Chef Ben ODonoghue has taken classic spirits: Smirnoff® vodka, Gordons® gin, Morgans Spiced rum and Bells® whisky and gave each a contemporary twist to create four simple but delicious drinks recipes for everyone to enjoy at home this Summer.
Perfect for BBQs and home entertaining during the long, hot evenings - whether relaxing in the garden, by the pool or on the roof terrace .
Bearing in mind that most of us dont have the skills of a mixologist - or hours to spend on chopping, slicing and shaking - the drinks have been specially designed for the home. All can be made in under three minutes with a maximum of four ingredients: all of which are readily available on the average supermarkets shelves.
Ginger, lemongrass and lime add a refreshing bite to Morgans Spiced rum in the Spice and Stormy, while the Cool Russian offers an invigorating fusion of cucumber, lime, mint and Smirnoff vodka.
The Mandarin Gin owes its fruity punch to the retro cupboard staple tinned and chopped mandarins which, when mixed with Gordons gin, orange and grapefruit juices, give a flavour that will never be out of season.
Scotch gets a new lease of life in the Scotch in Fashion which sees Bells whisky blended with runny honey and orange slices to produce texture and smoothness a sure way to put whisky back on the menu as a pre- as well as post-dinner favourite.
The full recipes:
The Spice and stormy
Ingredients
50ml Morgans Spiced rum
½ fresh lime
35ml ginger and lemongrass cordial
Soda water
Ice cubes
Method
Fill a high ball glass ¾ full with ice and pour in the Morgans Spiced rum
Squeeze in the fresh lime and add the ginger and lemongrass cordial
Top up with soda water, stir and serve
Mandarin Gin
Ingredients
50ml Gordons gin
75ml orange juice
75ml grapefruit juice
½ fresh mandarin chopped fresh or tinned
Ice cubes
Method
Fill a high ball glass ¾ full with ice and pour in the Gordons gin
Add the chopped mandarin pieces and top with grapefruit juice and orange juice
Stir and serve
Cool Russian
Ingredients
50ml Smirnoff vodka (red)
6 fresh cucumber slices (thin)
Lemonade
4-5 mint leaves (sliced)
¼ fresh lime
Ice cubes
Method
Fill a high ball glass ¾ full with ice and pour in the Smirnoff vodka
Add the slices of cucumber, squeeze in the fresh lime wedge and sprinkle with the sliced mint
Top up with lemonade, stir and serve
Scotch in-fashion
Ingredients
50ml Bells Scotch whisky
1 tablespoon of runny honey
3 slices of fresh orange
Soda water (optional)
Ice cubes
Method
Fill a rocks glass ¾ full with ice and pour in the runny honey
Add the fresh orange slices and stir well before adding the Bells Scotch whisky
Add dash of soda if preferred, stir and serve
Tagged in Cocktails