The school summer holidays are over and kids are back to school. Whilst this might be a relief, term time can bring it's own difficulties. So to help all of the amazing parents, here's what kind of gin cocktail you should be drinking for all manner of back to school struggles. 

Mission: Get the kids up and to school on time: Cold Brew Negroni

There's only so many times you can shout "hurry up or we'll be late!" before you want to reach for the gin, even if it is only 8am. This Cold Brew Negroni will give you that burst of energy that you'll need after a morning of chaos. 

Ingredients
25ml Conker Gin
25ml Conker Cold Brew
25ml Suze Aperitif

Method
Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice and combine all ingredients. Stir for between 10 and 15 seconds, to combine and allow for some dilution. Garnish with a wheel of orange.

Competitive parents : French 75

The cocktail that will show the perfect parents that just because you bought some cupcakes from Tesco's because you forgot the cake sale was today, does not mean you aren't sophisticated. 

Image: Esquire.com

Ingredients
50ml London dry gin
1 tsp. superfine sugar
15ml lemon juice
150ml Sparkling wine 

Method

In a cold cocktail shaker, add ice, the gin, lemon juice and sugar before shaking vigorously. Carefully strain into a glass filled half way with ice. Top up with sparkling wine!  

For the original recipe, click here

Being called into school: Shot of Gin

You have no idea what you are about to walk into. An accident, a chat about grades, why the homework wasn't completed, bullying, bad behaviour.... so you might just want a quick shot to help prepare for the worst. Who knows, it might be for some fantastic news!

Image: Livestrong.com

Ingredients
25ml Gin
Optional: Slice of lime

Method
Pour gin into shot glass. Add a lime if you fancy.

Impossible Homework: Gin and Tonic

You've been asked to help out with the homework whilst trying to cook dinner at the same time. You have no idea what it means. Or what actual use it will have. Note: the gin might not help with solving the impossibly difficult algebra or the cooking, but then again, it might so it's worth a shot (literally).

Ingredients
50ml Gin
150ml Premium tonic
Twist of lime peel to garnish
Method

Pour 50ml of gin into a glass packed full of ice. Top up with tonic and garnish with a twist of lime peel if using September's Gin of the Month.

Bedtime tantrums: The Last Word

It takes you mere seconds to fall asleep but the bedtime process for your little one/s takes what feels like a lifetime. Whether it's a tantrum over being allowed one more bed time story, not being able to find a teddy bear or whining about not being allowed to watch that annoying children's programme, you will always have the last word. So it's apt to drink it too. 

Image: Saveur.com 

Ingredients
20ml Gin
20ml Green Chartreuse
20ml Maraschino liqueur
20ml Fresh lime juice
Twist of lime to garnish

Method

Add the gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lime juice in an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake well before straining into a coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lime.

For the original recipe, click here.

Children's Birthday Parties: Gin Martini

Soft play centres otherwise known as children's heaven and a parent's kind of hell. The screaming laughter (or occasional cries of pain), hyperactivity, the sugary sweets and drinks on offer will probably mean that you need a stiff drink. 

Image: The Guardian

Ingredients
100ml (or adjust ratio to suit your own tastes) Gin
5g fine salt
25ml part chilled dry vermouth
Olives on a cocktail stick

Method

Chill the martini glass for about 30mins whilst dissolving the salt in some water. In a mixing glass, fill it half way up with ice before adding in the gin, vermouth and a small dash of salt solution. Stir without touching the glass (so to keep the glass cold!) for around 30 seconds before straining into the chilled martini glass. To garnish, put a cocktail stick through a couple of olives and enjoy! 

For the original recipe, click here

But as much as gin is needed to help get through term time struggles, it'll all be worth it.