• You will be ushered straight into the kitchen.
• You will be offered a cocktail before you have a chance to sit down.
• There will be food. Lots and lots of food. Definitely wine. And most definitely dessert. And cocktails. Did I already mention the cocktails?
We occasionally have visitors who claim not to want, or like, cocktails (you know who you are). This is, naturally, very baffling to us, but I have got a couple of recipes up my sleeve for those rare people. These two cocktails can be drunk without any alcohol in mocktail fashion, but they are also quite light even with booze. If you are ever serving cocktails at brunch these are great candidates.
The Elderflower Collins (like any Collins) is definitely a drink for those who don’t like drinking much. It’s very light, very refreshing and can easily be made with either gin or vodka. If you have some St Germain* (and I thoroughly advise you get some if only to make the Red Queen) then add splash but it won’t be a Collins any more if we are being strict about cocktailing.
Cocktails for two: Floradora and Elderflower Collins and a giveaway
Ingredients
- Floradora
- Serves 1
- 2 measures 50ml gin
- 3 fresh raspberries
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp sugar syrup
- chilled ginger beer to top up
- lime wedges and fresh raspberries to garnish
- Elderflower Collins
- Serves 1
- 2 measures 50ml gin or vodka
- 1-2 tbsp elderflower cordial
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp St Germain optional
- chilled soda water to top up
- lemon wedges to garnish
- Method
- 1. In a highball glass stir the gin, cordial, lemon juice, St Germain together with plenty of crushed ice. Top up with soda water and add a couple of thin slices of lemon.
Instructions
- For the Floradora: put the gin, raspberries, sugar syrup and lime juice in your cocktail shaker. Muddle the raspberries with a spoon. Half fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for 30 seconds.
- Pour into a highball glass, add fresh ice and top up with ginger beer.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries and a lime wedge.
- For the Elderflower Collins: In a highball glass, stir the gin, cordial, lemon juice, St Germain together with plenty of crushed ice. Top up with soda water and add a couple of thin slices of lemon.
Paula Readings says
I like a Pimms cocktail
Miranda Robinson says
I love mojitos!
Anonymous says
Bucks Fizz. Cupcakes favourite :- lemon.
Rachel Craig
Tracy K Nixon says
I love vanilla cupcakes filled with srawberry jam and topped with icing and coconut!
Lorna Ledger says
Harvey Wallbanger! Blame Mad Men! 😉
Bubbles17 says
coconut cupcake
Iain Maciver says
a Mojito
Angela Field says
These look so good Lucy! I am a bit of a White Russian fan and I do love a moscow mule too.
You always make cocktails look so good and I have to admit you quite often make cocktails that I've never heard of! I've seen this cookery book and it looks really good, a great giveaway.
szekeres101 says
Favourite cocktail is definately a Mojito!
laura stewart says
chocolate cupcake xx
Catriona Hutchinson says
Love a dirty martini
Jane Sarchet says
Oh how lovely! Strangely I've been on a cocktail binge too, with a freshly published marmalade collins! Never tried a floradora, and now of course want to!
Janie x
Jane Sarchet says
Oh how lovely! Strangely I've been on a cocktail binge too, with a freshly published marmalade collins! Never tried a floradora, and now of course want to!
Janie x
Almonds says
Carrot cupcake with salted caramel & butter icing – all cupcakes are good!
Anonymous says
Cocktail, deep into the latest trend, Moscow Mule. Cupcake….is there a bad one,Red Velvet or nutless Carrot Cake.
Helen - family-friends-food says
I can't believe I've never even heard of a floradora when the list of ingredients is basically a list of my favourite things! Gin, raspberries and ginger beer? Yes please! Yum yum yum.
Julia@Vikalinka says
You know I am one of your biggest cocktail fans. The Red Queen is now a must in our house, so I can't imagine someone coming to your house and turning down a cocktail made by you! Looking forward to trying your newest creations, they look gorgeous!
Lucy Parissi says
I should open a bakery/cocktail bar. Cakes by day, cocktails by night : )
mummy24 says
I like french martini's
Ashleigh
kellie@foodtoglow says
If I hadn't just spent two nights living the high life for my birthday (groan) I would be making one of these as I have all of the ingredients (even the St Germaine and Framboise) – and I LOVE a good cocktail. I don't understand your cocktail-swerving friends one bit! Cheers, Lucy!
Louise | Cygnet Kitchen says
Visitors that don't like cocktails?? They don't sound much fun (unless they are children 🙂 I would be very happy to try any one of your cocktails, Lucy, as always they look amazing and beautifully shot! xx (ps I am a secret Pina Colada fan, shhhh 😉