Summer Cocktails With Waitrose Cellar

You’ll have heard me harp on about cocktails many times in the past. I love a good drink and regular scour the bars of Manchester to find the best ones. But what happens when you don’t want to leave the comfort of your home and you don’t want to get dressed to go out (umm I swear this NEVER happens to me…)? Waitrose Cellar challenged me to make a summer cocktail using one of their own branded spirits so I thought it was about time I taught myself to shake something I could drink in the comfort of my own pyjamas.

Despite not drinking very much at home I do have an extensive spirit collection so chose the vodka as it is something I don’t have much of and I figured, for a novice, it’d be the easiest spirit to work with.

I wouldn’t be a drink blogger if I didn’t try it neat first and this is a very spikey vodka, definitely made to be mixed! It is triple distilled and has a clean aftertaste which is welcomed but I wouldn’t drink this on its own.

Enlisting the help of a bartender friend I scoured my cupboards and combined my favourite ingredients. Huge thanks to Hank for the help with this recipe!

Simplicity

Ingredients – Makes 1

50ml Waitrose vodka
12.5ml coconut syrup
12.5ml lavender syrup
20ml freshly squeezed lime juice
Dash of cava (I used Cordoniu NV Brut)

Method

Put the vodka, syrups and lime into a shaker, top with ice cubes and shake hard. Finely strain into a chilled glass (preferably a coupette but you’re at home, a martini glass like I’ve used will work just fine) top up with the cava and garnish with a lime wheel.

This is so simple even I managed it without ending up covered in juice or it tasting vile. The lavender gives a subtle floral taste with the double measure of vodka adding enough alcoholic punch to know it is there. I know what I’ll be doing next Saturday night… Pyjamas essential.

You can find more cocktail recipes on the Waitrose Cellar summer cocktails page.