sponsored video: cocktail hour :: golden passionfruit mojito

I think that it's pretty clear by now, that I don't like to slave over anything when it comes to the kitchen. I leave that entirely to my husband who is the complete opposite, and I have no complaints about that!

This laziness extends to drinks, too. Although I enjoy a cocktail now and then, I don't find myself making them at home as often as I'd like to - simply because I a) don't own a fancy cocktail making kit, b) don't have a huge selection of spirits at home, and c) am all too happy with a simple G&T.

But there is just something about summer (or the glimpses of it that we've seen in London, anyway...) that makes me want to get a little fancier, and whip up some cocktails to enjoy in the garden. The only problem is that all my listed excuses/problems still exist, so I need to work my way around that.

This is why I like this campaign so much - in the three videos below, they have a pair of "cocktail crashers" that invade various summer parties and serve easy, quick and simple drinks to spice things up. The kind of thing even I could probably manage.

And so I did! Now, I'm fully aware that I know next to nothing about mixology, and the way I make these is most likely completely incorrect. But this is for people like me, with no special tools or desire for the complex - just a simple, summery cocktail that anyone can make. I pretty much just combined what I had on hand (the golden rum that E had bought to cook with) with the flavours I like, and that's all!
You might remember the Pomegranate Gin Fizz that I shared a few months ago, and I think that this one is just as easy but looks more "cocktail-y", if that makes sense. See what I mean? I know zero about this stuff. All I know is that you will like this if you like fresh, fruity, not-too-sweet drinks, and it could easily be made virgin, too. 
Sidenote: you see that little ramekin of popcorn? That would be the Heston Blumenthal salted caramel popcorn from Waitrose, that my sister got a while ago. They are seriously delicious.

Golden Passionfruit Mojito
Ingredients (for 2 glasses): 3 shots golden rum 2 passionfruits 1 lime a few mint leaves agave nectar lemonade or sparkling water ice cubes
To make: 1) Muddle a few mint leaves and the flesh of half a passionfruit in each glass. 2) Add the juice of half a lime to each glass, with agave nectar to taste. 3) Add the rum, mix, fill the glass with ice cubes. 4) Top with lemonade or sparkling water.



disclaimer: this post is sponsored by Diageo. all opinions are my own.

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pomegranate, lime & maple gin fizz

This is for those of you that successfully completed Dry January, and for those who did no such thing. I fall into the latter category, just FYI.

I rarely make cocktails at home; there's a myriad of excuses, from lack of equipment to lack of spirits lying around. But for some reason, I was inspired that day and decided it was high time I tried a little something simple, but still a tiny bit fancy. A splash of pink during the January lull never hurt anyone, right?

I'm no connoisseur when it comes to mixology, but it's fun to experiment with ingredients you like, and see where it takes you. This time, I had luck on my side and they turned out quite delicious.

You should know my cocktail preferences first, though - I like fresh, not too sweet, refreshing and light. These are all of the above, a breeze to make, and might even give you 1 of your 5 a day if you squint a bit.

Oh, and isn't this golden tray the most beautiful thing? One of E's best friends and ex-flatmate brought it for us from Florence as a belated wedding gift. It's a gorgeous, hand-painted treasure that is far too glamorous for our humble little flat, and we love it.

One day, I will have one of those lovely golden trolleys with spirits lined up on one level, and crystal glasses on another. I like to dream big.

Ingredients (for 2):

60ml gin

100-150ml pomegranate juice (pure, not concentrate)

sparkling water

a few mint leaves

1 lime

4 teaspoons pure maple syrup

ice cubes

To make:

1) Pour the gin and pomegranate juice in a glass. Proportions are up to you. 

2) Squeeze half a lime's worth of juice into the glass, and swirl in a couple of teaspoons of maple syrup per glass, depending on your sweetness preference.

3) Top with as much sparkling water as you like, and pop a few ice cubes in each glass.

4) Garnish with a slice of lime & mint leaves.

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