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You are here: Home / Recipes / Drinks / Very berry G&Ts – #LetsCocktail!

Very berry G&Ts – #LetsCocktail!

by Jeanne Horak on July 20, 2015 22 Comments in Drinks

Back in the 1980s and 1990s when I travelled abroad from South Africa, I remember that the main thing people always asked me to bring back was perfume and aftershave. Some things were just cheaper abroad (this was before the Rand exchange rate tanked!) and some products simply weren’t available in South Africa yet – or at all.  My one friend always wanted Dune; another friend wanted an obscure French eau de cologne; yet another wanted collections of miniature perfume bottles; and my brother wanted an endless supply of Hugo aftershave.  My mom also had a preference: Ivoire by Balmain. Between my and other people’s travels, she managed to amass the entire Ivoire product range from eau de parfum to body lotions and scrubs to talcum powder, all in the same stylish monochrome packaging and with the same elegant fragrance. The perfume shelf on her wardrobe was a virtual treasure chest.  When she passed away in 2003, I opened that cupboard to find all the Ivoire products, unopened in their beautiful boxes, still being saved for a special occasion that would never come.

We are funny creatures, aren’t we?  I’ve been known to say that what separates us from animals is our ability to endure present sacrifice for future reward – but we also tend to take this too far, holding back from enjoying all the things we would like to do and instead, saving them for “a special occasion”.  Always wanted to go to that fancy restaurant? Best I wait for a special occasion to make a booking. Got an amazing bottle of vintage wine in the cupboard? I won’t open it now – I’ll wait for a special occasion. That gorgeous silk scarf that you bought in Paris? Too good for the daily commute – best I put it away till I have a special occasion to wear it. We make plans as if we are all going to live on in perfect health forever, and as if life will only get better, more exciting and more glamorous. But these are dangerous assumptions. I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the past couple of weeks.

 

his twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

Three weeks ago, I went for a routine dermatologist check-up and less than an hour later I was lying on an operating table in a state of blind panic having an inch of flesh cut out of my shoulder. Nothing like a spot of minor surgery (an oxymoron if ever I heard one!) to remind you of your own mortality. And a week go I attended the funeral of a relative and friend who had succumbed far too young to a long battle with cancer, leaving behind a devastated family and almost certainly bottles of wine undrunk, holidays untaken and books unread. It’s made me think a lot about my own bad habit of saving things for a special occasion: the “good” tablecloth/cutlery/shoes/clothes/wine/perfume.  How on earth do I think I will know when the appropriate time has arrived?  How will I know that the occasion is special enough? And more importantly, will I one day find myself in a hospital bed or a runaway train or the jaws of a great white shark thinking: “Damn – how I wish I’d had a chance to drink that bottle of vintage Champagne I’d been saving for a special occasion!”

 

his twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

his twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

What you (and everyone else!) fail to appreciate is that every single day that we manage to wake up and get out of bed is a special o0ccasion. You’ve survived the night without suffering a brain embolism, a ruptured artery or a heart attack; your legs work; and you can stand up! What’s not to celebrate? Add to that the fact that you have something to do that day (as important as brain surgery or as trivial as a good cup of coffee or a walk in the park with your dog) and I’d say you have yourself a special occasion right there, compared to millions of people who cannot get out of bed, or who do not even have a bed.

 

his twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

his twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

So this summer I have resolved to treat every get-together with friends as a reason to celebrate and a special occasion  – and the drinks I usually save for special occasions are cocktails.  There is something about a cocktail that turns every get-together into a party, encouraging multiple toasts, silly swizzle sticks and a good time to be had by all.  But often we leave cocktail making only to the experts, believing them to be complicated or difficult to make – not so! Like most things in life, cocktails can be as complex or as simple as you choose to make them.  Got no swizzle sticks? chopsticks work just as well.  Got no fancy silver cocktail shaker? No problem – a jam jar works just as well (and can also be used to transport smaller volumes of alcohol if you are picnicking and don’t want to carry a full, heavy bottle.

 

his twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

his twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

This  cocktail is inspired by a recipe on The Bar.com, your go-to site for all the cocktail inspiration you could ever need. It’s a berrylicious twist on the traditional gin and tonic, surely one of the most enduring drinks in the world, and we served them at a casual barbecue with friends in our garden last weekend.  Once our friends had got past the puzzled questions like: “Cocktails?  What’s the occasion?”, everyone loved the idea of shaking their own cocktails in a jam jar and everyone adored their G&T with added OMG factor.  I used Gordon’s London Dry gin and a combination of raspberries, blueberries and pomegranate arils, but you can let your imagination run riot with whatever berries you like.  I like my G&T clear, but if you want your drink to have some colour, shake up the berries together with the gin and a couple of ice cubes before you add the tonic. Cheers – here’s to celebrating every day as a special occasion!

 

This twist on the traditional G&T can be whipped up in minutes using nothing more complicated than a jam jar, gin, tonic and berries!

 

5.0 from 5 reviews
Very berry G&Ts
 
Print
Prep time
5 mins
Total time
5 mins
 
This berrylicious twist on the traditional gin and tonic cocktail is not only delicious but also super simple to make. Perfect for long summer afternoons with friends!
Author: Jeanne Horak-Druiff
Recipe type: Drinks
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 100 ml Gin (I used Gordon's London Dry)
  • a generous handful of mixed berried (think raspberries, blueberries, sliced strawberries or pomegranate arils)
  • a splash of elderflower cordial
  • 300ml tonic water
  • a good squeeze of lime
  • sprig of mint to garnish
Instructions
  1. Add the gin, elderflower and ice to a cocktail shaker or jam jar. Add the berries if you want some colour in your drink.
  2. Shake vigorously to infuse the flavours, then squeeze lime over the top.
  3. Pour into tall glasses and top up with tonic water (also add the berries if, like me, you did not add them to the shaker initially). Serve with a sprig of fresh mint.
Wordpress Recipe Plugin by EasyRecipe
3.3.3077

 

A few other bloggers also decided to “Shake it up”  with The Bar this summer and here’s what they made:

  • Margot’s no problemo spiced mojito
  • Emily’s good ol’ whisky ginger
  • Jen’s raspberry collins
  • Bintu’s Pimms and lemonade
  • Katherine’s cucumber gin & tonic
  • Sarah’s spiced mojito
  • Helen’s elderflower coconut gin martini

For more inspiration, check out the series of Cocktail Crashers videos on The Bar.com website, showing you just how easy (and how much fun!) making cocktails can be.  If you are trying out any of these cocktails this summer, do share your images on social media using the #LetsCocktail hashtag for a chance to win prizes.

 

DISCLOSURE:  This post was commissioned by The Bar.com. I was sent ingredients and compensated for my time by The Bar.com but all opinions are my own. 

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  1. Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla says

    July 20, 2015 at 10:36 am

    I have never been big fan of gin or tonic but your version with all those berries looks very tempting and refreshing!!

    Reply
  2. Rosa says

    July 20, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    Refreshing, summery and so British! I love gin cocktails.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  3. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says

    July 20, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    This sounds absolutely lovely with the addition of the elderflower cordial! And you’re absolutely right – there’s no point saving things for later, why not enjoy them while we can 🙂

    Reply
  4. [email protected] says

    July 20, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    Because I work with cancer patients carpe diem is a bit of a motto – when I remember that is. You never usually regret the things you have done (even if fairly awful they teach us something, don’t they) but we do often regret what we don’t do. Spray that expensive perfume (I use to love Ivoire as well!), use the high thread count sheets, drink your favourite drink just for the hell of it. Your pretty gin concoction is so summery. If only Edinburgh was feeling a bit summery! I do love a g&t…

    Reply
  5. Andrew says

    July 20, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    Cocktails all round! Another great sounding one to add to my must try list.

    Reply
  6. Kate @ Veggie Desserts says

    July 21, 2015 at 10:44 am

    Such a sad statement about the unopened perfumes. My mum, too, saves everything for best. I try to make her use and enjoy it all, but she really does have a ‘special occassion’ mindset.

    Lovely cocktail and looks like a great get together. 🙂

    Reply
  7. christine says

    July 23, 2015 at 2:32 am

    I am guilty of “saving” for special occasions and not always embracing the moments we have. Thanks for the reminder to snap out of it. This cocktail sounds like a good enough reason to celebrate on it’s own!

    Reply
  8. Camilla says

    July 23, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    Looks so inviting Jeanne – what time do you want me?

    Reply
  9. Elizabeth says

    July 24, 2015 at 9:06 am

    Ooooh this looks so refreshing and gorgeous – all we need is some sun to go with it! 😀

    Reply
  10. Karen says

    July 25, 2015 at 9:47 am

    Yes, I agree Jeanne! I decided after my husband was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, he is in remission now, and when his sister died at 52 of breast cancer to liberate my “best china” and all the other “Best” things I used to keep for “Best”! My mum is still very bad at keeping stuff back for the “right occasion” but for me, every day is the tight occasion now and it feels very liberating!
    Your Very Berry G & T looks amazing, I made a Singapore Sling, which will not surprise you I know!
    Karen

    Reply
  11. Emily @amummytoo says

    August 3, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    Such an attractive drink. The berries really do add to the appeal. Thanks for mentioning my cocktail 🙂

    Reply
  12. Rosana @ Hot&CHilli Food and Travel Blog says

    August 11, 2015 at 9:41 am

    This cocktail looks so good. I could have one right now! Hope you are well xxx

    Reply
  13. Meeta says

    August 13, 2015 at 8:26 am

    A sad story about your mum – Jeanne. I admit I am not much of a saver and like to live in the moment and enjoy what I get – that day is NOW! I am seriously liking the shaker and this is a cocktail we need to share!

    Reply
  14. Yum Girl says

    August 17, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    Welcome to Yum Goggle! We are now following you on all social media and hope you will do the same – that way, we can tag you as we promote your post across up to 14 platforms available to us! We hope you will continue to submit in the future and grow with us! We just purchased and redesigned the entire site 6 months ago so we are still “new” 🙂 Kelli and Holli at YG.

    Reply
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

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