BY VANESSA ROBERTS
As far as myself and London go, it’s been way too long between drinks (so the saying goes!) I’ve been desperate to go back to the UK for what feels like forever, but I just haven’t been able to swing it. (And let’s face it – the preponderance of cold weather there doesn’t exactly help matters!)
Last week, I was suitably chuffed because I basically received the next best thing, and that was a sampler of Schweppes’ latest limited edition mixers which (you guessed it) are all about LONDON!
With some super-hot days already happening here in Sydney, I had every excuse to get sampling, stat.
Like London itself these mixers are classic, with a twist. Schweppes have riffed on the kind of flavours you’d taste in a London bar, by adding notes of cucumber, grapefruit and bitters onto classic base flavours such as orange and lemonade.
The results are the ingenious ‘Lemonade with Citrus & Cucumber’ and ‘Orange, Grapefruit & Bitters’.
According to Schweppes Senior Brand Manager Matt Burr “Lost in London is the first in a series about iconic global bar scenes. The drinks are designed to evoke a sense of taking a wrong turn and becoming lost in a city that you may have never been to before, finding a bar you never expected to be in and discovering a drink, a cocktail, a smell and a taste that you will never forget and want to replicate every chance you get.”
Whilst completely suitable to drink right out of the bottle, they are also very cocktail-ready. With all the hard work done, you can literally just combine the mixer with your alcohol of choice, add a garnish and serve. Voila!
Though, if you’re entertaining (or just want to feel a little more fancy), then Schweppes’s new signature cocktail recipes (which were developed specifically for these two mixers) are also worth noting. Aptly named The ‘Ello Guv’nor and The Piccadilly Citrus, these user-friendly recipes will have you feeling lost in London in no time at all.
These cocktails are super-easy to make, and they require only a few basic ingredients that you’ll likely have in the kitchen already.
Now – you can’t get more English than Pimms, so the Ello Guv’nor cocktail which combines this iconic tipple with Schweppes’ new Lemonade Citrus & Cucumber mixer makes for the ultimate summertime refreshment:
INGREDIENTS:
- 50ml PIMM’s
- Schweppes Lemonade with Citrus & Cucumber
- Mint
- Strawberries
- Cucumber
- Ice
METHOD
- Pour 50ml PIMM’s over ice
- Top with Schweppes Lemonade with Citrus & Cucumber
- Garnish with mint, sliced strawberries and cucumber
(1 standard drink per serve)
If the buzz of The City is more your thing, then you may prefer the cleverly named ‘Picadilly Citrus‘ which uses the Orange Grapefruit and bitters instead.
INGREDIENTS:
- 30ml Tanqueray Gin
- Schweppes Orange Grapefruit & Bitters
- Lime
- Mint
- Pink Grapefruit
- Ice
METHOD
- Pour 30ml Tanqueray Gin over ice
- Top with Schweppes Orange Grapefruit & Bitters
- Add squeeze of fresh lime, mint sprig and pink grapefruit slice to garnish
(1 standard drink per serve)
Either way, these new limited edition drinks are great, and I’d definitely recommend using them as a base for fresh summer drinks on any occasion.
Recipes courtesy of www.cocktailrevolution.com.au. Click across for plenty more easy drink recipes and inspiration!
What is your favourite drink? Are you much of a mixologist or do you prefer to pour without fuss? Let us know in the comments below!
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