Calling all budding mixologists! A heatwave is on its way to the UK and with garden parties and outdoor gatherings back in the social calender, it's time to dust off your cocktail shaker – just in time for the bank holiday season.
RELATED: 30 fun garden party essentials: From tiki sets to disco lights and cool outdoor bars
READ: The monthly wine subscription service EVERYONE is talking about right now
We might be loving the return of pubs and bars as outdoor venues have finally been able to reopen after months of lockdown restrictions, but if you've ever tried to find a table at one without a booking on a Friday – you'll know that spontaneous evenings are off the cards.
So why not bring the bar home? Whether you're a fan of a citrus twang, or fruity flavours are more your jam, we've created a round up of the very best gin cocktails – so you can impress at all your socially distanced soirées this spring.
MORE: The Queen is selling her first gin – and it's highly collectable
Rhubarb Sour
Made with deliciously light Cotton Gin and fresh rhubarb, this premium small-batch gin has a delicate botanical flavour with a hint of vanilla - making the perfect spring cocktail.
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml Cotton Gin
- 25ml Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
- 12.5ml Rhubarb Syrup (recipe below)
- ½ Egg White
INSTRUCTIONS
To make the sugar syrup:
Step 1
Chop 3 sticks of rhubarb into small pieces.
Step 2
Add to a pan with 200ml of water and 100g sugar.
Step 3
Gently heat and keep on a low heat for 15-20mins (until the rhubarb has softened). Do not let it boil!
Step 4
Pass through a fine strainer to remove the remaining rhubarb
To make the cocktail:
Add all the ingredients to a shaker without ice. Shake together for 10 seconds. Add ice to the shaker and shake hard for 15 more seconds. Fine strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. (If shaken hard enough you should have a nice foam).
Pink, Pink Pepper
For a citrus twist, use Bathtub Gin for a zesty grapefruit cocktail that will be sure to impress your garden guests.
INGREDIENTS
- Bathtub Gin
- 80ml pink grapefruit juice
- 80ml tonic
- 25ml pink peppercorn honey (recipe below)
- Grapefruit slice and crushed pink pepper to garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
To batch make the pink peppercorn honey:
Step 1
Add 1 tbsp pink peppercorns to 100ml honey and 100ml hot water.
Step 2
Stand for half an hour, strain and keeps for 1 week in the fridge.
To make the cocktail:
Fill highball glass with ice, pour over Bathtub Gin, pink grapefruit juice, tonic and pink peppercorn honey and stir gently. Garnish with pink pepper dipped grapefruit slice.
Classic G&T
If you're going to opt for a classic G&T, you may as well make one using Ryan Reynold's co-owned gin brand Aviation Gin. This American gin is the perfect base for a variety of cocktails with juniper in the background and citrus and floral notes in the front. If it's good enough for Ryan...
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml Aviation American Gin
- 150 ml Tonic Water
- Lemon and Lime
INSTRUCTIONS
Pour a double shot of Avation Gin into a glass filled with ice and top with tonic water. Then gently stir and garnish with a lemon and lime wheel.
Arancia E Miele Sour
Malfy gin screams summer in a bottle, sure to transport you to warm days in the Mediterranean and long Italian evenings, even if travel restrictions mean we're stuck to our UK gardens for a while.
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml Malfy Con Arancia
- 15ml Lemon Juice
- 15ml Blood Orange Juice
- 20ml Honey
- Egg White
- 3 Drops Cardamom Bitters
- Orange Wedge (to garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
In a cocktail shaker, shake the first 5 ingredients without ice to create a foamy texture. Then shake with ice and strain into a chilled glass over ice. Garnish with an orange wedge.
Lemon Drizzle Gin Mojito
Fragrant and zesty, Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin makes for a supremely refreshing spring gin ingredient – use it as the base of a mood-boosting Mojito and you’re in for a real treat.
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml Lemon Drizzle Gin
- 15ml Lemon Juice
- 15ml Lime Juice
- 20ml Sugar Syrup
- 8-10 Mint Leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all the ingredients in a glass. Churn with crushed ice and then top up with more crushed ice and soda water, before garnishing with a sprig of mint, and a freshly peeled lemon twist.
Raspberry Beret
According to experts at The Cocktail Service, this vibrant, fruity and zesty cocktail is set to be an all-around favourite this summer.
INGREDIENTS
- 25ml Gin
- 25ml Raspberry Liqueur
- 20ml Lemon Juice
- 6 Raspberries
- 15ml Gomme
- Top Soda
- Lemon Slice and a Raspberry (to garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
Put all ingredients except the soda, into a shake and shake hard. Strain into a hi-ball filled with cubed ice. Top with soda, Crown with crushed ice if you have it and garnish.
Cocktail Shaker, £13.99, Amazon
SHOP NOW
If you're keen to try these delicious gin cocktails - don't forget the essentials! Many of these recipes require shaking to get that deliciously smooth frothy texture.
MORE: Royal inspired cocktails to make at home
HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.
