Margaret Swaine’s Spirit Picks: Summer cocktails

Alizé Gold Passion
$24.95 (87 Points)
This exotic cordial, created in concert with a French family known for its jams and juices, blends passion fruit juice with cognac, French vodka and sugars. Its nose is aromatic with passion fruit, which carries through on the palate. It’s sweet but not overly so with orange juice-like notes. Add sparkling wine for a great mimosa or tequila for a margarita with a twist.

Limoné Natural Lemon Liqueur
$19.95 (86 Points)
Limoncé is Italy’s No. 1 selling limoncello. Lower alcohol at 25%, with no artificial colours or flavours, it’s all about the sweet lemon peel. A little syrupy but with a good lemon peel finish, mix with soda water and gin for a tall cool drink or vodka and cranberry juice for a Limonpolitan.

The London #1 Gin
$44.95  (93 Points)
One of a handful of super-premium gins distilled in London, its light turquoise colour is derived in part from gardenia flowers and a final infusion of bergamot oil. Triple distilled, made from high-quality English grain spirit and 12 botanicals, this is a highbrow gin. The aromatics and flavours jump out of the glass — juniper first, then citrus peels and cinnamon and liquorice in the finish. Distinctive yet smooth on the palate, enjoy in a martini, stirred not shaken.