With summer upon us and plans for much outdoor entertaining, and with alfresco meals in mind, one of the most popular drinks to enjoy is a gin and tonic, served in a long, tall glass with blocks of tinkling ice and a wedge of lemon to add that extra element of refreshment.
So popular is this drink that it’s even been given its own day – Saturday 19 October – the perfect day to wheel out the drinks trolly and pour yourself a long one wonder and say cheers to the start of summer!
International Gin & Tonic Day was launched by Jayne Withers in honour of her grandmother, Mary Edith Keyburn, in 2012. “Mary Edith was a remarkable woman who loved to have the occasional tipple of Gin & Tonic,” she said. “She passed away in hospital on 19 October 2010 at the age of 95, with a Gin & Tonic at her side that was smuggled into the hospital in a water bottle and served in a teacup.”
For those who love sipping on a chilled glass or two, the forthcoming Bubbly & Gin Summer Garden Party & Polo at the Val de Vie Estate in Paarl on Saturday 23 November will be the perfect place to taste the a range of this popular tipple. The event runs from 12:00 to 18:00.
In addition to the range of bubbly on offer – from Cap Classique to Champagne and sparkling wine – festival-goers will also get the opportunity to taste and enjoy gins from a host of local producers whose aim it is to dish-up some of the most refreshing gin-based drinks to sip on while watching a game of polo or dancing to the sounds of talented musician and DJ, ShenFM.
Tickets can be booked online through Webtickets.
Leading up to the event, three producers showcasing their gins at the festival shared the recipes to their favourite gin cocktails.
The Ginologist Strawberry Summer Cup Strawberry Bramble
– Makes: 2 cocktails
) Ingredients:
• ice, whole and crushed
• 50 ml Ginologist Citrus Gin
• 30 ml lemon juice
• 30 ml simple syrup
• 3 strawberries, roughly chopped
• 30 ml Ginologist Strawberry Summer Cup
• fresh strawberries, to garnish
• sprig of mint, to garnish
- Method:
1. Begin by adding Ginologist Citrus Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and four whole ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to achieve the perfect blend. In a glass, muddle the chopped strawberries. Add crushed ice and pour in the gin mixture. Finish by topping it off with Ginologist Strawberry Summer Cup. Garnish with fresh strawberries and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.
2. To make the simple syrup: Heat one cup of water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, ensuring it becomes hot without reaching a boil. Add one cup of granulated sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature before using. Transfer to a glass jar and store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
The French 75 by Plaisir Wine Estate
- Ingredients:
• 1 part Tempest Gin
• 1 part artisanal lemon syrup (no cordials)
• Plaisir Cap Classique Brut
- Method:
Pour the gin and lemon syrup into a cocktail shaker and shake until mixed. Pour into a martini glass and top up with Plaisir MCC Brut.
OxyGin Spritz Cocktail
- Ingredients:
• 30 ml diOxygin gin
• 30 ml orange juice
• 120 ml Cap Classique or Champagne of choice
• Rosemary or spekboom twig, or a slice of orange (to garnish, optional).
- Method:
1. Fill a tall glass with crushed ice. Add the diOxygin gin and orange juice and top with the bubbly. Garnish with a rosemary or spekboom twig or a slice of orange. Santé!
