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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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