Sippin’ on Gin and Juice

Maybe Snoop Dogg knew a thing or two about how to mix a drink. You may not expect the botanical aromas and flavors in gin to combine seamlessly with fruit juices, but somehow it just works. We know the gin purists out there are pounding their heads against the keyboard right about know. Don’t go on, we will only be bastardizing the gin to a much greater extent from here on, forward. (Don’t worry, we’re the same way about scotch).

Now I got me some Seagram’s Gin, just to keep with Snoop Doggs’ directive. Any gin will do but since we are mixing it with juices it doesn’t make sense to waste our money on the really expensive stuff. We started experimenting with different recipes and juices. We used citrus juices to counter the botanicals in some cases and added mint to accentuate them in others. After working though much of the bottle, we acquired a new love for this blend, and pretty much for everything in the room (Warning: they go down a little too easily. Just saying.) Here are a few cocktails that sparked the romance.

Gin Smash
1 tbsp Sugar
4 sprigs of fresh mint
2 measures of gin

Dissolve the sugar in a little water in the cocktail shaker. Add the mint and, using a muddler or any blunt object, bruise and press the juices out of the mint leaves. Add crushed ice and the gin. Shake well and strain into a tumbler filled with ice. Garnish with mint leave.