So popular is the Gin and Tonic that it’s even been given its own day – October 19 – which this year falls on a Saturday – the perfect day to wheel out the drinks trolley and pour yourself one and say cheers to the start of summer! Interestingly, International Gin & Tonic Day was launched in 2012 by a woman called Jayne Withers in honour of her grandmother, Mary Edith Keyburn. Says Withers: “Mary Edith was a remarkable woman who loved to have the occasional tipple of Gin & Tonic. She passed away in hospital on October 19 2010 at the age of 95, with a Gin & Tonic at her side that was smuggled into the hospital in a water bottle and served in a teacup.” A girl after my own heart!
We asked three producers for their favourite gin cocktail and here’s what they sent us.
Strawberry Summer Cup
From Ginologist who produce handcrafted small batch gin using the finest exotic botanicals mixed to surprise and delight the most ardent gin fans – comes the Ginologist Strawberry Summer Cup Strawberry Bramble (recipe makes two cocktails).
Ingredients
Ice (both whole and crushed)
50ml Ginologist Citrus Gin
30ml lemon juice
30ml simple syrup
3 strawberries, roughly chopped
30ml Ginologist Strawberry Summer Cup
Fresh strawberries (to garnish)
Sprig of mint (to garnish)
Method
Begin by adding Ginologist Citrus Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and four whole ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to achieve the perfect blend. In a glass, muddle the chopped strawberries. Add crushed ice and pour in the gin mixture. Finish by topping it off with Ginologist Strawberry Summer Cup. Garnish with fresh strawberries and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.
To make the simple syrup: Heat one cup of water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, ensuring it becomes hot without reaching a boil. Add one cup of granulated sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature before using. Transfer to a glass jar and store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Ginologist’s range includes London Dry Gin; Dark Chocolate and Marshmallow Gin; Citrus Gin; Floral Gin; Orient Gin; I Love You Gin; Summer Cup Strawberry and Summer Cup Piña Colada.
The French
From Plaisir Wine Estate, whose three gins are labelled The Tempest Gin Summer, The Tempest Gin Winter and the Tempest Gin Autumn, comes the French 75 which is named for the fast-firing 75mm field gun that was utilised by the French during WW1. Consisting of gin, lemon syrup and bubbly, the drink is a lot friendlier than the name implies. According to drinks historian David Wondrich, the recipe first appeared in 1927 at the height of Prohibition. Today it is a favourite in cocktail bars and also much enjoyed over a hearty brunch. The drink offers a boozier kick than a Mimosa, while still providing ultimate refreshment before, during and after a plate of eggs Benedict.
Ingredients
1 part Tempest Gin
1 part artisanal lemon syrup – (NO cordials!)
Plaisir Cap Classique Brut
Method
Pour the gin and lemon syrup into a cocktail shaker and shake until mixed. Pour into a martini glass and top up with Plaisir MCC Brut.
And finally, from diOxygin, whose gin is crafted with the indigenous Spekboom plant and a refreshing splash of citrus, there’s the OxyGin Spritz Cocktail.
Ingredients
30ml diOxygin gin
30ml orange juice
120ml Cap Classique or Champagne of choice
Optional garnish: rosemary or spekboom twig, or a slice of orange.
Method
Fill a tall glass with crushed ice. Add the diOxygin gin and orange juice and top with the bubbly. Garnish with a rosemary or spekboom twig or a slice of orange. Santé!