Festival Booze: Handbags and Hipflasks

Festival season is upon us, and while we'd like to say that it's all about the music, copious drinking usually comes pretty close. So without further ado, here's our very abridged guide to the best libations for revellers

Feature by Jamie Faulkner | 05 Jul 2013

You know the feeling. Four cans into that lukewarm lager that's been undergoing secondary fermentation in your tent and you wish you had another option. Why weren't you better prepared, stupid? If a lingering metallic taste in your mouth is all you want in a beer – and maybe you do – then look away now. But the rest of you we'll refer to the all-conquering Thornbridge Brewery (thornbridgebrewery.co.uk), who offer mini-kegs of their ale-y ambrosia Jaipur ideal for lugging into the middle of a field. At 5.9% it's not your average low ABV session beer, but you don't want that, do ya? Bonus: you can use them as seats for small children once you're done.

If you're more partial to the grape, then you'll probably wish you could have a handbag full of wine, right? Because you're too good for that bag-in-box swill, we know. But surely nobody's thought of that? Well, actually, the guys over at Vernissage (vernissagewine.com) have lovingly created a stylish and convenient receptacle for 1.5 litres of award-winning Languedoc wine, with Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay/Viognier blends and a straight Rosé to choose from. There's still the issue of keeping your 'winebag' cool, but at least you might have a shot at sneaking your goods past the pesky festival police.

There was a time, we guess, when a festival merely comprised a bunch of merry, strangely clad folk drinking hooch in a field. And despite attempts to dress 'em up over the years, the basic drinks offerings at festivals – like the people – haven't moved on that much. Ultimately, it's all about quality spirits, and a budget doesn't have to mean scrimping: trusty old Aldi's range includes several silver medal winners from the International Wine and Spirit Competition at bargain prices. Their Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin, for instance, costs under a tenner and recently outranked its more expensive siblings at several times the price. Right, that's your rucksacks packed. No room for clothes? Erm...