Cocktails with Shimla Gin
Shimla Gin's ultra smooth flavour makes it ideal as a base or accent for many well known cocktails. In fact, it's downright wicked!
Curated by Mat Brennan
Mat is a local man, working through every level of the hospitality industry these past ten years. It’s no surprise that Matt has gained a vast amount of skills that suits bartending to precision and high class mixology to perfection. You can read more about Mat here.
Gin and Tonic
1/3 Shimla Gin
2/3 Schweppes Tonic Water
Lots of ice
This ratio is because Shimla Gin has an intense bouquet; any more and the overall flavour becomes unbalanced.
We have to start with a G&T, as this was first made by British soldiers in India, perfected in Shimla, then brought back to England. It’s our ‘back story’!
Put plenty of ice in the glass. Pour in Shimla Gin, then the Tonic Water. Stir gently. Ideally, garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit, as that is one of the botanicals in Shimla Gin.
Shimla Bramble
50 ml Shimla Gin
25 ml fresh lemon juice
10 ml sugar syrup
5 ml Crème de Cassis
5-6 fresh large brambles
Fresh lemon wedge
Lots of crushed ice
Muddle the brambles in a rocks glass. Add Shimla gin, the lemon juice juice and sugar syrup to a shaker, then shake really well.
Add the crushed ice to the muddled bramble, single strain the gin etc from the shaker into the glass and top with the Crème de Cassis. Garnish with the lemon wedge.
Shimla Fraise
50 ml Shimla Gin
25 ml fresh lemon juice
10 ml sugar syrup
5 ml Crème de Cassis
4 fresh large strawberries
Fresh lemon wedge
Lots of crushed ice
Muddle the strawberries in a rocks glass. Add Shimla Gin, the lemon juice and sugar syrup to a shaker, then shake really well.
Add the crushed ice to the muddled strawberries, single strain the gin etc from the shaker into the glass and top with the Crème de Cassis. Garnish with the lemon wedge.
Negroni Suave
1/3 Shimla Gin
1/3 Martini Rosso
1/3 Campari
1-2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Lots of ice
Put plenty of ice in the glass first (you decide how big the glass is). Pour in Shimla Gin, Martini Rosso, Campari and wrap it up with the Angostura.
Stir gently. Garnish with a slice of flame burned orange, Milanese style.
La Argentina
25 ml Shimla Gin
25 ml Dry Martini
25 ml Cointreau
3 dashes of Orange bitters
Lots of ice
Argentina’s answer to the Brasilian caipirinha. Put plenty of ice into the mixing glass. Pour in Shimla Gin, Dry Martini and Cointreau, then wrap it up with dashes of bitters.
Stir vigorously, then single strain into a rocks glass. Rim the glass with thick wedge of fresh lime, then garnish with a lime wheel.
Argentina Sbagliata
25 ml Shimla Gin
25 ml Cointreau
50 ml Prosecco
2 dashes of Orange bitters
Lots of ice
For when you can’t find Dry Martini! Put plenty of ice into the mixing glass. Pour in Shimla Gin and Cointreau, then wrap it up with dashes of bitters.
Stir vigorously, then single strain into a rocks glass. Top off with the Prosecco and some crushed ice.
Shimla 75
25 ml Rose Liquor
35 ml Shimla Gin
12.5ml Cointreau
Top with Prosecco
Garnish with 3 raspberries
Put plenty of ice into the mixing glass. Pour in the Rose Liquor, Shimla Gin and Cointreau.
Stir vigorously, then single strain into a classic cocktail glass. Top off with the Prosecco and garnish with three raspberries on a cocktail stick.
Shimla Julep
50 ml Shimla Gin
100 ml Ginger Beer
Fresh lime juice
8 fresh mint leaves
3 thick fresh lime wedges
Lots of crushed ice
Clap the mint leaves, put them into the glass, then put in the lime wedges and muddle. Add Shimla Gin, squeeze in the lime juice and stir together with bar spoon.
Add the crushed ice, and top with the ginger beer. Garnish with one sprig of mint and a thick lime wheel.
Indian Garden
25 ml Elderflower Syrup
25 ml Apple Juice
35 ml Shimla Gin
Half a lime, squeezed
Lots of crushed ice
Put plenty of ice into the mixing glass. Pour in the Elderflowr syrup, apple juice, and Shimla Gin. Squeeze in the juice of half a lime. Shake vigorously then single strain into a rocks glass.
Garnish with fresh mint and two cocktail cherries on a twizzle stick. Tastes really fresh !!