Using fresh papaya (or mango or guava juice if you can’t get papaya), this cocktail recipe is a vibrant and fruity tipple that’s full of tropical flavours that will brighten up your summer, whatever the weather!

The Tropical Gin Fizz was invented by the team behind Amázzoni Gin, our fabulous Brazilian July 2020 Gin of the Month, and in its original Brazilian has the fabulous-sounding name of ‘Fresco de Mamão’ - literally meaning ‘fresh papaya’ in Portuguese. Amázzoni Gin’s herbaceous tones work really well with the sweet, complex fruit flavour of papaya. However, if you can’t get your hands on fresh papaya, then this drink is just as delicious made with fresh mango; alternatively, you could go for one of the higher-quality ready-made tropical juice drinks from the shop (we won’t tell).

So: it’s time to get your bossa nova tunes on the speakers, and one of these delicious cocktails on the go - you’ll soon be swaying your hips and dreaming of Ipanema!

Tropical Gin Spritz (‘Fresco de Mamao’)

Ingredients

1 papaya
50ml Amázzoni Gin
50ml soda water
15ml simple syrup*

*You can buy simple syrup or make your own by simmering 100ml water with 100g caster sugar over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved.

Method

Slice your papaya** in half, peel it and remove the seeds. Cut half of it into cubes and add to a blender with your gin, 50ml water and simple syrup, plus plenty of ice. Blend it and pour into a rocks glass. Top up with soda water. Garnish with a slice of papaya and serve.

**If you can’t find fresh papaya you can swap out the papaya for fresh mango, or ready-made mango or guava juice. Simply combine 50ml gin, 15ml simple syrup and 120ml juice in a rocks glass with ice and stir. Top with a little soda if you prefer.

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