Winter Gin & Tonic with Elderflower & Sloe

 The Winter Gin & Tonic is a twist on the classic G&T. A dash of elderflower liqueur, sloe gin & Campari team up with gin & tonic to create a drink with a pretty blush and a hint of fruit.

Sometimes a recipe can sit in my notebook for a very long time. Often, it's just a title, waiting for me to get around to developing the actual recipe. Other times it's a recipe I've tested and tweaked numerous times until I'm finally satisfied with it. And then the season moves on, so the recipe sits there until the season rolls around again. Well guess what, it's finally the perfect time to talk about this Winter Gin & Tonic - it's been waiting patiently in my notebook for quite some time.

The nights are darker and the temperature has dropped rapidly over the last week. Winter is definitely not far away now. So, I like my Friday night cocktail ritual all the more now. What could be better than saying goodnight to the dark and cold world outside by locking the door and snuggling up for the night with a couple of seasonal cocktails and a game or two with the family. 

The Winter Gin & Tonic embraces the classic G&T but gives it a bit of a shake up to match the time of year. Both the sloe gin and Campari add a warming hue to the drink and a wintery edge to the flavour. But the touch of elderflower reminds us that summer will be back. Even in cocktails I like to spread positivity.

Oh, and if you’re worried about the Campari, don’t be. There’s only a splash in the entire drink, so it’s not bitter at all.

How to Garnish this Gin & Tonic & Other Drinks

I’ve been working hard to improve my food styling this year. Especially for drinks and I’ve learned how to make a few pretty garnishes to top my cocktails with. You’ll see a few of these at the start of December when I launch a mini-series dedicated to classic cocktails and truffles inspired by these cocktails.

Since I’ve been teaching myself how to be a bit more stylish in the cocktail garnish department, that got me thinking. So I challenged myself to make a video to help you out too. There’s nothing elaborate going on here. Just a few easy to do ideas. And you'll find the delicate orange twists used to garnish this wintery sloe gin & tonic included.

Creating video content is not my strong point or my passion. It’s kept me busy for most of this week. I’ve learned a few more things along the way, so that’s positive progress. Enjoy.

In the mood for more wintery drinks? Try these:

• Winter Bramble Cocktail
• Bourbon Black Forest Cocktail
• Winter Spice Negroni
• Chocolate Blackberry Bourbon Cocktail