A couple of weeks ago my friend Barbara of Creative Culinary invited me to join in the celebration of the first anniversary of her Friday Cocktail. Barbara is a good friend, a great supporter and a dreadfully bad influence on me as she shows me all sorts of ways that I hadn’t thought of to add a little kick to my life and I simply couldn’t think of a better reason to celebrate. This week I’m joining her and a bunch of other similarly misled bloggers as we all link together and post a favourite cocktail. I wouldn’t suggest trying all of these at once, but maybe you could begin a little Friday Cocktail celebration of your own, using these as inspiration.
Now I’ve got to be perfectly honest here – cocktails and spirits aren’t a big thing in our house, although I did once write a paper on gin. It has an interesting but less-than-desirable past which doesn’t prevent it from holding a special place in my heart. I’m not a big spirits drinker, my favourite tipple for years now has been a chilled glass of some of Australia’s best white wine, but on a stinking hot day when the chores are done and it’s time to relax nothing quite hits the spot like a big, tall, clinking glass of gin and tonic. I treat myself to good gin and a bottle usually lasts me right through summer, but now I’m not so sure that will be the case.
Last year, while wandering around the Good Food and Wine Show in Adelaide (more about that in a later post), I chanced upon a stall selling an unfamiliar, elder-flower flavoured liqueur called St. Germain. I’d not seen it before, but the bottle was so lovely I had to stop and have a little try – just the merest sip, of course! Well, one thing led to another and I came home with that sexy bottle of booze which I tucked away from prying eyes and have been using as economically as possible. When I turned my mind to Barbara’s cocktail theme, the very first thing I thought of was that tall, seductive bottle of elder flower liqueur – standing right next to the gin in my pantry.
In the past I would have argued that a great gin and tonic is impossible to improve upon, but now I know that is not the case at all. This marriage of St. Germain and gin is a perfect union and one I intend to explore a little further in the warmer weather – if it ever comes. Spring has run away from us again today so I’m sitting in front of the fire sipping my GG (gin & St. Germain – geddit?) and dreaming of the long, hot days that are coming.
Amanda's GG
Ingredients
- 1 part St. Germain
- 3 parts gin
- ice
- Tonic Water
Instructions
- Mix the St. Germain & gin together, pour over ice in a tall glass and top with tonic water.
For Barbara’s round-up of the posts and a whole lot more boozey love check here.
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Oh that is a lovely looking bottle. No wonder you couldn’t pass it up!
No cheeky teens wanting to sample it 😉
Cheers Amanda! I’ve been known to drink the odd G&T here and there. The St Germain sounds lovely!
Looks sophisticated and refreshing!!
I am very fond of a G&T in any weather and on any night of the week. I could have a very big one and skip dinner which is very bad so I have a sort of self imposed ban on them unless it is a special occasion. Also I think tonic is quite calorific and diet tonic just doesn’t do it for me.
We’re not big spirit drinkers either although the same can’t be said for wine! But, if I am having spirits like you I have a gin and tonic and I always by Bombay gin – the bottle is such a pretty colour. And a G & T in the summer is terribly refreshing. I haven’t tried the elderflower drink but I would like to – this is the second blog I have read today that is promoting elderflower! I hope you get some warm weather – we had a taste of it but it was fleeting xx
Sounds divine! Perfect start to the weekend!
Cheers! Love one now please.
Yes, I could do this! St. Germain seems to be the new girl at the party who is so popular and rightly so. Heck, I bought it if for no other reason because that bottle is so gorgeous.
Thanks so much for joining with me Amanda in celebrating a full year of cocktails. It’s a tough job but someone had to do it. 🙂
Cheers my friend!
Oooh I love that drink! My favourite grown up drink is a gin and tonic too, but I’ve discovered Hendricks gin which its infused with rose and cucumber- sublime!!!
So much gin – so little time. Sigh.
One day I will get back to Adelaide and will look forward to sharing a G&T !