It’s so easy to reach for your trusty tipple every time, isn’t it? For me that’s the same old same old: wines (Merlot in the winter, Sauv Blanc in the summer, zzzz), Champagne if it’s payday or Prosecco if it’s not. And a G&T (obvs).

It’s all very nice, but just a teensy bit boring. So I’m making it my mission to get out of my booze rut (metaphorically speaking, I’m not literally lying in a ditch full of alcohol. Or am I….?!)

Let’s put my other favourite tipples aside for a moment and concentrate on gin. Not the traditional G&T with ice and a slice – yes, it’s a classic – but we can do better than that.

We’ve collared the ever-informative team at Silent Pool Distillers for their favourite gin cocktails – and here they are in all their delightful wintery and festive glory.

 

THE WINTER SOUR 

Bursting with festive flavours, the Silent Pool Winter Sour cocktail is guaranteed to get you in a joyous mood. Ohh-la-la!

What you need:

• 50ml Albury limited release Spirit of Winter
• 25ml lemon juice
• 12.5ml cinnamon syrup
• 1 egg white
• sprig of pine
• Silent Pool Christmas Spirit liquid garnish

What you do: Combine the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake without ice. Add the ice and shake again. Pour through a tea strainer into a chilled glass, then finish with a sprig of pine and a few sprays of the Silent Pool Christmas Spirit liquid garnish. And enjoy.

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MULLED GIN

Forget mulled wine. It’s just soooo yesterday, dahling! It’s time to mix up a batch of Silent Pool’s hot Mulled Gin. Chin-chin!

What you need:

• 25ml Silent Pool gin
• 75ml apple juice
• teaspoon of spiced mulling syrup
• 75ml hot water
• cinnamon stick
• orange slice/twist of orange peel

What you do: Combine Silent Pool gin, apple juice and hot water into a mug or copa glass – or a Thermos Flask if you’re heading out for a winter walk! Pour in a teaspoon of spiced mulling syrup and give it a stir with the cinnamon stick. Leave the cinnamon stick in as a garnish and add the orange slice.

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CHERRY TREES COCKTAIL

What you need:

• 50ml English Rose Gin
• 50ml  Fever Tree naturally light tonic
• 15ml  maraschino cherry syrup

What you do: Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake with plenty of ice and strain into a Copa glass. Garnish with a twist of lime peel and one maraschino cherry.

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In addition to their usual range of fabulous gin – Silent Pool have launched a festive range including the Silent Pool gin Christmas cracker, a gift box set of six Christmas crackers, the Silent Pool gin gift set.

silentpooldistillers.com