Cocktail No 94 Ramona Cocktail

This one is a keeper - for me at least. A wonderful sour, the lemon juice bites at the back of the throat, contrasting with the gin, whilst a hint of sweetness from the grenadine redeems it. Its suprisingly minty, but delicately, not like the overpowering you get with Creme de menthe if your hand is too heavy.

A lovely start to a sunny bank holiday Sunday evening.

I recommend you try this one folks.

Recipe

1 sprig of mint
2-3 ice cubes
25 ml Birkdale gin
25 ml Lemon juice
2 dashes Grenadine

Chop the mint coursely and add to a shaker along with the other ingredients. Shake vigoursly and strain into a cocktail glass. You don't want to chop the mint too fine as it should mostly remain in the shaker when you strain it.

Cocktail No 65 - Cooperstown

Having launched the Churchtown Deli Gin last night, which ended up being a very late night, 5 pm could not come around soon enough today for this most welcome pick-me-up.

A variation on the Martini, a dominance of gin, supported by both dry and sweet vermouths and lifted with a sprig of crushed mint leaves.

Visually, its a beautiful drink crystal clear with the faintest hing of green. The first taste is the sweetness of the Bianco vermouth, then the herbs come rushing through and suddenly you realise that you are tasting the Noilly Prat over and above the Bianco. The gin is there of course as a master slug underpinning everything with the faintest hint of mint finishing the taste profile.

A very welcome to the start of the end of a glorious sunny day.

Recipe

25 ml Birkdale Gin
15 ml Noilly Prat or Dry Vermouth
15 ml Bianco Vermouth
1 sprig of mint

Put ice in a mixing glass along with Birkdale Gin and both vermouths. Stir well and strain into a Cocktail glass. Decorate with the sprig of mint.