Here at Craft Gin Club we are all about the spirit of discovery and adventure when it comes to gin, and so if you are planning a holiday soon, we’d heartily recommend venturing beyond the standard ‘gin-tonic’ and trying the locals’ favourite way to drink gin. You never know what new and delicious cocktails you might discover!
If you need a little inspiration, here are five of our favourite gin cocktails from around the world. Don’t worry if you’re not planning a holiday to one of these exotic destinations, as we’ve also included instructions showing how you can make the drinks at home.
Come on, join us in an adventurous gin trip around the world!
Menorca: The ‘Pomada’
The story: This beautiful Balearic island has a long love affair with gin, ever since the British occupiers who ruled for a time in the 18th Century began shipping their favourite tipple over. The locals latched on to the popularity of gin, and promptly started drinking - then producing - their own gin. The best known brand of Menorcan gin is Xoriguer (pronounced: sho-ri-gair). They have a distillery in Mahon that you can visit.
The drink: the most popular gin cocktail in Menorca is the ‘pomada’, as it’s called in Mahon - in the rival city of Ciutadella on the west coast of the island, it’s called a ‘gin con limonada’.
To make one is easy. It’s a simple but delicious combination of equal parts Xoriguer gin and lemonade over ice, with a lemon slice to garnish.
Italy: The ‘Angelo Azzurro’ (Blue Angel)
The story: Of course, the most famous Italian gin cocktail has to be the Negroni. However, we’ve chosen one that’s a little more obscure outside Italy, despite its raging popularity in the discos from Naples to Rimini throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, and the fact that is was the preferred drink of Don Johnson’s white-suited and quiffed character in the iconic TV show, Miami Vice: the Blue Angel, or ‘Angelo Azzurro’ in Italian.
The drink: The origins of this very Italian gin cocktail are obscure; some believe it was invented in homage to Marlene Dietrich and her film of the same name; others who think it might refer to the fact that the high alcohol content will have you flying in the heavens.
To make one, shake two parts gin with one part Triple Sec (or cointreau) and a dash of Blue Curaçao with ice, then strain and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon and serve.
Bahamas: Sky Juice (or ‘Gully Wash’)
The story: If someone asks you to think of a Caribbean cocktail, the chances are, you’ll probably think of a rum-laced mojito or umbrella-adorned tropical fruity punch. So you might be surprised to discover that in many parts of the Caribbean, and in particular, in the Bahamas, the party drink of choice for many locals is something completely different: Sky Juice, also known as Gully Wash.
The drink: Frothy, milky, sweet and above all, boozy, Sky Juice is a deliciously refreshing cocktail. For added authenticity, serve in an old milk jug, beer glass or cracked coconut shell. To make the drink, combine 30ml gin, 15ml condensed milk, 60ml coconut water and ice cubes in a shaker or jug and shake or stir until frothy and chilled. Add a dash of Angostura bitters, stir and serve.
Japan: Tokyo Iced Tea
The story: The Tokyo Iced Tea is a Japanese twist on the classic Long Island Iced Tea. The main point of difference is the green colour, but don’t be alarmed! This comes from the addition of melon liqueur, which also makes the drink lighter, fruitier, and arguably more refreshing than the original New York version. Don’t be fooled by the light flavour, though - this cocktail packs a fruity alcoholic punch!
The drink: Take 15 ml tequila,15 ml white rum, 15 ml gin, 15 ml vodka, 15 ml Triple sec, 15 ml melon liqueur, (like Midori), 30 ml freshly squeezed lime juice and some soda water or quality lemonade, to top up. Add all ingredients into a highball glass with ice and stir. Garnish with a lemon or lime wheel and maraschino cherry.
Philippines: The ‘Ginpo’
The story: If you are one of the 160,000+ British tourists that relaxed on holiday last year on the palm-fringed white beaches and in the turquoise waters of the Philippines, you will have noticed that gin is THE drink of choice among the locals. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that the Philippines is the biggest consumer per capita of gin in the world!
The drink: Filippinos enjoy their gin in a multitude of ways, but the most popular is probably the ‘Ginpo’ - a simple cocktail consisting of gin, pomelo juice and crushed ice. If you’re not heading to these exotic islands any time soon, then pomelos are available in some UK supermarkets, but you can easily substitute grapefruit or pineapple juice if you’re looking to make a ginpo at home.
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