All the Fun of the Festival

Live bands, a field in the countryside, the obligatory muddy wellies… and cocktails? Not usually the tipple of the festival goer – you’re more likely to see a reveler waving a glow stick and clutching a cider.

But not at Wilderness, where the emphasis is just as much on the food as who’s playing. With tents from the likes of Hix, Polpo and St John, and tunes from London Grammar and Sam Smith, this is an Oxfordshire-based celebration of gastronomy, crafts and music.

And if you’re chowing down on an organic burger or some specialty garlic bread then you need an appropriate drink for accompaniment. We spent last weekend whetting our whistles thanks to the likes of Martin Miller’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Scotch.

Martin Miller’s had a little something for everyone, making the most of the fact it’s such a diverse spirit by offering Gin and Tonic combinations that included strawberry & black pepper, chilli & coriander and ginger & blackberry. Definitely no chance of getting gin-jaded there then.

Over at Monkey Shoulder the vibe was a little more rock n’ roll, with a DJ spinning funky tunes and a delicious BBQ sending our stomachs growling. We tried the nifty little combination of Whisky Punch, which used lemon sherbet to great effect, and treated ourselves to our absolute favourite Monkey cocktail, a classic Old Fashioned.

So next time you’re living the festival lifestyle, don’t assume it’s going to be flat lager or warm wine for you – keep an eye out for your favourite spirits making an appearance!