[GUEST RECIPE] Mother’s Day – Say it with Gin … and Tea!

Although some may consider this a somewhat bizarre concoction, a clear trend is brewing for ‘Gin & Tea Cocktails’.

Innovative Gin & Tea cocktails have been produced using a vast array of teas ranging from delicate varieties such as Lavender and Camomile to the deep malty taste of Assam and the curious and fruity Pink Flamingo Tea.  Nathan O’Neill of The Merchant Hotel bar in Belfast produced a winning cocktail using a mixture 3 teas, absinthe infused with lapsang souchong tea, green tea and sencha tea syrup finished with aquavit, orgeat and lemon juice.

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal also made his mark in by combining Earl Grey and lemon Gin manufactured at the Chase Distillery.  Uniquely Chase use handpicked organic cider apples producing a sweet and fruity taste to their Gin. Heston’s combines this with juniper, almond, coriander, lavender, angelica and lemon. The end result is a flavor-filled Gin with notes of bergamot and a clean zesty finish.

If you’re looking to make your own gin and tea cocktail, we’ve put together a recipe below:

Ingredients:

• 1 Peppermint tea bag
• 1 measure Elderflower cordial
• 1 measure freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 measures Tanqueray Gin
• 3/4 measure sugar syrup (sugar 2:1 water)
• Boston Shaker set
• Mint and lime leave to garnish

How to serve it:

• Take peppermint tea bag, add hot water and let it brew.
• In a mixing glass, add the Gin, elderflower cordial, sugar syrup and lime juice. Then add two measures of the tea.
• Add plenty of ice and shake well or stir if you prefer. If stirring make sure the tea has chance to cool
• Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and garnish with mint and a slice of lime.

This drink has a truly sweet and refreshing taste with a tang of lime, perfect for the warming weather.