Years ago we had a cocktail party which one friend still refers to as The Lost Weekend. Our errors were threefold. Continue reading
Category Archives: Drinks
Quince Ratafia and Other Home-made Hooch
It is not illegal to own a still in the UK but it is illegal to make alcohol unless you have a distiller’s licence: I believe penalties for a first offence include a fine of up to £6,500, five years in jail or both. I would submit that this draconian punishment has more to do with the tax man than it does with any temperance movement. There’s nothing to stop us, though, buying booze someone else has made legally and putting our own spin on it. Continue reading
Blood Orange Gin
I know why they call them blood oranges now. During a moment’s inattention, I cut the tip off my finger when I was slicing them.
But while blood oranges are still in season, grab half a dozen. Because apart from the gore-fest that was my kitchen last night, this makes a fantastic cocktail ingredient. Continue reading
Bullace Gin
I can’t help noticing that there’ve been a lot of people looking at my bullace jam recipe lately and I thought another use for these tasty wild plums might not go amiss. Continue reading
Elderflower Cordial
I love the foamy, scented flowers of elder but on balance, I probably love them more when they’re made into a fragrant summer drink. Continue reading
Summer drinks
Nothing, to my mind, beats home-made lemonade on a boiling hot day. Well, ok, maybe a glass of chilled white wine or a cold beer with condensation running down the bottle, but I’d like to talk here about non-alcoholic drinks. Continue reading