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If you like Piña Coladas… you’re not alone! Piña Colada is revealed as the UK’s most loved cocktail

• It’s officially the year of the cocktail, as ¼ of Brits say they want to learn to ‘make cocktails like they do in films’
• 6.5 million claim they are enjoying more cocktails this summer than in previous years
• 1 in 10 Brits have paid for a mixology course 

The Piña Colada has been voted the UK’s favourite cocktail this summer, according to an Aldi poll to find the nation’s most loved cocktails. It found more than a quarter (27%) regard the Piña Colada as being among their favourites, above trendier rivals including Mojitos (26%), Espresso Martinis (18%) and Negronis (5%). Cocktails are set to fill many more glasses for the rest of the summer according to Aldi’s study as almost 6.5 million people say they’ve been having more cocktails this summer than they have in previous years.

A quarter of people asked claim they are ‘would-be mixologists’ and say they would love to have a shot at making them like they do in bars and films. 1 in 10 have even paid for a mixology course. The research comes as Aldi launches a supermarket first – Piña Colada in a box. The Old Hopking Bag in Box Piña Colada Cocktail (2.25L, £9.99) gives exotic notes of pineapple, coconut and cream. The box will be available from Wednesday 25^th August. 

Shoppers can also get creative using Aldi’s new Cassario Rum range (25cl, £7.49), available in four flavours, Vanilla Spiced Rum, Mango Rum, Coconut & Lime Rum and a Passionfruit Punch Rum. Ideal in a cocktail or just with a mixer, this tipple will give shoppers that island feeling.

Sex on the Beach – a fruity vodka-based cocktail – was the most popular in the South East (24%) and Yorkshire & the Humber (28%). Aldi’s new Iskall Lime Vodka (70cl, £12.99) is ideal to shake up this cocktail. Smooth, rich and with refreshing distinct notes of freshly pressed lime, this flavoured vodka has a slightly sweet and fruity finish

The seemingly gin-vincable gin has continued to grow in popularity this year and shows no sign of slowing down. Gin-based Negronis were shown to be ‘a London thing’ with three times more people in the capital citing it as a favourite than nationally (16% v 5%)

Penrhos Premium Hibiscus Botanical Gin (£17.99/70cl) has recently been crowned winner of Grow with Aldi – a nationwide search for the greatest craft spirits the UK has to offer. Beating hundreds of other craft distilleries, the victor Penrhos Gin, is a distillery run by fruit farmers who use their ‘wibbly wobbly’ fruit to produce their spirits. The Gin, now available online and in stores, is a magical mix of the finest botanicals, hibiscus and blueberries, picked right from the Penrhos fields for a tantalising taste of the British countryside.

NATION’S TOP TEN COCKTAILS

1.           Pina Colada (favourite among 27.4% of the nation)

2.           Mojito (26.9%)

3.           Margarita (22%)

4.           Espresso Martini (18%)

5.           Whiskey on the rocks (16%)

6.           Sex on the Beach (16%)

7.           Bloody Mary (13%)

8.           White Russian (11%)

9.           Long Island Iced Tea (11%)

10.         Cosmopolitan (10%)

Pritesh Mody, a leading UK drinks expert and cocktail presenter on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, said: “Cocktails are fun and that’s why we Brits love them.

“It’s great to see a classic like Piña Colada claiming the top spot but I’m sure this year we’ll see people experimenting more than ever, with huge numbers of people saying they’d like to learn how to mix.

“It can seem daunting at first, but I really want to show people how even the strangest ingredients – like seaweed and chickpea water – can add a bit of zing to cocktails and put a smile on people’s faces.” 

Aldi’s August Spirits Festival range is available online, via Click & Collect, and in Aldi stores nationwide now*

*Pina Colada is available from Wednesday 25^th August.