Bank Holiday Sessions: Drinks, Soundtracks & Late Nights
Aug 24, 2026
Long weekends are all about extending the moment. Here’s how to bring bar-quality cocktails and curated sound to your Bank Holiday setup without spending half of it stuck in the kitchen shaking ice.
There’s a specific energy to a Bank Holiday weekend. The late-afternoon light lingers a little longer, dinner plans turn into spontaneous evening gatherings, and no one is looking at their watch.
Whether you’re setting up on a sunny patio, firing up a late BBQ, or hosting friends around the kitchen island, great hosting usually comes down to two elements: getting the atmosphere right with music, and keeping a high-quality drink in everyone’s hand.
The trick is doing it without becoming the full-time bartender for the night. Here is our guide to effortless Bank Holiday hosting.
1. Ditch the Prep, Keep the Craft
Nothing kills the flow of an afternoon faster than squeezing citrus, measuring syrups, and washing cocktail shakers while your guests are outside enjoying the sun.
Ready-to-drink bottled cocktails mean you get precision balance and bar-standard depth in seconds. For golden hour, serve our Maple Old Fashioned - awarded a 2026 Great Taste Award - poured simply over a single large ice cube for a rich, smooth sip. If the weather leans tropical, break out our Pampelita Margarita for a sharp, refreshing hit of red grapefruit and premium tequila over ice, garnished with a juicy slice of pink grapefruit.
2. The Night-Cap Moment: The Espresso Martini Ritual
When the sun goes down and the energy shifts from relaxed afternoon to late evening, it’s time for an after-dinner pick-me-up.
An Espresso Martini is the classic transition drink, but getting that rich, velvety foam head at home usually requires a full bar setup. We’ve solved that with our new Espresso Martini Starter Kit (£30 with free UK delivery).
It pairs a 200ml bottle of our 2-Star Great Taste Award-winning Espresso Martini (crafted with 100% Arabica coffee, premium vodka, and a touch of salted caramel vodka liqueur) alongside a professional chrome shaker and precision pourer.
The serve: Add ice to your chrome shaker, pour 100ml, hard-shake for 15 seconds, and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with three coffee beans for that sleek, bar-standard finish.
3. Set the Soundtrack
Music sets the tone long before the first glass is even poured, and our playlists are curated to match the progression of your day. Simply scan the QR code on your bottle label and Sip To The Sounds.
Start the afternoon lounging to one of our laid-back mixes - Summer Chill or Laid Back Soul & Funk. As the late afternoon kicks into early evening, transition into the rhythmic grooves of Soultronic. Then, when the Espresso Martinis come out and the night gets more lively, turn up the tempo with high-energy Disco, Warm House, or the upbeat, feel-good hits of Cherry Pop.
Beat the Cut-Off!
Planning your Bank Holiday setup? Order your Espresso Martini Starter Kit or Bottled Cocktail Bundles before Thursday for delivery in time for the long weekend.
