Hooray, today is the day for gin lovers all around the globe, yes it’s World Gin Day.
To mark this special occasion, and in ode to this juniper berry-flavoured spirit that dates back to the Middle Ages, here are four favourite, delicious and super-simple gin cocktails to make at home.
Cotswolds Dry Martini – ‘A Cool Botanical Cloud’
Cotswolds Dry Gin blends nine carefully considered botanicals (over 10 times the usual amount), including lavender from the Cotswolds and freshly-peeled pink grapefruit and lime zest. Plus – it isn’t chill filtered, hence the cloudiness.
Equipment
Cocktail jar (or clean jam jar or a glass bowl)
Bar spoon
Martini glass
Julep strainer
Fine strainer (or a sieve)
Ingredients
75ml Cotswolds Dry Gin
15ml White Vermouth
Garnish: Grapefruit peel
Method
Fill a Martini glass and a cocktail jar glass with ice – chilling the equipment helps the Martini to be as cold as possible when stirring down the Martini instead of shaking. Add 75ml Cotswolds Dry Gin and 15ml Vermouth to the cocktail jar filled with ice.
Stir down the Martini 22 times – stirring chills the cocktail and marries the gin and vermouth together. For more dilution, stir more times.
Pour the ice out of the Martini glass. Strain the Martini from the cocktail jar into the martini glass using a julep strainer and a fine strainer. Express grapefruit peel over the Martini and then rest it in the Martini.
Jaisalmer ‘Golden Fort’ Cocktail
Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is a triple-distilled spirit, handcrafted in a traditional copper pot still in small batches by master distiller Anup Barik at Rampur, one of India’s oldest distilleries, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It manages to capture its heritage and this recipe combines the ancient knowledge of herbs and spices, juniper berries and hand-picked botanicals from across India. Anup wanted to retain the classic gin flavour using juniper berries whilst adding a refreshing twist with Indian botanicals.
Inspired by the world renowned Golden Fort in Jaisalmer, India. The Golden Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, constructed of sandstone walls that appear golden at sunset, which is where the inspiration for this cocktail comes from.
Ingredients
50ml Jaisalmer Gin
15ml Fresh lime juice
10ml Cinnamon syrup
50ml Cloudy apple juice
Grated nutmeg – optional
Method
Pour the Jaisalmer Gin over cubed ice in a tumbler glass. Add 15ml fresh lime juice, 10ml cinnamon syrup* and 50ml cloudy apple juice. Garnish with an apple fan of 3 slices and add grated nutmeg on top (optional).
*(To create cinnamon syrup add 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water and 4 cinnamon sticks to a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and reduce to medium-low for 8-10 minutes until the sugar has dissolved, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and let it cool. Discard the cinnamon sticks, strain into a clean glass jar and cover. Store for up to 2 weeks in a refrigerator).
Aber Falls Marmalade Negroni
Aber Falls distillery might be famous for their whiskey, but they offer a range of premium (and very delicious) gins too. Hailing from Aber Falls in Abergwyngregyn, Wales, this gin packs a punch, and is perfectly suited to a Negroni for a Welsh take on an Italian classic cocktail.
Ingredients
37.5ml Aber Falls Orange Marmalade Gin
12.5ml Campari
25ml Rosso
2 bar spoons Demerara Sugar
Dash Angostura Bitters
Method
The method couldn’t be easier, simply get yourself an ice filled rocks glass and add all the ingredients, stir well and garnish with orange. For a hint of sweetness, try garnishing with a candied orange slice or team with a treat such as the dark chocolate orange slices by Rococo Chocolates, you won’t regret it.
Pinkster Gin ‘French Twist’
Sometimes, just sometimes you want to add a little ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your prosecco and thanks to British gin brand, Pinkster you can add some fruitiness to your fizz. And really, it couldn’t be so easier.
Ingredients
Pinkster Gin
Highgrove Organic Prosecco
Method
Add one measure of Pinkster Gin (or a dash more depending on your fruity preferences) to a chilled flute of your favourite Prosecco. We don’t think you can get any better than the Highgrove Organic Prosecco.
