Gin might not be everyone’s go-to when it comes to an easy, refreshing summer drink… but put down the Pimms, sack off the Sangria, and let us introduce you to Edinburgh Gin’s selection of summer serves.
It has already been a busy summer for the brand, after launch ‘1670’, a limited-edition collaboration with Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Working the festival scene, Edinburgh Gin headlined Birmingham Cocktail Weekend last week, and will also be a participating brand at Gin In The City (27-29 July).
We spoke to Claire Sumner-Hughes at Ian Macleod Distillers, which owns Edinburgh Gin, who has picked out her top five summer serves to help you make the most of Edinburgh Gin and the sunshine!
This twist on a classic is perfect for when you’re sitting outdoors enjoying the summer breeze. The peppery notes of the gin balance wonderfully with the sweet, anise notes from the fennel garnish.
Ingredients
50ml Edinburgh Gin 1670
15ml Dry Vermouth
Dash Lemon Bitters
Garnish with fresh fennel frond
Method
Pour the gin, vermouth, and bitters into an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
Shake for 15 seconds.
Pour into a chilled Martini Glass.
Garnish with a fresh fennel frond.
A firm favourite of Edinburgh Gin’s gin liqueurs, the Rhubarb and Ginger liqueur can be whizzed up into a wonderful celebration of all things, well… rhubarb! Hosting a garden party? You should be… and you should be serving these.
Ingredients
50ml Edinburgh Gin’s Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur
10ml Aperol
25ml fresh lemon juice
12ml sugar syrup
2 dashes rhubarb bitters
1 egg white
Method
Dry shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
Add ice to the shaker and shake again for 15 seconds.
Strain into a Martini or coupe glass.
Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside… with a gin in hand. The briny botanicals of Edinburgh Gin’s Seaside Gin are a perfect match for aromatic thyme and zesty grapefruit. It’s one to enjoy with the salt in your hair and the sand between your toes. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, swap in the thyme and grapefruit for an olive and an anchovy… for the hard-core beachcombers out there!
Ingredients
50ml Seaside Edinburgh Gin
50ml good quality tonic water
Ice
Garnish – fresh thyme and a grapefruit twist
Method
Add ice to a glass.
Pour the gin over ice and add tonic.
Garnish with thyme and a grapefruit twist.
This tall summer refresher is exactly what you need. This drink blends the delicate flavour of elderflower with zingy lemon for a cool, thirst-quenching cocktail. Add plenty of crushed ice to counteract the scorching sun!
Ingredients
25ml Edinburgh Gin
25ml Edinburgh Gin’s Elderflower Liqueur
15ml fresh lemon juice
Lemonade
Garnish – lemon twist and mint leaves
Method
Half fill a tall glass with crushed ice.
Stir the gin, liqueur and lemon juice together in a mixing glass.
Pour into the glass.
Top up glass with crushed ice.
Top up with lemonade.
Garnish with a lemon twist and a sprig of fresh mint.
Last but not least, it’s the original Edinburgh Gin London dry’s time to shine. This Gimlet has stood the test of time with its simple, but delicious ingredients. If you want a G&T with a twist, this is the one.
Ingredients
50ml Edinburgh Gin
5ml fresh lime juice
5ml Rose’s Lime Cordial
Garnish – lime twist
Method
Shake ingredients together with ice.
Strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with a lime twist.
Founded in 2010, Edinburgh Gin is committed to the art and science of distilling, and of creating innovative, award-winning gins. Edinburgh Gin is ever-inspired by the city’s position as a global light; a home to scientists, artists, philosophers and inventors. A small batch distiller, it produces a dynamic range of gins for every occasion, and it’s dedicated to guiding peoples’ discovery of the modern-day gin experience.
You can find Edinburgh Gin stocked across the city, in John Lewis, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and many more.