Tesco toasts the Queen with top drinks from the last seven decades. Peter Morrell gets a taste from the 1950s

With excitement for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations building up, Tesco has put together a selection of the most popular drinks from the last 70 years to mark this incredible achievement. From cocktails to oaky whites and fruity reds, each decade has brought with it a new favourite.

The 1950s saw the Queen’s ascent to the throne and the rise of the vodka martini, followed by Italian Chianti, tropical cocktails like the piña colada, oaked chardonnays and French Bordeaux all taking centre stage in the subsequent decades. At the turn of the century, rosé filled customers’ trollies as did English wine in the 2010s. As we wait to see what will be most popular in the 2020s, the Tesco Finest English Sparkling is a great choice to toast the Queen.

Charlotte Lemoine, Tesco Wine Expert states: “As Tesco has been serving customers throughout the duration of the Queen’s reign, it’s been great to look back at the top tipples of the last seven decades. We’ve been there for the rise of all these drinks, providing customers with the best representations at great value prices, and we cannot wait to see what the upcoming decades have in store for England and the drinks industry.”

Tesco Drinks of the Decades:

1950s: Tesco Finest The Melodist London Dry Gin, 40% abv, £20.00

Peter Morrell editor comments, “In the 1950s, the martini became a go-to drink after it was glamourised by Hollywood stars such as Frank Sinatra. Gin was just as popular in the UK, but the cocktails were far less sophisticated, for example a Gin an “IT” (the IT was short for Italian) was a martini made with sweet vermouth, and a gin and orange was made with undiluted orange squash.

“Fortunately today both the gin we drink and the the cocktails we make are far more sophisticated. I have been tasting the Melodist London Dry Gin, which is the perfect base to use when making a modern cocktail. The Melodist is flavoured with botanicals from around the world. They include juniper berries, coriander seed, angelica, and intriguingly yuzu, lemongrass, and green tea.

“There are lovely floral, citrus, and resinous aromas in the fresh and crisp bouquet. On the palate stronger citrus flavours develop and are joined by lovely floral notes, and a touch of spice. The persistent finish is sweet and flowery.

“Try making your own sophisticated cocktail by adding dry vermouth to the Melodist, and add lemon peel to garnish.”

Tesco Finest Chianti Classico, 13.5% abv, £8.00

The swinging 60s meant the rise of Italian Chianti. The fresh yet firm red wine from the Tuscan hills became incredibly popular, and the Tesco Finest Chianti Classico is the perfect example to either take you back to the 60s, or simply to the Italian countryside.

1970s: Malibu Piña Colada 250ml, 5% abv, £1.80

What better drink to match the era of disco and tropical cocktails in the 70s than a Piña Colada? This fruity cocktail made from rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice, is perfect for a party or to whisk you away to the beach. The Tesco team suggest the Malibu Piña Colada can.

1980s: Tesco Finest New Zealand Chardonnay, 13% abv, £9.00

Oaked chardonnays got our attention in the 1980s as this type of wine became much more well-known and popular. Rich and full-bodied, the Tesco Finest New Zealand Chardonnay exemplifies this classic grape perfectly, boasting aromas of pineapple and grapefruit with notes of toasted oak.

1990s: Cap Royal Bordeaux Supérieur, 13.5% abv, £10.00

The 1990s was the decade of Bordeaux. With some excellent vintages produced in this decade, it’s no surprise that this region’s wines became so popular. Try out the Cap Royal Bordeaux Supérieur for a taste of this classic region. This wine is fruity and fresh with gentle toasted vanilla flavours.

2000s: Tesco Finest Côtes de Provence Rosé, 12.5% abv, £9.00

At the turn of the century, rosé took centre stage. For a fresh pink addition to your party spread, try the Tesco Finest Côtes de Provence Rosé, which has notes of fresh strawberries and redcurrants.

2010s: Tesco Finest English Sparkling, 12% abv, £21.00

Finally, as the 2010s emerged, so did the popularity of English wine. With an increasing number of vineyards being planted in the UK, it was finally our time to shine. One of our favourites is the Tesco Finest English Sparkling, from the Hush Heath Estate and made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – the perfect tipple to toast to the Queen.

What will the 2020s hold?