Something Refreshing

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I’m not much of a mixed drink connoisseur.  I usually find that I enjoy wine more:  sparkling, white Burgundy, and Bordeaux styles. However, a few years ago, while visiting with friends in Yorkshire, England, I discovered a cocktail that I enjoyed so much that I asked the bartender for the recipe.

It’s called a Hendrick’s Collins.  This cocktail is delicious and refreshing—perfect for a summer afternoon in the garden.

Hendrick’s Collins

*Slightly modified

Ingredients:

One 12 ounce Collins glass

One shot of Hendrick’s Gin (distilled Scottish gin infused with rose & cucumber)

3/4 shot of St. Germain elderflower liqueur

Dash of lemon

3 Cucumber slices

Ice cubes

Soda Water

Cucumber and lemon wedge to garnish

*Belvoir Fruit Farms Elderflower Presse

*Special Note:  This is a sparkling beverage that’s handmade in the U.K. and mixes well with gin.  I originally had it in England; however, I have purchased it at The Fresh Market grocery store in my area.  It can also be ordered online at amazon.com.  My preference is to use half soda water and half Belvoir Elderflower Presse in this cocktail.

Preparation:

Fill the Collins glasses with ice.  Full size ice cubes will melt more slowly and dilute the drink more slowly.

Add the gin, St. Germain, lemon juice, and cucumber slices into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.  Cover and shake for several seconds.  Strain into a Collins glass and top with soda water (and Elderflower sparkling beverage if you wish).  If you desire, remove cucumbers from cocktail shaker and add those to the glass.

Gently stir with a spoon to mix.  Garnish with a cucumber slice or a wedge of lemon.

**Tonic water is pictured in the photograph of ingredients, because I accidentally picked up the bottle of tonic water instead of club soda when taking pictures for this post.  By the time I realized my mistake, I had already sliced the cucumber.  And, I didn’t have another cucumber to re-take the photo.  Anyway, please use club soda in this cocktail recipe; it’s much better. 🙂

While in Yorkshire, our friends were kind enough to do a little sightseeing with us.  And, while they live near Guisborough and Redcar, they aren’t too far from Whitby By The Sea.  So, we had the good fortune to enjoy the lovely hills and dales as well as breathtaking views of the sea.  Here are a few photos of our visit.

Categories: Photography, Recipes, Travel, Wine

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