When the warm weather hits, summer drinks are at the top of our packing list no matter what kind of adventure we have planned. Whether we're heading north to the cottage, the beach for the day, a park for an afternoon picnic or even just to our balcony to soak in a few rays, we're eager to dust off our trusty cooler and load it up to the brim with enough tasty tipples to quench our thirst, and ice to keep them perfectly chilled.
We have a few summer drinks that are tried-and-true favourites, that we're enjoying year-after-year no matter what. But we're always keeping our eyes peeled for the new summer drinks that hit the market at the start of the season, to sip and sample until we discover our new go-to. As summer starts to heat up in Toronto, we've rounded up the coolest new and favourite summer drinks you need to stock up on this year. No matter if you're looking for non-alcoholic options, barbecue beer, cider or something a bit stronger, there's a dram here for anyone looking to beat the heat.
If you haven't been able to crack open a can or mix a drink on a cottage deck yet, Toronto has plenty of great patios for al fresco imbibing. Further afield, Niagara wineries let you sip vino straight from the source on their stunning properties. Once you get to your destination, though, it's time to kick your feet up and relax with a delicious beverage in-hand. Soak up the season with the best summer drinks for 2024 — summer is fleeting, so enjoy it while you can.
Group shot photography by Daniel Harrison
The best summer drinks: Non-alcoholic summer serves
Foodism's top pick:
In association with Muskoka Brewery
1. Veer Lager with Lime Non-Alcoholic Brew
$10.95 for a four-pack
Veer Lager with Lime is a refreshing, light-bodied beer with good carbonation and a well-balanced, immaculately clean finish. Made with all-natural ingredients and exclusively in Muskoka, Ontario, it's a great Canadian non-alcoholic beer. Veer Lager with Lime is a natural fit for any time spent lounging on the cottage dock or having an afternoon picnic in the park. Serve it to the family when they’re over for a backyard BBQ, or sip a can yourself after a sweaty summer hike.
2. Asahi super dry 0.0
$13.95 for a six-pack
Booze-free brother to Japan’s top-selling beer, this crisp brew is made with premium ingredients.
3. Nectr Kombucha
$5.50
Equal parts tangy and thirst-quenching, Nectr Kombucha mixes organic ingredients.
4. Peroni Nastro Azzuro 0.0
$13.95 for a six-pack
You’ll never be able to tell this dry, hoppy Italian brew is completely alcohol-free.
5. Geez Louise Cantaloupe Mint
$39.95 for a 12-pack
Gut-healthy prebiotics meet zero-sugar and a knockout flavour pairup.
6. Joyburst Mocktail Raspberry
$31.99 for a 12-pack
Green tea caffeine infuses this fruity mocktail with a kick-start.
7. Celsius Sparkling Sunset Vibe
$3.59 per can
New to Canada, this fruit-forward energy drink is sugar-free.
The best summer drinks: Crisp summer ciders
8. Magnotta Craft Raspberry Apple Cider
$3.60
This small-batch cider is light-to-medium bodied and infused with crisp red raspberry flavour. It’s practically an orchard in a glass and best enjoyed with salty snacks like freshly popped corn or peanuts.
9. Liberty Village Dry Cider
$3.60
During the fermentation process, all sugar is removed from Liberty Village Beverage Co.’s dry cider made with 100 per cent Ontario apples. Pack it in your picnic basket and pesky wasps may finally leave you alone.
10. Okanagan Harvest Pear
$3.90
Fresh fruit from B.C.’s renowned Okanagan Valley is harvested for this summer sipper. Potent pear-forward flavour rounds off each sweet swig and pairs wonderfully with pork or seafood.
11. Reinhart’s Blackberry Cider
$3.55
The purple hue of Reinhart’s fruity cider hints at this can’s big berry flavour. At seven per cent, it’s on the boozier side. Enjoy bright and juicy apples on the tongue, then an eye-poppingly tart and creamy blackberry finish.
The best summer drinks: Barbecue beer
12. Slake Brewing Hatch Pale Ale
$4.50
Don’t let the quirky can fool you — Slake Brewing in P.E.C. know what they’re doing. Pair this hoppy, citrus-forward and slightly bitter brew with spicy fish tacos and summer sun.
13. Bellwoods Brewery Greenbelly Triple IPA
$5.75
Brimming with fruity aromas of strawberry, peach and mango, this brew is surprisingly soft and well-balanced, considering the amount of hops. Fire up the deep-fryer or grill some wings and enjoy.
14. Creemore Witbier
$3.80
This Belgian-style wheat beer is so cloudy, your summer days won’t be. Light-bodied and bubbling with citrus and spice, it has a gentle sweetness and creaminess from wheat malt. Use it to extinguish spicy appetizers or balance out savoury snacks.
15. Muskoka Brewery Nitro Drifter Hazy Pale Ale
$3.75
An infusion of nitro is the culprit behind this pale ale’s addictive smoothness and creamy mouthfeel. It’s the definition of easy drinking, and what we’ll be stocking up on to carry us well beyond summer’s dog days.
The best summer drinks: Summer whiskies
16. Chivas Regal 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky
$66.20
An excellent introduction to the world of scotch, Chivas Regal is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Creamy and rich, its flavours of honey and fresh fruit are crowd-pleasers. Then, savour a pleasantly long-lasting finish.
17. Reifel Rye
$49.95
This craft whisky out of Alberta is aged in charred white oak and former bourbon barrels. The result? Deep vanilla, chocolate and toffee notes that pair exceptionally well with burgers or hot dogs fresh off the barbecue.
18. Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey
$49.95
By the time this Irish whisky reaches your glass, it’s been matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. Its spice-forward finish leaves you with distinct ginger and almond flavours, and a satisfied smirk.
19. Canadian Club
$32.15
This classic Canadian spirit was founded in 1858 and hasn’t looked back since. It’s smooth, mellow and packed with aromas of toasted nuts and cornflakes. To this day, it remains one of the best for a classic whisky and ginger, or cola.
The best summer drinks: Refreshing hard iced tea
20. Arizona Hard Green Tea
$3.15
Arizona’s boozy take on its iconic tea promises five per cent alcohol and 100 per cent nostalgia. Delicious green tea is mixed with vodka, ginseng and honey to concoct the ultimate summertime thirst-quencher.
21. Pabst Strong Iced Tea
$3.15
A far cry from the ale they’re known for, Pabst’s Strong Iced Tea can cool you down on even the sweatiest summer day. Now made with vodka, it’s best enjoyed over ice or right from the chilled can.
22. Smirnoff Ice Tea Lemon
$3.25
A yummy addition to the pool party, this zesty RTD that just arrived at the LCBO is a good time from the first sip to the last. Not too sweet and not too boozy, it’s Goldilocks-level perfection.
23. Twisted Tea Peach
$3.15
Authentic brewed iced tea and natural peach flavours mingle in this easily crushable serve, while a malt base from beer cuts the sweetness so it’s not too sugary. Pair it with loaded nachos or charred meat right off the grill.
The best summer drinks: Slow-sipping cognac
24. Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
$54.65
Made from a recipe that’s been unchanged for over a century, Grand Marnier’s Cordon Rouge is 51 per cent cognac. It’s blended with bitter Caribbean orange essence and delivers a finish that makes itself at home and sticks around for a pleasantly long time.
25. Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
$110.20
Aged for up to 12 years, this smooth and balanced bottle is primed for special occasions. A harmonious blend of four crus, or terroirs, equals notes of peach, almond and jasmine.
26. Remy Martin VSOP Cognac
$118.20
You’ll be the host’s favourite if you bring this bottle to a dinner party. Rich toasted oak, dried apricot and pear notes are tied together nicely with a bow when the silky-smooth mouthfeel hits.
27. Gautier VS Cognac
$59.80
This cognac is blooming with a bouquet of candied fruit and toffee. Chocolate, vanilla, white peach and orange will entice your taste buds, but it’s the baking spices that sell us on one more sip.
