Get in the flow with a Flowstone Gin botanical cocktail

Cocktails don’t need to be hard work. The trick is to choose a perfectly balanced botanical gin with an interesting flavour and fragrance profile. Abandon the complicated recipes and try these easy-peasy cocktails.

The ideal gin for a simple cocktail is to be found in the Flowstone Gin range. Each is infused with wild Bushveld botanicals that are sustainably harvested in the Cradle of Humankind. These award-winning gins lend themselves to uniquely delicious (but easy to make) cocktails that burst with the flavour and fragrances of the African bush. They can also be enjoyed neat over ice.

Paloma Surprise

This easy cocktail substitutes Bushwillow Gin for the traditional tequila. Delicious!

Ingredients:

• 50ml Flowstone Bushwillow Gin
• 200ml grapefruit juice
• 15ml tablespoon lime juice
• 15ml tablespoon simple syrup*
• Pop some ice into your cocktail shaker, add the ingredients and shake well. Serve over ice.

Method:

The large-fruited bushwillow produces beautifully scented flowers and, as the name suggests, large fruit. The enormous-winged seed pods hide a kernel that is a favourite treat for kudu, and impart a robust, rich, nutty, warmth to Flowstone Bushwillow Gin.

Full-flavoured with unusual and seductive woody, earthy notes Bushwillow is unlike any other gin – anywhere! The taste lingers on the side of the tongue inviting another sip.

Savannah Sundowner

This glorious, scarlet cocktail is the perfect toast to an African sunset.

Ingredients:

• 35ml Flowstone Marula Gin
• 90ml cranberry juice
• 1 lime slice

Method:

Stir the Marula Gin through the cranberry juice. Serve over ice and garnish with a slice of lime.

The distinctive, languorous scent of marula primes the palate for the soft tang to come when enjoying Flowstone Marula Gin. The marula is a majestic Bushveld tree that produces the fruits enjoyed by eons of humans and elephants. Clear juniper creates the backbone, and floral depth is provided by Bushveld wild pear, sweet-thorn acacia and butterfly bush. Marula imparts an intriguing flavour that combines a clear tang with a rich, almost sweet citrus taste.

Make Ahead Q-Cumber Fizz

You know what they say: “cool as a cucumber” and this is the perfect cocktail for a hot summer lunch party. A tiny bit of prep but done in advance. (Serves 12)

Ingredients:

• 500ml Flowstone Wild Cucumber Gin
• 2 Lebanese cucumbers, chopped (the Lebanese variety is sweeter and shorter than regular cucumbers)
• 120ml lime juice
• 0.75 cup simple syrup*
• 4 cups sparkling water

Method:

Garnish: 2 Lebanese cucumbers, 4 limes, 1 cup mint leaves

Make ahead: Whizz the simple syrup, cucumber and lime juice in a blender till smooth. Strain through a sieve. Can be stored in the fridge for a day or two.

On the day: Using a vegetable peeler, make cucumber ribbons (or just slice in 0.5cm discs if easier for you). Slice the limes. Stir the gin through the cucumber mixture and

divide between the glasses. Add a few blocks of ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with cucumber ribbons, lime slices and mint sprigs.

Our indigenous wild cucumber has a wonderful cucumber and lime taste while green, and kiwi and melon notes when ripe. You’ll notice all these flavours in Flowstone’s Wild Cucumber Gin. Floral depth is provided by the Bushveld’s prolifically flowering Butterfly Bush, and the middle to high notes by juniper.

*Simple syrup

Combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cool before using. Sealed, it will keep in the fridge for 5 days.

Buy the Flowstone range of gin online at www.flowstone.co.za as well as Makro and Takealot. To connect with Flowstone, visit Facebook at @FlowstoneGin and Instagram @flowstonegin.