3 Refreshingly Delicious Spins On A Classic Gin And Tonic

Image: www.saltandwind.com

Although the classic Gin and Tonic with a decorative slice of lemon always goes down well, artisanal Gin and Tonics that stray from the usual mix are becoming more and more popular in South Africa. With so many different pairing infusions to choose from, such as apricot, rosemary, cucumber and orange, it can be difficult to whittle down the options and find your favourite artisanal mix. So, we thought we’d save you some time by sharing these 4 Gin cocktail recipes that have been highly recommended by our friends at Make it Wonderful. These vibrant mixes are sure to be a real hit with friends and family who enjoy the occasional G & T.

Strawberry Bliss

Image: www.thelittlekitchen.net;Recipe; www.blaque.co.za

Cream, chocolate, custard… what doesn’t strawberry taste good with? This sensational fruit is definitely a win in our books when it comes to G & T pairing options. Ingredients

• 45ml Woodstock gin
• 15ml Lime juice
• 35ml Cane syrup
• Strawberries
• Cucumber
• A Slice of lime
• Splash of Tonic water

Method Mix gin and fresh lime juice in a highball glass. Then add in the strawberries, cane syrup and cucumbers and blend. Finish the drink off with a slice of lime and pour in the tonic water to add a little fizz.

Honey and Rooibos

Image and recipe: www.drizzleanddip.com

Are you ready to experience Gin and Tonic in a whole new way? This special mix really adds a ‘wow factor’ to your typical drink. In addition to looking like something out the pages of a food magazine, this pairing is exceptionally tasty and has the perfect balance of flavours. Ingredients

• 1L Rooibos tea, brewed
• 250ml Honey
• 4 Juniper berries
• 2 Star anise
• 4 White pepper corns
• 60ml Lemon juice & grated rind of 1 lemon
• 1 Orange
• Gin
• Tonic water

Method Simmer the rooibos tea, honey, juniper berries, star anise and white pepper corns in a medium pot, over a medium heat for approximately 10 minutes. Then pour the mixture into a deep metal baking dish, through a fine sieve. Pour in the lemon juice and grated rind and leave this in the freezer. Remove the tray every 30minutes, or as soon as icicles start to form, and be sure to loosen the mixture with a fork each time you take it out the freezer. After two hours your mixture should be ready, and should resemble fluffy ice flakes. Add a tot of gin to each glass once you’re ready to serve, and pour in your frozen mix or granita. Decorate your drinks with a slice of orange and add a splash of tonic water to finish them off.

Kiwi and Cucumber

Image: www.vegdept.com; Recipe: www.supervalu.ie

There’s nothing that mellows out the sharp, bitter taste of gin better than cucumber and kiwi. If you’re looking for something that’s really refreshing, then this gin cocktail won’t disappoint!

Ingredients

• 160ml Gin
• 2 Tbsp. Honey
• 2 Kiwis, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 Cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 Lemon, juiced
• 600ml Tonic water

Method Garnish this inside of 4 glasses with your kiwi slices, and keep a few slices aside. Crush your cucumber and remaining kiwi slices together and place this pulp at the base of each drink. Then add a few squeezes of honey and lemon to this. Now pour in your gin and ice cold tonic water (to taste) and enjoy!