After all of the big, brash treats of Christmas, we love to take things easier with some simple home-comforts like a cup of tea and a tasty snack or two here at Craft Gin Club HQ. They can be the perfect way to get cosy on the sofa when the weather outside is freezing, especially when that cup of tea is actually a hot gin cocktail and the snacks are Olly’s Pretzel Thins, which are the sumptuously savoury snacks that we sent to our members in their January 2021 Gin of the Month box.
Whether it’s Olly’s Salted Original Pretzel Thins or their Multi-Seed Sesame Pretzel Thins, they are a great alternative to crisps when you want to treat yourself, and the fact that they have 45% fewer calories and 80% less fat than standard crisps makes them even more perfect for post-Christmas snacking.
We love pairing them with our Hot Early Gray & Gin Punch. The beautiful, bready flavours of the pretzel complement and absorb the comforting yet complex tea flavours of the cocktail so well. They make a stunning combination.
So get your blanket off your bed, pull on your comfiest cotton socks and get cosy in the living room with some good telly, Olly’s Pretzel Thins and this ginny mug of tea.
Hot Earl Grey & Gin Punch
One of the great things about this gin cocktail recipe is that, just like Olly’s Pretzel Thins, it is just so versatile. You can use a tea of your choice and brew it to the strength that you like.
“I love to play around with afternoon teas. The aromatic, fragrant and sometimes grassy notes of tea can pair so well with savoury snacks, complimenting and balancing out the different flavours.”
And when it comes to garnishes, for Early Grey and other lighter teas like in the recipe below, we recommend lemon, orchard fruits and even a sprig of rosemary. But if you prefer darker teas like a standard English Breakfast tea then a simple slice of orange would work really well. We also love adding a few choice spices every now and then to jazz things up.
You can then add the Simple Syrup as you would teaspoons of sugar - just double or triple the measurement if you like a sweeter drink.
However you like your tea, this cocktail is perfect for a chilly winter’s day.
Ingredients
50ml gin
15ml lemon juice
15ml Simple Syrup
200ml Earl Grey tea
Slices of fresh lemon and pear, to garnish
A sprig of fresh rosemary, to garnish
Your choice of cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and/or cloves, to garnish (if using)
Method
Brew your tea to the strength you prefer. Strain it directly into a mug and add the gin, citrus juice and Simple Syrup. Garnish and enjoy!
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