Cornwall produces some really good gin. Tarquin's is the big one — made in Wadebridge and genuinely excellent. Caspyn, Colwith Farm and a few others are worth hunting down too. Here are three cocktails we make at Bluehouse that are simple enough to do for the whole group but actually taste like something you'd order in a bar.
The Cornish Coastal (serves 1, scale up easily)
50ml Tarquin's gin · 25ml elderflower cordial · juice of half a lime · top with sparkling water or tonic · handful of ice · sprig of fresh mint
Mix the gin, elderflower and lime over ice, top with sparkling water. That's it. Refreshing, not too sweet, brilliant in the sun. If you want to make a jug for 10 people: 500ml gin, 250ml elderflower, juice of 5 limes, a litre of sparkling water. Done in five minutes.
The Hot Tub Special (serves 1)
50ml Tarquin's Cornish Sea Salted gin · 15ml St Germain elderflower liqueur · juice of one lime · 3 slices cucumber · top with Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic
Muddle the cucumber in the bottom of a glass. Add ice, gin, St Germain and lime. Top with tonic. The sea salt gin sounds odd but it genuinely works — there's a slight brininess that tastes like Cornwall. Best drunk in the hot tub as the sun goes down.
Cornish Sling (serves 1)
50ml Caspyn Cornish Dry Gin · 20ml cherry brandy · 10ml Benedictine · juice of half a lemon · 5ml sugar syrup · top with soda
Shake everything except the soda over ice, strain into a glass filled with ice, top with soda. A proper cocktail that takes a bit more effort but is worth it for a special evening. The cherry brandy is key — don't skip it.
Where to buy Cornish gin
Tarquin's is in most supermarkets now and in every bottle shop in Cornwall. For the others, try Trevibban Mill near Padstow, or the deli in St Mawes. There's also a Cornish Gin distillery shop worth visiting if you're passing.