Summer is fast approaching, so it’s time to pack away your jumpers and get out your sunnies. We can’t decide what we love most about this time of year; whether it’s the longer evenings, digging into big, colourful salads (although hands up if you’ve always got space for a Sunday Roast), the festivals that are finally starting to come back or the equinox. Is it too greedy to say we love everything about it?   This is the season to enjoy fun, fresh cocktails, so get ready to go wild with your garnishes. Anything goes this season, so get yourself to a greengrocer and stock up on fresh fruit, organic veg and a few bouquets of fresh herbs for good measure. If your taste buds are ready for something refreshing after months of Manhattans, or if you simply fancy something light and floral, then we’ve got the solution right here. These delicious Summer cocktails feel perfect for drinking right now. Make them at home or transport them in a shaker to your nearest park for an al-fresco happy hour. Jumper optional.–

Gin Violette

We think it's the perfect time for a pretty purple cocktail! This perfect purple gin cocktail combines delicate and subtle citrus flavours with a dash of red wine for an elegant cocktail that hits all the right notes. 

Ingredients

90 ml (3 oz) BLOOM London Dry Gin

15 ml (½ oz) Crème de Violette

15 ml (½ oz) dry red wine

150 ml (5 oz)  lemon juice

30 ml (1 oz) simple syrup

2 egg whites

Lavender, to garnish

Instructions

Combine the egg whites, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, dry red wine, and Crème de Violette in a shaker.

Shake 30 seconds.

Add ice and shake for 30 more seconds.

Double strain using a cocktail strainer and pour into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with a sprig of lavender.

Coming up Roses

A perfect compromise for when you want to drink rosé but also fancy a cocktail, this easy to make concoction mixes seasonal strawberries with bubbly for a sparkly sip. Fresh lemon juice keeps things from getting too sweet.

For the Strawberry Rose Syrup

340 g (12 oz) (340 g) strawberries, with the stalks removed and halved

235 ml (8 fl. oz) water

200g (7 oz) sugar

½ teaspoon rose water

For the Cocktail

45 ml (1 ½ oz) BLOOM Jasmine and Rose Gin

60 ml (2 oz) strawberry rose syrup from above

15 ml (½ oz) lemon juice

Champagne or Prosecco for topping

Dried rose petals for garnish 

Strawberries for garnish 

Instructions For the Strawberry Rose Syrup

Add the strawberries, water, sugar and rose water to a large saucepan. Bring to a low simmer for 15 minutes. Do not let the mixture boil.

Strain the strawberries from the liquid and let the syrup cool completely.

Put the leftover strawberries in the fridge for garnishing later on.

For the Cocktail

Add the gin, strawberry rose syrup and lemon juice to a shaker filled with ice.

Shake and pour into a coupe glass.

Top with champagne and dried rose petals. 

Garnish with a strawberry and enjoy!

Floral Gin Lemonade Cocktail

This alcoholic lemonade is OMG good. Not only does it have the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, but the floral notes plus fresh twist added by the mint make this a springtime spritz with a difference. The lavender syrup will go to the bottom, creating a lovely gradient (and Instagram magic).

Ingredients

60ml (2 oz) gin (choose a soft, pink gin such as BLOOM Jasmin and Rose

7 ml (¼ oz) lavender syrup

200ml (6-7 oz) Rose Lemonade

7ml (¼ oz) rose petal water

7ml (¼ oz) fresh lemon juice

2-3 sprigs of fresh mint (plus one sprig to garnish)

¼ tsp dry flower petals 

Flower petals to garnish

Ice

Instructions

Add the dried flowers to the bottom of a Copa glass, and fill with ice.

In a mixing glass, add the fresh mint leaves, rose water, and gin. Using a muddler, start mashing the leaves in order to release the aromatic oils.

Use a strainer and strain everything from the glass over the ice and into the glass.

Drizzle the lavender syrup on top.

Add the Rose lemonade to about a finger from the top.

Garnish with the remaining sprig of fresh mint and add a few flower petals.

Use a straw for this cocktail and make sure you mix it before drinking. 

Lemon and Lavender Gin Fizz

Update your old school Gin Fizz obsession with a twist of seasonal citrus. Raise your glass to spring with this lovely libation that smooths out the juniper with botanical flavours of lemon, and lavender. Use the best quality London Dry available (we love BLOOM’s version), for a delicious version of this classic cocktail. A real springtime treat. 

Ingredients

45 ml (1½ oz) BLOOM London Dry Gin

1 lemon’s worth of  fresh lemon juice 

30 ml (1 oz) simple syrup

1 dash Lavender Bitters

Ice cubes

2 tablespoons Soda Water

2 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters

Lemon wheels, dried juniper berries, and fresh red rose petals to garnish

Instructions

Combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and lavender bitters in a cocktail shaker. 

Fill the shaker with ice cubes. 

Cover and shake vigorously for 30 seconds or until well chilled. 

Strain into a cognac snifter glass filled with ice cubes.

Top with soda water and Peychaud’s bitters. 

Garnish with lemon wheels, juniper berries, and rose petals.