Average Joes

When you think of the classic Cuban cocktail, the Mojito, a crystal-clear drink with lashings of ice and fragrant fresh mint, is what springs to mind. The summer rum brand Havana Club is looking to shake things up, bringing a Mojito with a twist to the table. Enter the Golden Mojito, made with Havana Club Añejo Especial. But should you mess with such a classic cocktail? We tried it to find out. The classic Mojito is, in all honesty, a pretty simple drink.

As the heat continues, staying hydrated is important, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. We’ve tasted some thirst-quenching alternative summer drinks that are non-alcoholic, flavour-filled, and, in some cases, have extra health benefits thrown in, too. Energy drinks have become a go-to for people who want an energy boost, but with so many packed with artificial ingredients and sugar, they can offer only a short-term gain.

Formula E might be fought out on the streets of London, Tokyo and São Paulo, but some of Nissan’s most important race-weekend work happens in a room in Paris. While Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato are strapped into their Nissan Formula E cars, another small team can be thousands of miles away, hammering around a virtual version of the same circuit in one of the most advanced driving simulators around. There’s a bit more to it than a PlayStation 5 and a Logitech wheel.

There are cars you remember for the noise they make, the way they tackled your favourite country road, or even the things you got up to in the car. Cars that made you feel something. The Kia Stonic isn’t one of those cars. In fact, after a week with it, you may struggle to remember very much about driving it at all. That sounds damning, but bear with me, as it really isn’t. The Stonic quietly gets on with doing what cars need to do, rarely irritates and demands almost nothing from its driver.

When it comes to summer holidays, the size and weight of your baby or toddler’s stroller can be an issue, particularly if you’re travelling abroad. The thought of managing in an airport if you’ve had to check a big stroller into the hold can be stressful, so finding an alternative that can be stowed in the cabin could be a real game-changer. I checked out the Imi compact travel stroller from Bababing, which seems to have all the answers.

Enjoying a refreshing spritz in the sunshine is a pleasure that many of us enjoy during the summer months. From the classic Aperol Spritz to the more contemporary Limoncello Spritz, there are plenty to choose from. The Cotswolds Distillery has a couple of summer spritz options that will make a delicious addition to your spritz lineup this season, but why just limit them to summer?

Most of us don’t think about our car battery until the car refuses to start. At that point, you’re either hunting for jump leads, waiting for breakdown recovery, or wondering why you didn’t do something about it earlier. That’s where battery chargers come in. They’re not the most exciting bit of kit you’ll ever buy, but they can be incredibly useful if your car spends long periods parked up, if you’ve got a weekend toy, or if winter weather is making your battery work harder than usual.

If you’re a fan of a Speyside whisky, the chances are you’ve already tried a single malt from Tamnavulin. This year, Tamnavulin distillery commemorates its 60th anniversary, giving us all a great excuse to pour a dram in celebration. Tamnavulin distillery is located in the heart of Speyside, close to the River Livet. Back in the 16th century, the site was home to a carding mill that used a wooden waterwheel to power machinery that prepared textiles for spinning.

Kids need a lot of clobber as they grow, and that means finding somewhere to put it all. One of the bulkier items is usually the highchair, but there are options that not only do the job well but are also compact and inexpensive. I tested the Graco MiniLite Compact highchair to see if small really can be just as mighty.

There’s something great about being able to access your favourite music at the press of a button, wherever you are (taking care not to annoy all those around you, of course). Encouraging a love of music in your kids is a great thing too, so this new offering from Canal Toys could provide them with musical freedom without the need for a mobile phone. It costs less than £10, but does the Canal Toys Mini Speaker live up to expectations? We tried it to find out.