Elderflower Collins

The second cocktail in this months Shaken Cocktails kit is a Elderflower Collins (I’m not sure why this is in the Negroni box especially as I was hoping for another Negroni variation which is the pattern the boxes usually take but hey ho)

The recipe is:
– 30ml lemon juice
– 45ml gin
– 15ml sugar syrup
– 15ml St Germain elderflower liqueur

The resulting drink was very sharp with a fruity, floral hint but perhaps needed more elderflower to balance it- I Like sharp and bitter drinks but this was a bit much. I’ll experiment when I make the next one.

Aviation No 1

I first had an Aviation at London Cocktail Week and it was a revelation to me. Light, flavourful and refreshing, the combination of flavours seemed perfect. I immediately bought a small bottle of Creme de Violette at Gerry’s and searched for a recipe.

The recipe I have used is from Diffords and is for an Aviation No 1 (an Aviation No 2 omits the violette which isn’t essential but I like the unusual flavour twist it gives as well as the subtle colour change)

The basic recipe is:

• 1 ¾ shot gin
• ½ shot maraschino
• ¼ shot creme de violette
• ½ shot freshly squeezed lemon juice

All shaken with ice or ½ shot water added

p.s. I hope you’re as in love with Monkey Alan as I am