The Best Batched Cocktails for Summer Picnic Sessions

Summer has just begun, and with it comes plenty of lazy days spent at the beach and park — and plenty of sunshine that warrants having drink in hand. With months worth of outdoor occasions to come, the usual cider, beer and chilled rosé might not cut it. That's where batched cocktails come in. The trend has only continued this year and makes classy sipping all too easy. At your next picnic, pick up one of these batched cocktails and make all of your mates jealous.

@bittersandtwists

THE BROADSIDE SALT AND PEPPERBERRY NEGRONI BY WEST WINDS

If you've had enough of the classic negroni and want to bring something a little different to the picnic, grab a can of West Winds' salt and pepperberry negroni. The Margaret River distillery takes the classic Campari and sweet vermouth and combines it with West Winds 'Broadside Navy Strength' salted gin, then adds two Tasmanian pepperberries before canning.

All you need is ice, and an orange for zesting if you're feeling especially fancy. Plus, the antique-looking can adds a bit of old-world class to the occasion.

Available exclusively online, with each can priced at $10 a pop — and, if you order six, you get a complimentary vintage can opener to bring along to the party.

How much? $10 for a 110ml can. Available online.

Gareth Sobey Photography

MARTINI BY THE EVERLEIGH BOTTLING CO.

The Everleigh is a Melbourne institution, and, lucky for us, the bar lets you enjoy its drinks wherever you fancy. The Everleigh Bottling Co is dedicated to batched cocktails, all of which come in sleek glass bottles. The core range includes a martini, negroni, old fashioned and Manhattan, while the Bartender's Choice collections change regularly.

At the moment, we're most keen on the martini ($17 per bottle) — a 'wet' take on a martini, with a gin to vermouth ratio of at 2:1. It's best served chilled, poured it into a frozen cocktail glass and garnished with a lemon twist or an olive.

Apart from over the bar at The Everleigh and sister venue Heartbreaker, the range is available in some Melbourne bottle shops, including Collingwood's Meatsmith, Harley & Rose in Footscray, and Prince Wine Store in South Melbourne. Plus, it's available online — and gift sets and mix-and-match packages are also available, so you can get plenty.

How much? $17 for a 90ml bottle. Available online and at select bottle shops.

(NEW) OLD FASHIONED BY STARWARD WHISKY

Melbourne's Starward makes tonnes of ace whiskies, but the distiller is also slinging a classic batched cocktail with a twist. The (New) Old Fashioned is a collab between the bartenders and distilling teams and starts with Starward's signature craft whisky, which is then combined with bitters and wattleseed demerara syrup — both made in house.

To top it all off, the cocktail is then matured in Australian red wine barrels before being bottled and sent off to you. It's designed as a barbecue favourite and just needs ice to complete. Get it online here, with free shipping on all orders, or in Dan Murphy's around Melbourne. It's $49 per 500ml bottle, so is ideal for sharing, too.

How much? $49 for a 500ml bottle. Available online and at select Dan Murphy's.

NEGRONI BY THE NEGRONI PROJECT

The negroni's revived popularity shows no sign of slowing, and we think it's a must-have at pretty much every summer gathering. And you can feel even better about buying a few of them batched knowing that a some of your money will be donated to charity. The Negroni Project donates profits from each 250ml bottle sold to men's health charity Movember — and you can find it at Blackhearts & Sparrows stores around town.

This year, the team has used gin from Melbourne Gin Company. BYO ice and orange wedge, and the drink is complete.

How much? $40 for a 250ml bottle. Available at online and at Blackhearts & Sparrows around town.

ANTICA FASHIONISTA X TEN PIECES BY MAURICE TERZINI AND BAR AMERICANO

Barman and artist Matt Bax has already opened an art gallery this year, and now he's collaborated with Sydney restaurateur and fashion designer Maurice Terzini to launch a brand new cocktails. TheAntica Fashionista is an extension of Terzini's fashion label Ten Pieces, a designer's take on the old fashioned.

It's available in 200ml ($35) and 500ml ($69) sizes online. Add ice and an orange twist and you're good to drink. And, if that doesn't take your fancy, you can always buy one of Bar Americano's batched negronis or amaros online.

How much? $35 for a 200ml bottle. Available online.

Top Image: The Everleigh Bottling Co's core range by Gareth Sobey Photography.