Drinks I Love: Rosemary Gin and Tonic

Being a huge fan of the Gin and Tonic, I like trying different variations of the classic drink. Two summers ago in Oxford, my sister-in-law and I made some delectable Rosemary G&T's. They are super easy to make and so refreshing on a hot summer day (or even on a cold day when you're dreaming of the sun). You need a glass, gin, tonic, rosemary, ice, and a muddler. Add your preferred measurement of gin to the glass, then muddle the rosemary to release the flavor. Next add ice, then fill with tonic water. ~ Enjoy!
* If you do want to garnish this, I would suggest using lemon instead of lime as I think lemon is more complimentary to rosemary. You could also use cucumber.

Bombay Sapphire is my favorite gin to use with rosemary.

Easy Weeknight Indian Feast

One of my favorite things to do is indulge in a decadent mid-week meal. While I do like to make most things from scratch, a busy work week makes it worthwhile having good quality staples on hand. When it comes to Indian food, jarred sauces can be hit or miss. We've recently lucked out by finding some superb jarred sauces, along with canned dal (lentils) - all available at World Market (which will hopefully make its way to our area). This lovely meal was made up of Geeta's Pudina Tikka, Dal Mughlai Curry, and Indian spiced kale & tomatoes, all washed down with a sublime Hendrick's Cucumber G&T. The subtle flavors of the Hendrick's G&T balanced with cucumber made it the perfect drink to balance out the spicy flavors of this meal.

Drinks I Love: Hendrick's Cucumber Gin and Tonic

Two summers ago while at the Trout in Oxford, I had the most exquisite Hendrick's Gin for the very first time. I was still fairly new to G&T's, but had discovered by that point that Bombay Sapphire was my favorite. But let me back up a little... the day: were visiting my sister-in-law and her beau and had set out for a walk around the outskirts of Oxford, stopping at various pubs along the way until we made it back to their house. Our first stop turned out to be a bit of a disappointment once we got there and realized that it had been burnt down to the ground. The Police tape going in should have been a sign. We pressed on taking in the lovely sights of Oxfordshire...until we came to the Trout. Located on the River Thames, it is a traditional country pub with a modern vibe. Immortalized by Inspector Morse, the Trout is the sort of pub you hope to visit when in England. With the sun coming out, we decided to sit out on the terrace to enjoy the views.
As it was getting warm, I wanted something refreshing. When I spotted "Hendrick's Cucumber Gin and Tonic" on the menu, I knew I had found just what I was craving. Hendrick's Gin is made in small batches, hand distilled in Scotland. It is infused with the essences of rose and cucumber. It has such a lovely, delicate, refreshing flavor. You really can taste the difference between Hendrick's and other mass produced gins. You can honestly taste the time and attention that goes into making this small batch gin. Garnished with a cucumber spear, I was in heaven.I hadn't had Hendrick's gin since that day at the Trout, but I was happy to find a bottle under my Christmas tree. The taste really took me back to that day sitting by the river in the sunshine, and what a nice tipple to end a hot Florida day.