Few things in life are more refreshingly enjoyable than sipping an ice-cold drink on a hot day. This is easy to do when you are at home where your fridge is, but that means you’re not out enjoying the sunshine. If you do venture out for the day, you’ll often find vendors charging a premium for a nice cold beverage. You can save money and bring your own, but it’s likely you’ll end up drinking something warm.

Unless, that is, you come prepared. Today, there are many effective ways to keep your drinks cold. No longer will you need to settle for warm wine and other tepid tipples. This guide is going to share the best advice and recommendations for keeping your drinks cool all day long.

Preparation

For the best chance of keeping your drinks cool long into a hot day, you need to do some prep work in the time leading up to your picnic or event.

First up, you obviously need to make sure that your drinks are already cold. Leaving them in the fridge overnight is ideal, but there are times when we can’t do that. What can you do if you find yourself with a multipack at room temperature just before you’re meant to be heading out the door?

If the drinks are in bottles, there is actually a quick way to cool them if this happens. Wrap them in a thin layer of wet paper towel and put them in the freezer. In around 15 minutes they will have cooled to a lovely, refreshing temperature. 

Then, it goes without saying that you will need to keep them in a coolbox while you transport them to your destination. Preparing the box in advance can also help keep your drinks cool for longer. The first step is to pre-cool it for 15 minutes or more by filling it with ice. Drain out any water or slush, insert your drinks, then top it up with ice again. Generally, the more densely packed it is, the cooler everything will stay. Use a combination of different ice sizes, such as large cubes or ice packs which melt slowly along with ice chips or crushed ice to fill up any gaps.   

During the day

In the absence of electricity to keep the temperature low, the name of the game is insulation. Insulating your coolbox by wrapping a blanket around it will help it stay cold for longer. Any blanket will do but reflective ones, like emergency blankets, work best.   

When you finally get around to drinking your bottles, you can insulate them individually too with Soupcan stubbie holders or similar products. If you’re using glasses, you can buy suction lids that keep direct sunlight off of them. 

Conclusion

On a hot day, cold drinks are perhaps the most important picnic essential, yet they are one of the most challenging to deliver. However, with some preparation in the lead-up to the outing and just a few handy products, you can make staying hydrated much more enjoyable. These tips will work for soft and alcoholic drinks. If you plan on drinking the latter, please remember to drink safely and responsibly.