Three summer gin cocktails
INGREDIENTS
Ynys Môn Eastside
- 3-4 slices cucumber plus ribbons to garnish
- 3 sprigs of mint, leaves picked
- 60ml Jin Môr
- 30ml lime juice, use fresh
- 10ml sugar syrup, to taste
- Ice cubes
- Soda water to top up
Summer strawberry sour - 70g strawberries plus one to decorate
- 60ml Jin Môr
- 20ml lemon juice
- 15ml sugar syrup, to taste
- ½ egg white, approx 15ml
- Ice cubes
- 2 drops of Angostura Bitters (optional)
Elderflower collins - Ice cubes
- 60ml Jin Môr
- 15ml lemon juice, lemon rind twist to garnish
- 20ml elderflower cordial
- 100-150ml soda water
1. Ynys Môn Eastside
A gimlet becomes a Southside when you add mint and cucumber and then an Eastside when you muddle those ingredients. It’s the most refreshing gin cocktail with cooling cucumber, mint and lime – a perfect end to a hot day. Add soda to make this drink a little longer if you prefer.
Prepare a chilled glass with the ribboned cucumber garnish, you could also slide the cucumber around the rim of the glass to improve the flavour from the first sip.
Muddle the cucumber slices and the mint leaves together in a shaker. Once bashed and starting to break up add all the other ingredients and ice and shake well. Try it, add more sugar syrup to taste. Strain into the prepared glass and add extra ice or drink straight up. You can also top up with soda water if you prefer.
2. Summer strawberry sour
A refreshing summer twist on the classic sour cocktail, this can be made without the egg white but it’s worth a go as it adds a creamy texture to the drink. Aquafaba (chickpea water) can be used in place of the egg whites too. Make sure you taste as you go to get the perfect balance of sweet/sour for you.
Chill a glass. Slice the strawberries (reserving a slice to half to garnish) and add to a large glass or shaker with the Jin, lemon juice and the sugar syrup. Muddle together. Add the egg white and shake well, you want to create lots of foam. Shaking the egg before you add the ice is the best way to do this. Taste to see if you want more sugar syrup (depends on how sweet your strawberries are but 15ml should suffice). Add ice to the shaker and shake again before straining into the glass. Top with the strawberry garnish and a couple of drops of bitters if you have them.
3. Elderflower collins
A classic Tom Collins with added elderflower cordial, because elderflower and lemon are a perfect match. This cocktail can be either shaken or stirred.
Prepare a chilled glass with lots of ice. Use a vegetable peeler or a small knife to remove a strip of lemon skin (trying not to also remove too much pith). Twist the lemon around your finger to create a curl, or you can use a cocktail stick to secure if you have one. Add the Jin, lemon juice and the elderflower cordial to the glass, top with soda water. Stir gently before adding the lemon twist garnish.
Image + recipes: Elly Kemp
