As the winter weather creeps up on us and Covid restrictions begin to ease, now more than ever, we are enticed to stay at home with our closest pals. This means dinner party season is upon us! Here at Beauty News, we feel quite passionately about hosting the perfect party, so we’ve done the noble thing and compiled a list of the 6 best gin recipes to impress your party guests. 

Bees Knees

The Bee’s Knees is a sweet citrus cocktail. This drink is thought it be invented during USA’s prohibition era, mixing honey and lemon with the gin gives a sweet/sour flavour and is perfect for those who prefer less harsh cocktails! 

What you’ll need:
50ml Lawrenny Estate Distillery Van Diemen’s Gin
2 teaspoons honey
20ml fresh lemon juice
10ml fresh orange juice
Garnish: Orange twist

Method
1. Add gin and honey to a shake and stir until honey has dissolved.
2. Add lemon and orange juice, top with ice and shake well.
3. Serve with orange twist.

Charlie Chaplin

This drink has the notes of an upper class sweet, destined to make you feel part of something elite. The Chaplin was originally created and served in 1920 at the most elegant Old Waldorf-Astoria bar in 1920. Obvious through its name, the Chaplin was named after famous slapstick actor Sir Charles Spencer ‘Charlie’ Chaplin, who was at the height of his silent film career at the time. This drink became a ubiquitous classic, with some of the most refined New York palates going simply raving. With a heavier apricot base, this recipe is a slow sipper, one that will go nicely with any slow burn film.

What you’ll need:
30ml Apricot brandy
30ml Lawrenny Estate Distillery Highland gin
30ml Lime juice
Garnish: Lime peel

Method:
1. In a cocktail shaker combine liquid ingredients with ice
2. Shake extremely well, as the brandy gives the mix some weight
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass
4. Garnish with lime peel

Smokey Gin Martini

If we are talking about classics, then there isn’t one more quintessential than this. This recipe however, has a more smokey take than the original style. Coupled with a dash of scotch, this recipe is more suited for a darker more intimate jazz bar dinner vibe. This one is a strong one, and basically all gin, so be sure to use Lawrenny Estate Distillery. The Settler is perfect for this dashing recipe because of its more earthy and smokey base.

What you’ll need:
75ml Lawrenny Estate Distillery Settler gin
Dash of Scotch
Garnish: Lemon twist

Method:
1. Pour gin and scotch into a mixing glass with ice
2. Stir well until chilled, about 20 seconds
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
4. Garnish with lemon twist

Southside

More of a refreshing day time number, the Southside  comes in as THE summer drink. Flavoured with zesty lime wedges and snapped mint, this recipe will have your tongue dancing with fresh good time vibes.

What you’ll need:
2 lime wedges
30ml sugar syrup
2 sprigs fresh mint
60ml Lawrenny  Estate Distillery Highlands gin
Splash of soda water

Method:
1. Squeeze the lime into a cocktail shaker and leave them in
2. Add syrup and mint
3. With a cocktail spoon bruise the mint and squash the lime peels to extract lime essence
4. Add gin and ice to half way
5. Cover and shake
6. Add a big splash of soda
7. Pour into a highball glass and serve

Pink Negroni

Another hot take on an old classic, this pink lady is perfect for any sunset afternoon aperitif. Coming in as exceptionally simple, but exceptionally effective, this recipe will satisfy sight as well as savour. With a pink pop, coriander leaf, blood orange and more, Lawrenny Estate’s pink gin will have any gal feeling good, feeling great.

What you’ll need:
20ml Lawrenny Estate Distillery Meadowbank pink gin
20ml Sweet vermouth
20ml Bitters
Garnish: Lemon wheel

Method:
1. Pour liquid ingredients into mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir until chilled.
3. Strain into a short cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with lemon wheel.

Cucumber Gin Cocktail

Last but not least, this cucumber gin recipe is one for the books. Combining the brightness of the cucumber and the clearness of the gin, this recipe is designed to be the ultimate palate cleanser. Use this recipe either as an afternoon teaser, or an after dinner reset for optimum enjoyment.

What you’ll need:
1 cucumber
45ml Lawrenny Estate Distillery Van Diemen’s gin
2 Lime wedge
1 teaspoon raw sugar
3 Mint leaves
Tonic water to fill
Garnish: Long sliced cucumber

Method:
1. Cut cucumber into 2 long slices and the rest short slices
2. Lightly muddle short cucumber slices, lime wedges, and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker
3. Add gin and sugar
4. Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass over ice
5. Top with tonic water and garnish with long sliced cucumber (add mint if desired)

There you have it peeps, a comprehensive cocktail list, ready for any dinner party preparation!

Don’t forget to check out Lawrenny Estate’s exclusive range here for more!