Have you got 14th June marked with a big red ‘X’ on your calendar? Well, if you’re a gin lover, you should have, as it’s World Gin Day! And what better way to celebrate than with a sweet summer tipple to toast to the sunny season?
Here at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, we’re especially proud to raise a glass, as we craft our very own Belfry Gin. Named ‘1960’ after the year we became the hotel you all know and love - each bottle is infused with flowers and herbs from our gardens and sweetened with honey from our ever-so-busy Belfry Bees.
This week, we caught up with our Brabazon Bar Assistant Manager, Marius Romanenco, who treated us to some handy tips on how to make a delicious (and easy!) summer spritz at home.
The Belfry Perfect Serve
Introducing The Belfry Perfect Serve - a beautifully balanced, aromatic cocktail that evokes all the senses of summer.
Bringing together floral, citrus, and herbal notes, this explosion of flavour provides a truly refreshing experience.
Served tall over ice, it delivers a burst of summer with every sip - elegant, vibrant, and effortlessly sophisticated.
Ingredients
50ml The Belfry’s 1960 Strawberry and Elderflower Gin
25ml Rose Syrup
25ml Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
Blood Orange and Elderflower Tonic - The London Essence
1 Slice of Orange
How to make
Begin by filling a tall glass with ice - crushed ice is ideal for a beautifully chilled and textured finish, but standard cubes work just as well.
Pour in your measure of rose syrup followed by freshly squeezed lime juice, letting the sweetness and citrus make friends with the ice.
For the main event, add the Belfry Strawberry and Elderflower Gin, allowing the floral and botanical notes to infuse.
Gently slide in two half-slices of orange for a burst of colour and a hint of citrus.
Finish by topping the glass with Blood Orange and Elderflower Tonic, adding a few bubbles to the glass.
As a final step, garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a few blackberries. Then sit back, sip, and savour.
Raspberry and Lime Gin Spritz
Looking for a drink that feels like summer in a glass? Enter the Raspberry and Lime Gin Spritz.
This vibrant, zesty cocktail is like a cool breeze on a warm afternoon. With its striking pink colouring, its bursting with the sweetness of ripe raspberries and the crisp tang of fresh lime.
It’s light, elegant, and perfect for any occasion, whether that be entertaining friends, or simply indulging in a quiet moment of sunshine, this promises to be your go-to seasonal sip.
Ingredients
50ml The Belfry’s 1960 Pine & Orange Gin
125ml Prosecco
12.5ml of Raspberry Syrup (if needed)
Pomelo and Pink Pepper Tonic - The London Essence
Fresh Raspberry, Lime (sliced) and Mint
How to make
To start, fill a gin glass with cubed ice to chill it while you prepare the rest of the cocktail.
In a cocktail shaker, add a handful of fresh raspberries, a few mint leaves, and thin slices of lime. Use a muddler to gently press the ingredients, releasing natural juices and all the flavours we need!
Pour in your Belfry Pine & Orange Gin, followed by the Raspberry syrup (if required to balance the citrus with a hint of sweetness).
Add ice to the shaker, then shake, shake, shake!
Strain the water from your perfectly chilled glass to ensure you don’t dilute the good stuff!
Using a cocktail and mesh strainer, double strain the cocktail from the shaker into the glass to remove any seeds or mint pieces. Gently tap the strainer if needed to encourage every drop.
Give your drink a stir to mix the goodness together.
Top with a splash of Prosecco, then follow with tonic water to give the drink its spritz.
Garnish with a slice of lemon, a few raspberries, and a sprig of mint for a beautifully fresh finish. Congratulations, you just made your new favourite cocktail!
If you’d rather leave it to a cocktail master like Marius this World Gin Day, head to The Brabazon Bar at The Belfry Hotel & Resort this weekend for a shaken and stirred celebration of all things gin.
