There’s no British tradition greater than Afternoon Tea.
Well perhaps there is, but there’s definitely no tradition tastier.
Which is probably why there’s an entire week celebrating the great British Afternoon Tea. Running from Monday 12th to Sunday 18th August, it’s the best excuse we didn’t need to head to our nearest tea room, or even get the cake tins out ourselves!
The art of serving tiny finger sandwiches and decadent yet miniature cakes alongside pots of loose leaf tea and elegant glasses filled with Champagne is hard to beat.
Unless you add a cocktail of course!
That’s why we’ve asked the producers of our most popular spirits to share their favourite cocktails for enjoying with Afternoon Tea.
And don’t forget, all of these are available online from our brand new spirits vault.
Hedgerow Vodka Tonic
Chase Distillery blend their potato vodka and elderflower liqueur to create this delicious Hedgerow Vodka Tonic – a refreshing drink that can perfectly complement a delicate afternoon tea.
You’ll need:
- 50ml Chase Vodka
- 15ml cloudy apple juice
- 12.5ml Chase Elderflower Liqueur
- 12.5ml freshly squeezed lime juice
- Tonic water top
What to do:
Stir all of the ingredients in a tall glass filled with ice cubes and then garnish with an elderflower bloom or a fresh apple wedge out of season.
Lemon Tart Flip
Taking inspiration from the classic dessert, Sipsmith’s Lemon Tart Flip includes the addition of white chocolate to make this a perfect after dinner tipple.
You’ll need:
- 50ml Sipsmith® Lemon Drizzle Gin
- 10ml sugar syrup
- 1 tsp lemon curd
- Dash Angostura bitters
- 1 whole egg
- Grated white chocolate or coconut
What to do:
Dry shake the first five ingredients for about a minute until the egg is well emulsified. Add ice and shake again and then strain into a chilled glass. Finish off by grating white chocolate or coconut on top.
Buzzecco
Championing the English countryside in a bid to protect our pollinators, Warner’s Honeybee Gin adds a sweet twist to a simple sparkling cocktail.
You’ll need:
- 35ml Warner’s Honeybee Gin
- 10ml Honey
- Prosecco
What to do:
Dollop your honey into the bottom of your glass and add the Honeybee Gin. Using a spoon, stir until the honey dissolves, then top up with Prosecco. If you’re making more than one, try adding your Honeybee Gin and honey into a cocktail shaker, then pour a serving into each of your glasses, before topping up individually with Prosecco.
Pineapple Mule
That Boutique-y Gin Company is changing the way we think about gin with its fruity hand-crafted drinks. Try this Pineapple Mule with a slice of sticky, spiced ginger cake.
You’ll need:
- 25ml of Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin
- 2 wedges of lime
- 100ml Ginger Beer
- A sprig of mint
What to do:
Squeeze a lime wedge into the glass, add Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin and give it a stir. Add ice and top up with ginger beer. Stir well, garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint, sit back and shhhlurp!
Southside
Sip Ableforth’s summery gin cocktail while nibbling on a slice of lemon drizzle cake for a double dose of lemon refreshment.
You’ll need:
- 50ml Ableforth’s Bathtub Gin
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- 10ml sugar syrup
- mint leaves
- soda water
What to do:
Shake the gin, lemon juice, syrup and mint leaves together over ice before fine straining into a coupe glass. Top with soda water and enjoy!
