Summer BBQ & Sangria: Sign Us Up For The Ultimate Get-Together

Hosting a barbecue during summer is perhaps one of the highlights in the calendar year of anyone who loves to play the perfect host. Summer evenings are the time to bring out your grills, prepare some charred chicken, seafood and meats and craft delicious sliders and barbecued dishes out of them that are paired with potato salad, assorted veggie salads and several fresh and grilled fruits. Chicken, sausages and meats are marinated in advance in spicy and tangy marinades before propping them on the grill so they get that irresistible smoky flavour and the charred lines which are synonymous with the grilling process.

And when you are hosting such a party, you would want to serve some delicious drinks too, that pair perfectly with grilled recipes. One cocktail that is ideal for warm summer evenings is the sangria, a blend of wine, some brandy, orange liqueur and lots of cut up fruits. Sangria is said to have emerged from Spanish culinary cultures and constitutes a very fresh flavour even as it packs quite an intense kick. The sweet and tangy notes of the drink go well with the slightly spicy delicacies prepared on the grill leading to a very pleasing flavour balance.

Here are some ways in which you can bring together sangria and summer grilling at the barbecue you would host this season:

Sangria Variations

Try to experiment with different sangria variations so you can incorporate the flavours of the summer season into your cocktail. Not only will this add a touch of freshness to your drink but it will also complement the summer inspired grilled dishes that are part of the barbecue. You can craft a punchy white wine sangria or a rosé sangria especially when you are caramelising chicken or barbecuing a juicy steak so the fruity textures go well with the slightly intense flavour notes in the meats.

Sliders And Fruity Sangria

One of the highlights of any summer grilling event is those mini burgers or sliders that are crafted using caramelised onions, some mustard and generous helpings of grilled chicken or vegetables topped with crispy lettuce. These small bites pack a lot of flavour and you can pair them with equally zesty fruit-forward sangrias containing large chunks of tropical delights like pears, grapefruits, mangoes and watermelons which are the highlights of the summer season. Also add some berries to a red wine sangria concoction for that delectable tang which would counteract some of the intensity of the mustard sauce or garlic mayonnaise dressing.

Serve It Chilled

At a summer barbecue, if you are standing by the grill charring your meats and veggies, you will definitely feel the sweltering heat coming at you from the warm coals and the warm weather. It is during such moments that you would crave a chilled drink and the best alternative would be a long stemmed glass containing cold sangria. The fruity elements and tanginess of the cocktail will be more pronounced when the drink is refrigerated or prepared using lots of ice. Savouring a red wine sangria cold will then elevate its refreshing qualities at a summer grilling event.

Use Grilled Fruits

If you like dabbling in mixology, you can use grilled fruits to prepare a sangria concoction with a twist. Using grilled grapefruit wedges, pear slices, mango slices or berries in crafting sangria would mean adding a smoky texture to the mix. Every sip of this cocktail will induce a feeling of being at a barbecue party, as grilled fruits would become an unexpected addition to your mixology game. You can char the fruits and add them directly to the cocktail or infuse your brandy with these muddled fruits and strain this into the cocktail for its smoky flavour.

Serve In Elegant Glassware

When you are hosting a summer grilling party with sangria as your signature cocktail, you can turn this event into a slightly more sophisticated affair by serving the drink in long stemmed glasses. With barbecued kebabs and skewers served in quality glass plates and steel cutlery, you can actually turn this evening into an elegant do by preparing red wine sangria with chopped fruits that is served in wine glasses that can be swirled in a sophisticated manner to release the pleasing aroma of the drink.