Cocktail Hour: Ketel One Garden

A little while ago, the Observer Food Monthly invited me for dinner. They plied a group of food-lovers with awesome food and excellent cocktails. The Ketel One Garden cocktail was my favourite (despite not liking anything with elderflower) and they've kindly let me share the recipe with you.

You'll need:

• 45 ml Ketel One vodka
• 15 ml elderflower cordial
• 2 x 4-inch sticks of cucumber
• 30 ml cloudy apple juice
• Tonic water

Shake it!

Put the cucumber and elderflower cordial into a highball glass and ‘muddle’ or crush together with the handle of a wooden spoon. Fill the glass with ice cubes, add the Ketel One vodka, and apple juice, give it a good stir, then top with the tonic water and garnish with sticks of cucumber.

What do the Sluts drink?

There aren't many cocktails that the Domestic Sluts won't sample. But we all have our go-to cocktails, the ones that don't appear on every menu, but when we spy one, we have to order it. And even if we have a summer flirtation with Pimms and mojitos we'll always go back to the old faithful.

It's the drink that makes us smile when our friend has already ordered us on when we're running a little late. The one that'll make you smile when you've had the worst day ever. And probably, the drink that'll make you stay out way past your bedtime. So what do the Domestic Sluts drink?

Siany: For me, it's the bellini. No matter where my cocktail travels take me, I always end up back with the bellini (although if you pour me a decent margarita I'll be your friend for life). I can even convince myself that they won't give me a hangover the next day. It's a lie, they do. So much fun though.

Sarah: My favourite spirit is gin, so most gin cocktails suit me just fine. Think strong, pungent concoctions like Gin Fizz or Tom Collins. Bob Bob Ricard's rhubarby house gin'n'tonic is also worth a mention. Right now though, my favourite cocktail is white sangria from Pinchito Tapas. It's a summery spin on the classic drink, with prosecco replacing red wine and, if you follow them on Twitter, they'll send you a buy one, get one free voucher so you can try it out.

Abi Anything involving berries is an instant win for me, so any variation on the Bramble will get you into my good books. Sloe gin is an all-time favourite ingredient, and I'm really looking forward to gooseberries coming into season so I can start muddling them like there's no tomorrow. Green cowboy martinis are a great way to enjoy this very British summer fruit.

Sel: My go-to cocktail is a Long Island Iced Tea, my theory being why stop at one or two spirits when you can have five?! You do get variations but for me there should be nothing but vodka, white rum, tequila, gin, triple sec, lime and possibly a dash of sours which, when poured over ice, leaves only the smallest of spaces for a splash of cola for colour and sweetness.

Alex S: Like Sel, I'm generally happy with a Long Island Iced Tea (a.k.a The Catch-Up Drink) but I discovered Dark 'n' Stormy not too long ago. It's a very simple rum and ginger beer concoction that's sweet, strong and a bit fizzy. Which is pretty much perfect for my tastes. Unfortunately I've yet to find a decent one in a London bar, but I'll happily settle for the cupcake version.

Frances: Got to agree with Abi and go for the berry delicious Bramble. I like cocktails that are so fruity you feel like you're being healthy while you're (in a responsible manner) knocking them back. As with the perfume I wear, I also have a soft spot for floral flavours, like this Elderflower Martini. Yum!

Alex E: I used to be a Bellini girl like Sian, but ever since I holidayed in Brazil this year it's been all about the Caipirinha. The Cahaca liqueur in it gives you a dirty hangover, but it's so worth it...

Got a favourite cocktail? Tell us in the comments!

Flickr image from Ambernambrose's photostream.

Cocktail Hour: Cherub's Cup for World Gin Day

World Gin Day is something that we heartily approve of. Arranged by our friend Neil over at Yet Another Gin, it's a darn good excuse to drink lots of lovely gin cocktails. It's on 12th June. That's this Saturday, so go mad with your pouring. You've got enough time to buy the ingredients for this Cherub's Cup cocktail recipe he sent over to us. it's from St Germain who make the elderflower liquer.

You'll need:

• 25 ml Hendrick's Gin
• 12.5 ml Elderflower Liqueur
• 1 Strawberry
• 7.5 ml Lemon Juice
• 5 ml Simple Syrup
• Champagne (Brut Rose)

Shake it!

• Muddle the strawberry in a glass, add Ice and the Gin and Elderflower.
• Shake and strain into a highball glass with crushed ice (or cubed).
• Garnish with extra sliced strawberries.
• Sit back, open the book and relax.

Looking forward to World Gin Day already. What's your favourite gin cocktail?

Cocktail Hour: Elderflower Martini

Everyone keeps telling me just how brilliant elderflower is. But to me, it's a bit like drinking perfume - the flowery scent and taste is just a bit too flowery for me, I guess. But, you guys seem to like it, so in a bid to convince myself it's really rather tasty I might whip up this elderflower martini. Fresh, light, and just enough summery feeling to keep you smiling through September.

You'll need these things:

• 25ml Elderflower cordial
• 25ml Hendricks gin (because it tastes better with cucumber, but you could use any gin really)
• 25ml dry vermouth
• Juice of a lime
• Cucumber

And you'll need to do these things:

Combine everything into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake about. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a wedge of cucumber. Try and convince yourself you're not drinking perfume.

How do you guys feel about elderflower? Yummy? Or like eating flowers?

Flickr image from Daniel Cruz Valle's photostream.