Drink,Top Fives

Top five summer cocktails

Gerry Calabrese – son of cocktail maestro Salvatore – runs The Hoxton Pony bar in east London. Here, he shares his recipes for five of his favourite seasonal cocktails.

1 Strawberry Fields 
“British strawberries are the best that money can buy when they’re in season so a Strawberry Fields during the summer months is truly delicious.”

Ingredients: 35ml Zubrowka 35ml, 25ml Pimm’s, 10ml elderflower cordial, 3 strawberries, 8-10 mint leaves, 10ml fresh lemon juice, 20ml fresh apple juice, 1 dash sugar syrup, strawberry to garnish
Method: muddle the fruit, add the other liquids, shake, then and double strain into a martini glass
 

2 Stockholm Bramble
“This is another great twist on a brilliant gin classic, using ripe British blackberries and packed full of flavour: a great example of a well-balanced drink.”

Ingredients: 35ml Cape North Vodka, 15ml Quince Liqueur, 1.5 bar spoons lemon sugar, 6 blackberries, 15ml fresh lemon juice
Method: muddle the fruit in a rocks glass, add the rest of the ingredients with crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon twist

3 The Deep Thinker
“It’s the perfect summer BBQ tipple and super easy for anyone and everyone to make at home.”

Ingredients: 1 lime, 5-6 coriander springs, 1 barspoon Demerara sugar, 15ml elderflower cordial, 50ml Sailor Jerry’s spiced rum, lime wedge and corriander sprig to garnish
Method: muddle fruit, add other ingredients, shake with crushed ice and decant into a rocks glass
 

4 High Heels

“The perfect summer cocktail – loads of fresh seasonal fruit, long and refreshing and great for those who have a palate leaning to the sweeter side.”

Ingredients: 3 raspberries, 3 blackberries, 40ml Cape North Vodka, 10ml Crème de Cassis, 10ml Crème de Mure, 15ml fresh lemon juice, 100ml fresh apple juice 

Method: combine ingredients in a boston shaker with ice and strain into a rocks glass

5 The Pony Collins
“This is a great contemporary twist on the classic and one of my personal favourites during the summer months.”

Ingredients: 20ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml elderflower cordial, 50ml Martin Miller’s gin, soda water, lemon wedge to garnish
Method: combine all the ingredients except the soda in a tumbler, and stir with ice. Top with soda and garnish