A new year means only one thing! GINuary.
To celebrate the coolest month of the year here are our top 5 Gin cocktails.
Gimlet
Ingredients
60ml Dry Gin
20ml Rose's lime cordial
Twist of lime
Garnish with lime zest
Method
Pour the Gin and cordial into a mixing glass then fill with ice cubes.
Stir well with a mixing spoon to chill and dilute.
Taste the gimlet before serving to ensure the ice has diluted the Gin enough (the alcohol should feel pleasant not aggressive) then strain into a Cocktail glass.
Squeeze a wedge of lime over the glass, ensuring that the lime oils are expelled across the surface of the drink.
Garnish with fresh lime zest and serve.
Products Used
BarCraft 4 Piece Mojito Cocktail Set
BarCraft Stainless Steel Cocktail Strainer
KitchenCraft Oval Handled Stainless Steel Zester
Raspberry Gin Jam Cocktail
Ingredients
1 tbsp Raspberry Jam
½ lemon
2 shots of your favourite Gin
Tonic Water
Fresh Raspberries
Method
Combine the Raspberry Jam, Gin and the juice of ½ lemon in a Preserving Jar.
Then shake the jar until the Raspberry Jam is completely dissolved.
Fill a Glass Drinks Jar with ice.
Strain the Jam Cocktail over the ice, fill it with Tonic Water and garnish with fresh Raspberries.
Products Used
Home Made Glass 500ml Preserving JarKitchenCraft Wooden Lemon Reamer / Juicer
BarCraft Insulated Double Walled Stainless Steel Cocktail Mixer
Home Made Traditional Glass Drinks Jar with Straw
Blackberry and Lavender Gin and Tonic
Ingredients
For the Blackberry and Lavender Simple Syrup
200g Granulated sugar
½ pint cold water
200g Fresh Blackberries
1 Tsp. Lavender flowers
For the Blackberry and Lavender Gin and Tonic
50ml gin
25ml Blackberry and Lavender Simple Syrup (or to taste)
½ Tbsp. Limoncello or fresh lemon juice
Lemon tonic water to top up
Ice
Blackberries and Lavender sprigs to garnish
Method
Prepare the syrup in advance by rinsing the blackberries and lavender flowers gently in cold water.
Add the clean blackberries and sugar to a sauce pan and cover with the water. Slowly bring to the boil, stirring occasionally until all of the sugar has dissolved before adding the lavender.
Simmer for a few more minutes to let the lavender infuse then remove from the heat. Using a heat resistant potato masher, gently crush the berries slightly to release their juice.
Leave to cool completely then strain into a clean jar. The syrup will keep in the fridge for a week or you can pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze for an extra burst of flavour later. You can also use it to drizzle over desserts as well.
The Cocktail
Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the gin, Limoncello (or lemon juice) and top up with chilled tonic water.
Carefully pour in the blackberry and lavender simple syrup, allowing it to settle at the bottom of the glass.
Add a lavender sprig and blackberry then stir and serve.
Products Used
MasterClass Non-Stick Heavy Duty 16cm Saucepan
MasterClass Measuring Jug
BarCraft Five Piece Hammered Brass Finish Cocktail Tool Set
Colourworks Classics Green Silicone-Headed Kitchen Spoon with Long Handle
Colourworks Classics Silicone Head Green Masher
Home Made 'Tempting Tipple' Glass 375ml Bottle
Ultimate G&T
Ingredients
1 1⁄2 oz. dry gin
1 1⁄2 oz. tonic syrup
4 oz. club soda
1 lime wheel, for garnish
5 pin peppercorns, or garnish
1 sprig rosemary, for garnish
Method
Combine 1 1⁄2 oz. each dry gin and tonic syrup in a glass with 1 large ice cube.
Add 4 oz. club soda then garnish with the whole pink peppercorns, plus lime wheel, and rosemary sprig.
Products Used
BarCraft Stainless Steel JiggerBarCraft Jumbo Ice Cube Tray
Bramble
Ingredients
40ml gin
10ml sugar syrup
15ml crème de mur (blackberry liqueur)
15ml lemon or lime juice
Blackberries and mint to garnish
Method
Add ice to a tumbler. Pour the gin, sugar syrup and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain the mixture over the ice then carefully add the Crème de Mur by pouring over the back of a mixing spoon. Garnish with a perfect blackberry or two and a sprig of mint.
Products Used
BarCraft 650ml Art Deco Brass Finish Cocktail Shaker
BarCraft Five Piece Hammered Brass Finish Cocktail Tool Set