It always happens. You pick up a bottle of something strong for some big event (say, a post-vaccination celebration), drink a quarter of it and then surrender it to your liquor cabinet to gather dust for the rest of time. Sound familiar? Saratoga Living is here to help. If you’re inadvertently aging a bottle of gin in your pantry, give one of these cocktail recipes, courtesy of Hamlet & Ghost, a try.
Elderflower Gin and Tonic
This is a super-easy showstopper for the spring and summer months. Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic does all the hard work, and it is absolutely delicious.
Ingredients
1.5 oz citrus-forward gin (Black Button, Hendrick’s, Malfy)
watermelon ice cubes
5 oz Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic
mint
lime wedges
Instructions
To make the watermelon ice cubes: cut watermelon into 1-inch-by-1-inch cubes, lay them out on a nonstick tray and freeze overnight. For the cocktail, add gin of choice and watermelon cubes to a tall glass. Top with Elderflower Tonic and stir gently. Garnish with mint and a lime wedge.
Lavender Pimm’s Cup
This is one of our favorite drinks here at Hamlet & Ghost. The Pimm’s Cup is refreshing, herbal and quick to throw together. Make a pitcher of it for a socially distanced patio party or mix a single one up for yourself after a long day.
Ingredients
cucumber slices
1.5 oz Pimm’s
.5 oz Black Button Gin (Any gin will work, but we like Hendrick’s)
.75 oz simple syrup (1 cup sugar simmered with .5 cup water until dissolved; allow to cool in the refrigerator)
1 oz lemon juice
3 dashes lavender bitters
1-2 oz club soda
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, add a few slices of cucumber and muddle them. Add the rest of the ingredients except for club soda and shake with ice. Strain into a tall glass, add fresh ice, and top with club soda. Garnish with mint and cucumber.
La Vie En Rose
This drink is for the folks who want a boozier and slightly more bitter cocktail. Barr Hill’s Tom Cat Barrel Aged Gin is incredible, and its deep, rich flavor mingles so well with Campari and grapefruit juice.
Ingredients
1cardamom pod
1.5 oz Barr Hill Tom Cat Aged Gin
.75 oz grapefruit juice
.5 oz Campari
.5 oz lemon
.5 scant oz simple syrup
3-4 drops rose water
Instructions
Crush cardamom pod in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add all other ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into a short glass and add some fresh ice cubes.
