Long days by the beach or fun night with friends – summer provides the best excuse for making easy, refreshing cocktails that use common pantry and home bar staples like fresh citrus fruit, tequila, rum, and gin. How about adding some herbs to enhance the flavour of your cocktails? Whether you’re growing herbs at home or have some in the fridge that need to be used, these recipes are a must-try.
G&T with orange and rosemary
For this cool, Mediterranean-inspired drink, these 2 garnishes – a sprig of fresh rosemary and a slice of juicy orange – perfectly complement each other!
INGREDIENTS
- 50ml Gin
- 150-200ml premium Indian tonic
YOU ALSO NEED
- Plenty of cubed ice
- Orange
- Fresh rosemary
DIRECTIONS
Grab a large copa (aka balloon) glass… Try to ensure your glass is pre-chilled and not warm. To do this, you can fill it with some ice and swirl it round for 15 secs and then discard this ice. Pour in a double shot of gin and add plenty of cubed ice. Slice your orange into a wedge or slice and place into your glass. Take a nice long sprig of fresh rosemary and delicately place into your glass. Enjoy!
Classic mojito
If you’re in the mood for a fun summer drink, this mint mojito recipe is just what you need! It’s refreshing, delicious, and super easy to make.
INGREDIENTS
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- small handful mint leaves, plus extra sprig to serve
- 60ml white rum
- soda water, to taste
DIRECTIONS
Muddle the lime juice, sugar and mint leaves in a small jug, crushing the mint as you go – you can use the end of a rolling pin for this. Pour into a tall glass and add a handful of ice. Pour over the rum, stirring with a long-handled spoon. Top up with soda water, garnish with mint and serve.
Blueberry Basil Lemon Lavender Mocktail
This is a family-friendly mocktail which can be prepared in just 10 minutes! The fruity essence of blueberries and the subtle floral notes of the lavender balance out the sharp tang of the lemon and basil. For an adult twist, add a splash of gin or vodka to enhance its refreshing character.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pint fresh Blueberries muddled (squished)
- 1 cup Basil chopped
- ½ cup Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed Juice of about 2 lemons
- ¾ cup Lavender Simple Syrup (recipe below)
- 1½ cup Soda Water
- Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup Lavender buds (food grade)
DIRECTIONS
In a medium sized pitcher add in the blueberries, chopped basil, and lemon juice. Swish or muddle all the berries, and basil together until they release their flavour and juices. Add in the about 2 cups of ice and the soda water and stir thoroughly. Pour into a long glass. Garnish with blueberries, lemon, and basil, and enjoy.
For the Lavender Simple Syrup
Add 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to a small heavy bottomed saucepan. Turn on medium heat. Stir 3-4 times, then add in the lavender buds. Let it heat until all the sugar granules have dissolved. Then turn off the heat and allow the Lavender to steep and cool in the syrup until you are ready to use. Use a funnel and a fine mesh strainer to get all the lavenders buds out of the syrup. You now have Lavender Simple syrup for use for drinks, pancakes, cake making, in your tea or coffee.
Come to Piscopo Gardens to see our wide range of citrus trees as well as a great variety of herbs – it won’t be long before you start enjoying your own homemade cocktails!
