Best of British: Wedding Wines & Drinks

The importance of a good drink to accompany food at your wedding cannot be stressed enough. Which is why we place so much value on curating an exciting, diverse drink list that perfectly pairs with Rocket’s seasonal menus. Sustainability being at the forefront of Rocket’s culture, our passionate team are always looking for local suppliers to ensure that we are catering both sustainably and deliciously.

Here are some of our recommendations on the best British drinks including wines, cocktails as well as exquisite soft drinks to amaze your guests on your wedding day. No good party is complete without some fabulous drinks.

There is great diversity in British wines, from delicate fizz to aromatic whites or cherry-scented reds, providing a British wine list that can therefore be surprisingly fun.

Rocket works closely with local suppliers such as Gusbourne, prestigious Kent-based winemakers, whose English sparkling wine makes for the ideal event aperitif. Focusing on the classic grape varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, the grapes used in Gusbourne’s winemaking are sourced solely from their vineyards.

Gusbourne’s best-selling Brut Reserve with a bright streak of citrus fruit, a clean and fresh palate, and tones of soft stone fruit is a great partner for classic English food pairings such as seared scallops.

Should a sparkling rosé be more to your taste, Hattingley Valley has just what you are looking for. With a taste of bright red fruit, strawberries, and raspberries and a note of pomegranate on the nose, Hattingley Valley’s sparkling rosé is an excellent choice.

As well as a variety of delicious English fizz, Gusbourne offers a selection of still wines such as their Chardonnay Guinevere and Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay Guinevere is pale golden with aromas of lemon, green apple, and toasted nuts. It pairs particularly well with any chicken dishes. On the other hand, their award-winning Pinot Noir with its beautiful black cherry fruit scent shows the promise of English red wines. The cool climate of this Pinot Noir means that it pairs perfectly with oily fish, earthy mushroom, or duck-based dishes, where the silky tannin and elegant freshness of this wine perfectly balances the richness of those dishes.

English 75  

A well-presented representation of its ancestor the French 75, the English 75 consists of four simple ingredients: English fizz, gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup. At Rocket, we replace the classic French Champagne with the refreshing taste of the quintessentially English Gusbourne sparkling wine. We wanted to create a classic cocktail that represented the best of British wines, showcasing products that have been introduced onto our wine list. The wedding season is upon us and we feel that this  will be the perfect arrival cocktail on your special day. 

Rhubarb Martini 

Perfect for a springtime wedding, a Rhubarb Martini is just as refreshing with a bit of a tang and a light touch of sweetness. It is made with a rhubarb syrup, vodka, and a squeeze of lime juice. To keep it British, why not use delightful British rhubarb and Gattertop‘s Botanic No7. Gattertop is located in Herefordshire, renowned for its unspoilt countryside and epicurean produce. Its exceptional tasting British craft vodkas are made using 100% natural, home-grown, organic ingredients. The Botanic No7 appeals to both vodka and gin drinkers who prefer natural flavours and enjoy a healthier drink.  

Non-alcoholic Gin & Tonic

Gin & Tonic remains a much-loved classic so why not provide a British non-alcoholic twist for the non-drinkers? Pentire‘s delightful non-alcoholic spirit was created for outdoor living in conjunction with delicious botanical flavours that go amazingly with The London Essence Co.‘s tonic water. Hibiscus and salty notes are two flavour profiles that best represent this soft spirit. At Rocket, we collaborated with the team over our lockdown project A Cooks Tour “A Night at the Medina” which gave us an insight into the flavours to expect when sipping. 

Delightful Soft Drinks

Whether you want to please the non-drinkers or simply provide an option for people to freshen up, flavoured sodas are always a great idea. Genie‘s sodas are not only British but also healthy with no added sugar or nasties. Whether mixed into mocktails or on their own, they would provide your guests with a great alternative.

Should you be looking for something more special, why not have some Apple Mockitos available for your guests? The refreshing blend of mint leaves, apple juice, lemon juice, elderflower cordial and soda water, is both delicious and elegant.