6 Ways to Drink Gin…that you may not have tried

Gin has a growing reputation as the most versatile spirit. Its eminent mixability (hello, gin & fresh apple!) plus its appeal to all ages and palates just makes it so. But what about time of day? There’s a time and a place for everything you know! Here’s our recommendation for the best gin cocktails for when your juniper cravings take hold.

7am – Red Snapper

Looking for an excuse to drink a gin cocktail at this hour? then it’s fair to say you’re an early to bed kinda person. Or…not. The Red Snapper is all spicy tomato deliciousness, yes a Bloody Mary for grown ups if you will. Learn how to make a good one and the winter morning gym session can wait.

• hiball glass, rimmed with salt & pepper
• 60ml McQueen Smokey Chilli gin
• 15ml fresh lime juice
• 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 3 dashes tabasco
• pinch of salt & pepper
• stir or roll gently in a Boston shaker
• garnish with celery stick or lime wedge

1pm – Hendricks Gin Tonica

You may have expected a triple shot dry martini here, but the three martini lunch died in the 80s for a reason! For something refreshing & hydrating to go with your bento box, ham sandwich or fine dining spread, Hendricks in a big glass with thinly-sliced cucumber, cracked black pepper and Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic will do the trick. Word of warning, keep it to two otherwise the walk back to the office might be trickier than you expect.

• Spanish-style copa glass
• 45ml Hendricks gin
• Mediterranean Fever Tree tonic
• sliced cucumber & cracked pepper

4pm – Tom Collins

Nothing says afternoon lawn party like this gin & citrus classic. Easy to make at home, moreish and classy AF, this refreshing gin cocktail has spawned 1000 imitations from the Phil Collins to the Sandy Collins, none of which are as good as the original. As you watch the sunset from your rear deck and knock back three of these in less time than it takes you to say, “Who the hell is Tom Collins anyway?”, the stresses of your day will be long forgotten.

• hiball glass
• 60ml Malfy gin
• 30ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml sugar syrup (or a teaspoon of caster sugar)
• top with Capi soda

7pm – Negroni

Of all gin cocktails, it’s the Italian classic loved by bartenders the world over. Gin novices have always thought about ordering one and when they finally do, the bracing bitterness hits them in the face so hard they either walk away…or fall in love forever. This aperitif cocktail is perfect before your dinner date, strong enough to kill the nerves and dry enough to whet the appetite for the evening ahead. If you want to impress, order it with Carpano Antica Formula or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino.

• double old-fashioned glass (or whisky tumbler)
• 30ml each of
  • Tanqueray gin
  • Campari
  • Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
• stir until sufficiently diluted
• add orange twist

11pm – Pink Pepper martini

If you’re not a dessert person but want something that oozes sophistication to finish up your evening, the Audemus Pink Pepper gin from France is a must try. With delicately sweet notes of vanilla & honey to soften the pepper on the palate, this makes other contemporary gins seem, well…ancient. Works well in a gin tonica with strawberries & coffee beans, but our tip for this prime drinking hour is in a martini with a touch of Lillet instead of conventional dry vermouth. It’s the grand daddy of gin cocktails and one to savour.

• 60ml Audemus Pink Pepper gin
• 5ml Lillet Blanc
• stir until sufficiently diluted
• add lemon twist

3am – Barrel-aged on the rocks

If you’re still drinking at this hour, you’re either under 21, an alcoholic, a bartender…or all three. Whatever the case, you’ve clearly had a fair session and want to finish on a high. Nothing too complicated. A barrel-aged gin on a large ice cube is in order. Hold the garnish. Our pick is 9 Moons from Martin Millers but you can’t go wrong with a host of others.

• Martin Millers 9 Moons (aged in new American white oak barrels)
• Dictador Treasure (rum barrels)
• No 209 (Cabernet Sauvignon barrels)
• West Winds Barrel Expedition (Maidenii sweet vermouth barrels)

So the moral of this story is, regardless of whether you’re a morning, afternoon or evening person, there is a gin drink just right for you!