch bowl for slow dilution .
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