G is for Gin – Ideas and Recipes
G Is for Gin
Make no mistake. It’s gin o’clock somewhere.
By Carmen D. Hrynchuk
On hot summer days when the mercury rises, gin has a way of going with everything—and in everything. Popsicles? Yes, please. Cocktails? Don’t mind if I do. Marinades and salad dressings? You get the idea. Gin, in all its glorious imaginings, is summer’s perfect pairing. Give these little lovelies a try.
Cucumber & Lime Gin-sicles
(makes 6 to 8)
- 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1/2 cup room-temperature water
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 2 1/2 oz gin
- 1 1/2 cups tonic water
To a blender, add the chopped cucumber, lime juice, lime zest, water, sugar and gin. Blend until smooth, and then transfer to a pitcher. Add the tonic water, and stir. Pour into popsicle moulds, insert sticks and freeze until solid.
Orange & Thyme Gin Salad Dressing
- 1/4 cup gin
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly cracked pepper
Place all the ingredients in a Mason jar, add the lid and shake until combined. Use immediately, or store in the fridge for up to a week. Beautiful on summer salads or as a glaze for grilled chicken and fish.
Lemon & Gin Marinade
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
- 1 oz gin
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly cracked pepper
- 2 scallions, chopped
Add all the ingredients to a large, resealable plastic bag, and give them a little mix. Add 2 large chicken breasts, seal the bag (removing as much air as possible) and place in the fridge to marinate for 25 minutes. Also makes a great marinade for shrimp.
The French Tart
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz elderflower liquor
- 2 oz freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice
- 1/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 oz rosemary syrup
- Prosecco, chilled
- Sprig of rosemary to garnish
To make the rosemary syrup, simply combine 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup water and 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary in a small pot, and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, let the mixture simmer 5 minutes and then remove it from heat and let it cool. When cool, remove the rosemary, pour the syrup in a Mason jar and store it in the fridge.
To a chilled cocktail glass filled with ice, add 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce elderflower liquor, 2 ounces pink grapefruit juice, 1/4 ounce lemon juice and 1/2 ounce rosemary syrup. Top with chilled prosecco (to taste), and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a slice of grapefruit.
Honey & Sage Gin Fizz
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 1/2 oz honey-sage syrup (to taste)
- 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- club soda (to taste)
- fresh sage to garnish
To make the honey-sage syrup, simply combine 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup water and 5 fresh sage leaves in a small pot, and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, let the mixture simmer 5 minutes and then remove it from heat and let it cool. When cool, remove the leaves, pour the syrup in a Mason jar and store it in the fridge.
To a chilled cocktail glass filled with ice, add 1 1/2 ounces of gin, 1/2 ounce honey-sage syrup, 1/2 ounce lime juice and top with club soda (to taste). Garnish with a fresh sage leaf, and enjoy responsibly.
Perfect Pairings
Wondering what to garnish your favourite gin cocktail with? Here are some fruit-and-herb combos to try.
Watermelon and basil
Raspberry and basil
Blood orange and rosemary
Pomegranate and rosemary
Grapefruit and thyme
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