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Can’t make it to the bar? No need to sweat it: top chef Jason Atherton has you sorted with his favourite drinks to rustle up at home, from a dill-spiked gin concoction to a decadent chocolate punch.
Dill or no Dill
50ml Isle of Harris gin
15ml elderflower cordial
1 slice of cucumber
1 spring of dill
25ml lemon juice
65ml salt solution
Method: To make the salt solution, dilute 4 teaspoons of salt in 200ml water. Add all the ingredients (except the dill) to a shaker, shake and double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with the sprig of dill.
Chocolate River Punch
20ml Bulleit bourbon
10ml rhum agricole
15ml chocolate liqueur
10ml fudge syrup
80ml chocolate milk
Method: Stir all ingredients with ice for 15 seconds, then strain into a glass.
The Good Mixer
40ml Bacardi Carta Blanca rum
25ml homemade watermelon cordial
1 bottle of Sekforde botanical rum mixer
Mojito granita (for garnish)
For the watermelon cordial:
500g watermelon (seedless)
150g caster sugar
100ml hot water
1 tsp citric acid
For the Mojito granita:
600ml water
200ml tonic water
50ml lemon juice
1 handful of mint leaves
Method: To make the watermelon cordial, blend all the ingredients for a minute or two until smooth. Chilled, you can store this for up to a week. To make the Mojito granita, blend all the ingredients for one or two minutes. Place in a wide, flat container and freeze. Flake as needed by using a fork to scratch up from the surface. To make the cocktail, mix all the ingredients together and serve in a highball.
Non Island Iced Tea
15ml Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic White Cane Spirit
15ml Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Orange Sec
15ml Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Dry London Spirit
15ml agave syrup
25ml lemon juice
100ml Diet Coke
Method: To make this non-alcoholic version of Long Island Iced Tea, blend all the ingredients together and serve over ice.
And in case you missed the ES Big Friday Night In, where Jason Atherton made several cocktails live on air, here are the recipes:
Non Alcoholic Frozen Springtime Spritz
2 tbsp frozen fruit from freezer (any kind will do)
100ml Club Soda
Any mixer to top up the drink
Ginger slice
Lime slice
Method: Place frozen fruit in a shaker and add a few ice cubes. Cover with club soda and add any mixer you have. Shake for 3 seconds, strain and serve with a slice of ginger and lime.
Jason Atherton’s Old Fashioned
40ml whisky
10ml elderflower cordial
Any sweet wine to top up the glass
3 ice cubes
Lemon rind
Method: Combine all ingredients (except for the lemon rind) and stir. Swipe lemon around the rim of your glass, and serve.
