There’s nothing that makes me crave a light, refreshing cocktail quite like a sunny afternoon. When my hometown of Glasgow was lucky enough to have those precious two weeks of sun back in June, there was only one thing for it – plenty of walking round exploring the city, with some pub trips thrown in for good measure.
It was on one of these visits where I was introduced to my new favourite cocktail of the summer, and potentially ever. If you like an aperol spritz then this is the drink for you – althuogh it might sound like a bizarre combination. White port and tonic may not initially scream summer chic at first, but once you try it you’ll never go back.
I’ve long thought that port was in need of better PR. I don’t know about anyone else, but it immediately brings to mind a dusty old bottle of sickly wine at the back of the cupboard that nobody has touched for hundreds of years.
That was until I took part in a port tasting at Sandeman in Porto – aka the birth place of port – a couple of years ago. After sampling out a couple of different varities, I was soon converted, and couldn’t believe I’d went so long without trying it.
But I’d never heard of using it as a mixer in other drinks, which is why I was sceptical before trying it with tonic and oranges.
Not unlike an aperol spritz, it’s slightly bitter, but with a hint of sweetness from the fortified wine and extremely fresh and icy-cold too. Turns out it’s essentially the Portugese version of this famous orange cocktail, and it makes the perfect aperitif.
How to make a white port and tonic
After returning to the same bar a couple of times and becoming more and more of a fan of this drink with each visit, I thought it was best for my bank account that I at least tried to make it myself at home.
You only need a few ingredients – ice, white port, good quality tonic water, orange slices and thyme. This final ingredient is optional, but I think it adds a really nice flavour that compliments the rest of the ingredients really well.
Just fill a glass with ice, and pour in one part white port to two parts tonic water. Garnish with a big slice of orange and a sprig of thyme, and you’re good to go.
This drink is perfect for any summer plans you might be hosting, or for simply enjoying on the sofa after a long week of work. It’s really simple to make, but feels like you’ve put more effort in, which is always a win.
I was also pleasantly surprised at how affordable a bottle of white port was. I opted for Taylor’s, which I got from Waitrose for about £14.50, but there were a few varieties available.
As with anything, the more you spend the better it’ll taste – so if you’re a true lover of port then you might prefer a more premium brand. However, this one was ideal for me, so it’s definitely worth a shot.