Beyond The Honey Deuce, 5 Tennis Cocktails To Serve This Match Season

Tennis can turn what should have been an ordinary afternoon into a three-hour event. What was once expected to be an easy match suddenly turns into a five-set game filled with a controversial call from a linesperson, and everyone is glued to the screen. Now, if this scene is taking place at a gathering you’ve hosted, you know you can’t control the match outcome. What you can control are the drinks on the menu. And you don’t have to start from scratch if you don’t want to! You can refer to this handy list of tennis cocktails that suit the theme, offer immense variety in terms of flavours and spirits, and can be made at home. 

Brand references are indicative and can be changed as per preference. 

1. Pimm’s Cup Cocktail

The Pimm’s Cup is a classic tennis cocktail based on Pimm’s No. 1, a historic gin-based herbal liqueur. It is traditionally served over a bed of sparkling lemonade or ginger ale and is heaped high with fresh mint leaves, cucumber slices, orange wheels and strawberries. It’s a low-ABV, crisp, and botanical alternative for spectators. 

2. Tie Break Tonic Cocktail

The Tie Break Tonic cocktail is a riff on the classic gin and tonic, made by adding bright citrus and herbal notes to the traditional composition. To make this, start with a classic London dry gin, like Tanqueray London Dry Gin. Mix it with tonic and lime juice. It may sound simple, but this tennis cocktail features layers of flavours, leaning more fresh and bitter. If you want a change from intensely sweet or delicate, floral cocktails, this is worth trying.

3. Botanical Spritz Cocktail

The Botanical Spritz cocktail is another common order at tennis match screenings. It’s light, fizzy, and low-ABV. This drink combines vodka, like Ketel One, or any other, with soda water and a touch of elderflower syrup. The beverage also features lemon zest and thyme, which add to the aroma and complement the taste. Another variation swaps vodka for white wine for a slightly drier profile.

4. Southside Cocktail

The Southside cocktail is a historic drink that also suits modern-day screenings. It combines a clean gin base with fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and a generous handful of slapped mint leaves. Shaken vigorously with ice and strained into a chilled glass, it functions essentially as a Gin-Based Mojito or a Mint Gimlet. Its crisp, zesty, and highly aromatic qualities make it a worthy choice to include on the home bar menu. 

5. Bramble Cocktail

This drink, created in the 1980s, is one of the more recognised cocktails thanks to its distinct appearance. It starts with a mixture of dry gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup poured over crushed ice. The drink is finished with a beautiful layer of blackberry liqueur that seeps through the ice. Its wonderful balance of tart citrus and sweet berries makes it a well-balanced alternative to other sweeter drinks. 

The Match-Day Cocktail Line-Up

The secret to a great tennis cocktail menu is variety, not repetition. Instead of serving five beverages that taste almost identical, you want each drink to bring its own unique flavour, style, and vibe to the table.

• For fruity and herbal: Pimm’s Cup cocktail

• For bitter and sparkling: Tie Break Tonic cocktail

• For floral and botanical: Botanical Spritz cocktail

• For citrus and mint: Southside cocktail

• For berry and lemon: Bramble cocktail

Conclusion

Tennis season provides an opportunity to experiment with flavours. Fruity, spicy, herbal, citrus and berry flavours can be utilised depending on time and ingredients on hand. The good news is that none of the drinks needs to be too formal. Just put on the scoreboard, keep the ice bucket in sight and let the drinks remain on the sidelines, while the action takes place on the court. 

*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.