Wow, we are two weeks into December and it feels like a MONTH. Whilst I thought work would be winding down for me now, it has turned out to be quite the opposite – not something to complain about (I am delighted to have some really fun projects in the calendar) but that, coupled with family life, has me feeling a little overwhelmed. Perfect time for a weekend wind down and a wee festive tipple.
I was absolutely stoked to partner with Tobermory Gin earlier this month for a social media campaign and imagery and, honestly, I just felt like I outdid myself with the cocktails I created and wanted to give them a permanent home here. Tobermory Hebridean Mountain Gin is a beautiful small batch gin from a lovely Scottish independent and it definitely has a place on my drinks trolley this Christmas (you can buy it direct from the distillery here via Amazon).
Scroll down to discover my WINTER SPICED BRAMBLE and CHRISTMAS TREE G&T…
A bramble was my go to cocktail order in city days gone by (we celebrated the birth of both my tinies with a Finnieston lunch safari and always kicked off proceedings with one of these and a side of oysters) but I wanted to bring a wee festive twist with the spiced gomme and, not to blow my own trumpet, it is rather special.
WINTER SPICED BRAMBLE
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
50ml gin
brambles
half a lemon
ice
Simmer the sugar, water and spices for ten minutes in a pan then leave to cool to create your spiced sugar syrup.
To serve, muddle five brambles together with 50ml gin in a glass before adding a generous squeeze of lemon and a slug of the syrup. Fill the glass with smashed ice (the bigger the better – this tray is amazing) and garnish with heather, a bramble and lemon twist.
Cheers.
I cannot tell a lie – a G&T is my pre dinner tipple of choice and has become something of a 2020 ritual. Not just because I love them but also because it signals the end of the working day and the start of down time. For the festive period I wanted to take this classic up a notch with a festive twist and the Christmas Tree G&T was born…
CHRISTMAS TREE G&T
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup fine, fresh pine needles, washed
25ml gin
200ml tonic
ice
lemon
Bash the pine needles with a rolling pin or meat tenderiser to release the flavour then add to a pan with the sugar and water. Simmer for ten minutes then leave to cool to create your Christmas tree sugar syrup.
To serve, pour the gin together with the tonic in a tall glass before adding ice. Finish by drizzling a smidge (or a glug – down to personal taste and sweet tooth) of the sugar syrup and garnish with a lemon twist.
Cheers.
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