If there’s one thing we know here at Craft Gin Club, it’s that a good gin cocktail pairs perfectly with a good book. That’s why we’ve teamed up with our pals at book publishers, Pan Macmillan, to celebrate a summer of gin and reading!
Founded in 1843 by Daniel and Alexander Macmillan, Pan Macmillan UK is one of the largest general book publishers in the UK - so they know a thing or two about the hottest summer reads of 2023.
WIN A SUMMER OF GIN & BOOKS!
From gripping stories to beautifully crafted cocktails to enjoy while you get lost in the pages, we’re bringing Craft Gin Club members exclusive access to three of Pan Macmillan’s top book picks in July, August and September 2023 as well as cocktail pairings, exclusive author interviews and more. Plus, to kick things off we’re giving you the chance toWIN a bundle of brilliant reads and craft gins to last you all summer long!
That’s right - all you have to do is head to the Pan Macmillan website here before 20th July 2023 to enter and THREE lucky winners will take home the following incredible prize:
1x copy of Homecoming by Kate Morton
1x copy of The Maiden by Kate Foster
1x copy of Trust by Hernan Diaz
1x copy of Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
1x copy of Devotion by Hannah Kent
1x copy of Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter by Lizzie Pook
1x The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges
1x The Theory of Not Quite Everything by Kara Gnodde
A craft gin bundle comprising 3 x 70cl bottles of craft gin, 3 x cases of tonic water and matching gin garnishes, worth £140
Discover our top three books for the summer - and the best cocktails to pair them with!
What we’re reading in… July
The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton
This July we’re kicking things off with The House of Fortune, a stand-alone follow-up to Jessie Burton’s Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller The Miniaturist. In 18th century Amsterdam, Thea Brandt has met the love of her life, but at home, her family faces ruin. As Thea and Nella clash over the demands of duty and the heart, past secrets begin to overwhelm their present. Will each woman be able to rescue her destiny from the whims of fortune?
Psst! We’re giving Craft Gin Clubbers the chance to discover the first three chapters of The House of Fortune and then join us in our very own ginny book club discussion over in our Facebook Group - Craft Gin Clubbers.
What cocktail we’re pairing it with…
Fortune Punch
Ingredients:
20ml Gin
30ml Dutch Genever* (optional)
10ml Triple sec or Cointreau
20ml Lime juice
50ml Pineapple Juice
15ml Muscovado simple syrup
3x dashes of rose water
Ground nutmeg, to garnish (optional)
Method:
Add all ingredients, except the garnish, to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a sprinkling of nutmeg (if you wish) and enjoy.
*Craft Gin Club’s Master Mixologist Dan has created a cocktail inspired by this fascinating book - if you’re short on genever then you can use 50ml of gin instead of 20ml.
““This punch uses traditional Dutch genever, which is gin’s predecessor, as well as other ingredients which appear in the novel itself, including pineapple, rose water, sugar and nutmeg.” ”
What we’re reading in… August
More Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up by Alexandra Potter
In August we’re reading More Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up, the hilarious, un-put-downable follow-up to the bestselling Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up by Alexandra Potter (now the basis for the major TV series, Not Dead Yet). In this sequel, there are laugh-out-loud lessons to be learned, truths to be told, adventures to go on and joys to discover.
“On a personal level, revisiting those characters was like hanging out with old friends. However, because of how much it meant to readers, I also didn’t want to let anyone down. But the response so far from people who have read drafts is that it’s great, if not better even than the first one. That’s a big relief! I’m excited for more people to read it. ”
What cocktail we’re pairing it with…
Negroni
Ingredients:
25ml dry gin
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
Orange zest, to garnish
Method:
Fill a short rocks glass with ice and pour all the ingredients over the ice.
Stir gently for a minute, until the drink is well chilled.
Garnish with a slice or twist of orange peel.
“I love a gin and tonic! My characters are always drinking them, be it in times of sadness or celebration. When the weather’s nice, I also like to sit out in the garden with a Negroni. ”
What we’re reading in… September
The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan
September’s summer read will see us diving into Book Two of Karen Swan's bestselling Wild Isle Series.
In The Stolen Hours, prepare to discover a reluctant bride, uncover a forbidden romance and explore an island full of secrets…
It’s the summer of 1929 and Mhairi MacKinnon is in need of a husband. As the eldest girl among nine children, her father has made it clear he can’t support her past the coming winter. On the small, Scottish island of St Kilda, her options are limited. But the MacKinnons’ neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on distant Harris also in need of a spouse. A plan is hatched for Donald to chaperone Mhairi and make the introduction on his final crossing of the year, before the autumn seas close them off to the outside world…
What cocktail we’re pairing it with…
Mhairi-tini
Inspired by the protagonist of The Stolen Hours, we’ve named this briney martini a Mhairi-tini. The olives (plus a splash of olive brine, if you fancy it!) add a saltiness that evoke the sea and home of the central characters of Karen Swan’s novels.
Ingredients:
4 parts gin*
1 part dry vermouth
Ice
1 strip of lemon peel or olives
Method:
Pop your gin and the martini glass in the freezer for at least half an hour before using.
Add a handful of ice cubes to a mixing glass then pour in the chilled gin and vermouth.
Stir gently around the rim for 30 seconds, then strain into the chilled Martini glass.
Squeeze your sliver of fresh lemon peel over the drink’s surface (shiny side down) to release the oils, then drop it in the drink.
Alternatively, pop three olives onto a cocktail stick and rest it across the glass.
*Try 60ml gin with 15ml dry vermouth to start, then play around to find your ideal ratio.
What are your go-to cocktail and book pairings? Tag us @craftginclub in any photos of you enjoying your summer reads and summer serves to win a fantastic prize!
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