Kelly's Lavender Lemon Gin Sling

This cocktail was created to celebrate the 1st anniversary of our Hampstead store. A 'sling' is a cocktail based on a spirit and sugar-syrup, then charged with soda…or, omit the soda and serve in a martini or coupe glass for an elegant dinner party cocktail as shown above.

Ingredients

• 50ml Bombay Sapphire gin
• 15ml fresh squeezed lemon juice, strained of pulp
• 15ml chilled lavender syrup*
• club soda
• A twist of lemon or dried culinary lavender stem, for garnish

For the Lavender Syrup

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 235ml water
• 3 tbsp culinary lavender

Method

1. Place sugar, water and lavender in a saucepan
2. Bring to the boil, stirring to ensure sugar is completely dissolved
3. Turn off the heat and allow mixture to steep for 30 minutes, then strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean, dry glass jar or bottle. Lavender mix will keep in refrigerator up to one month
4. Shake gin, lemon juice and lavender syrup with ice and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice; top with splash of soda
5. Garnish with lemon twist or lavender sprig

BK Tips

1. Only prepare this drink with culinary (edible) lavender, not the ornamental variety; widely available online the Organic Dried Lavender from Steenbergs is fantastic and is also a great ingredient for savoury dishes, scones or ice cream
2. Any London Dry gin will do, but we love the combination of Bombay Sapphire's botanicals with the lavender