Christmas is just around the corner, a time for celebration and sharing gifts and great moments with family and friends.
To help you find that festive feeling, we’ve created some delicious cocktails to accompany our classic serves and inspire your Isle of Harris Gin drinking this season.
The first one is the 'Harris Esnowcesa' made for us by Naroa Ortega from London's excellent Escocesa restaurant.
You will need...
50ml Isle of Harris Gin
20ml Triple sec / Cointreau
1 x pressed Kumquat fruit
15ml sugar
20ml egg white
15ml lemon juice
10ml lime juice
Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, and some ice and shake again. Then strain into a chilled Harris Martini glass and garnish with a kumquat fruit.
When poured, a wonderful white foam forms on top which looks like snow and the drink itself has a lovely tart taste that showcases our gin beautifully.
And, if kumquats are as hard to find as they are here in the Outer Hebrides do experiment with any other sweet-sour citrus fruit!
Next, we have a creation from our friend James Randall at Spritz Studio, he calls it the ‘The Tweedleplum’…
This one’s a little more ambitious with its choice of ingredients so perhaps ask your friendly local bartender to mix this when you’re out on the town this Christmas.
You will need…
35ml Isle of Harris Gin
12.5ml Ume Plum Vinegar
25ml Italicus Bergamot Liqueur
2 dashes of Peychaud Bitters
1 Bergamot orange.
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled. Then strain into a Harris Gin glass over fresh cubed ice and garnish with a slice of dried bergamot orange.
The Tweedleplum is a flavoursome take on the Negroni, using plum vinegar to add a sharp vibrancy and balancing things with the floral sweetness of Italicus.
You can also make this in large batches for up to 10 people. Simply add 15% extra water and chill in advance before serving over ice.
If your cocktail-making skills still need a little work we also recommend indulging in our three popular Isle of Harris Serves, which are ideal for making at home.
Finally, all these drinks can be beautifully presented in our range of matching handblown glassware and accompanying gift sets.
If you still need to find that special gift, or simply treat yourself, this Christmas our online shop is full of good things just waiting to make its journey to you.
Whatever you choose to mix and make this Christmas, let’s raise a beautiful glass, or two, to the spirit of the season!