I don't often make cocktails.If I have a drink in the evening or at the weekend, it tends to be a glass of wine and most likely red wine. I occasionally go wild and have a cider if I'm in a pub, but rarely drink cocktails. I have one exception though, if I step inside a Mexican restaurant, my first thought before I look at the menu is Margarita! I love them!
You won't find many cocktails in my recipe index, although you will find a plethora of smoothies, shakes and juices, but there's one I insist you try and that is my Fresh Strawberry and Elderflower Cocktail. It's heaven in a glass! We're well past strawberry season here in the UK now, but frozen strawberries are just as nice and instantly ice your drink. Just make sure your blender can handle the frozen fruit. I use a vitamix, so I can blend frozen fruit in seconds. Lucky girl that I am!
I was kindly sent some Hoxton Gin, so a cocktail was a must. I don't usually drink gin, but I thought as it is usually accompanied by a slice of lemon, it would work well with any citrus. I decided to pair it with grapefruit and the more seasonal clementines, although any small orange would do. The grapefruit I used was ruby red, which along with the clementine juice gave it a marvellous colour. I also added a splosh of Angustora bitters, but not their normal one, their orange edition.
Just a wee note about Hoxton Gin, for those gin connoisseurs out there. Hoxton gin is a smooth gin that is distilled with coconut and grapefruit. And now onto the recipe.
Ruby Red Gin Cocktail with Clementines
A colourful cocktail that is fruity and tart, but with a hint of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 50ml gin
- 1 grapefruit
- 4 clementines
- 3-4 teaspoons sugar
- a splash of angostura bitters
- a few ice cubes
Instructions
1. Juice the grapefruit and clementines. Cut a couple of slices from one of the clementines before juicing, set these aside for serving with the drink.2. Pop all the ingredients except for the clementine slices into a blender and whizz.3. Serve over ice and clementine slices.4. Enjoy
Details
Total time: Yield: Makes 1 large cocktail or 2 normal sized cocktails
Disclosure: Hoxtons sent me a bottle of gin to try. I was not required to write a positive review and any opinions expressed are my own.
This is great for parties. Maybe for New Years Eve party.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Dan, you would just need to scale it up :)
DeleteOh and I love how your mind is bypassing Christmas and going straight for Hogmanay, Good man!
DeleteI'm not a frequent gin drinker but I do like a gin and tonic now and again. I'd like to try this once with coconut! Thought you'd be amused to know there is a lady in Walthamstow who makes and sells her own gin called "Mother's Ruin"!
ReplyDeleteNow that sounds like a 'drink at your own peril' sort of drink!
DeleteWow I'd love to thy this as a Christmas cocktail and I'm very intrigued by the coconut and grapefruit flavourings
ReplyDeleteIt's quite strong, so don't have too many before starting Christmas dinner.
DeleteHaha, I saw your post title and thought "Hmm, Jac doesn't often make cocktails" and that was your first sentence. Both this and the strawberry elderflower cocktails look lovely and I have gin and St. Germaine liqueur on hand - I'll have to try them.
ReplyDeleteI really don't! It's a very rare notion. I am more a wine drinker generally, but cocktails are a nice occasional treat and they do feel a little naughty!
DeleteOooh very festive! I'm having a Christmas film afternoon with friends soon! I think this will make it on the list! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to add a little lemonade if you are having them in the afternoon or you will all be exceedingly tipsy. Listen to me, the alcohol police, haha!
DeleteKind of a upscale version of a Screwdriver...a drink I've always liked at a brunch. Lovely, Jacqueline.
ReplyDeleteYou know I've never had one of those, but now I shall have to look them up to see what the ingredients are.
DeleteI could go for one of these right now! Sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Elizabeth :)
DeleteI AM a gin drinker and this sounds delicious - good idea to use frozen strawbs in the vitamix (probably the only good thing to do with them)
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right about that Sally, they don't hold their shape so well when defrosted.
DeleteOh my word!!! I adore gin and this sounds like a fabulous festive cocktail. My dad's coming for Christmas and is a fellow gin fan, so I shall be mixing some up for us on Christmas morning...
ReplyDelete