The boy and his poison: The Eastside

I'm no baker, but knowing I can just about throw together a sponge cake by remembering that its equal parts butter, sugar and flour helps me to feel less of a total amateur around my infinitely more talented colleagues.

The Eastside begins with a similarly genius little ratio that is perfect if you're the sort of person who enjoys great cocktails but doesn't have the time to memorise a recipe book. 2 parts gin, 1 part sour (in this case lime) and 3/4 part sweet (simple syrup).  Consign those amounts to memory and not only will you be able to roll out a vodka gimlet at your next party (swap gin for vodka), but in turn you'll also be able to make Margaritas (with some tequila) and Daiquiris (with rum) just by switching the main boozy ingredient. It's the 'sponge cake' of booze and just like cake, once you've mastered the basics, all it takes are a few flourishes and you have a unique and different drink each time you make it.

You'll need:

• 50ml gin (Hendricks works great with cucumber)
• 25ml lime juice
• 20ml simple syrup
• 5 slices of cucumber
• A small handful of mint leaves

Make it

• Muddle the cucumber, mint and gin in the base of a shaker
• Add the lime juice and simple syrup and stir
• Add a handful of ice and shake for 10 seconds or until ice cold
• Strain into a coupe or martini glass and garnish with a slice of cucumber