Trying not to mention Covid-19 or lockdown, a glorious consequence of spending more time at home is that we are able to spend far more time enjoying our plants and gardens. While we always advocate for the responsible consumption of alcohol, an exploration of plants that are found in many South African gardens presents an opportunity to explore how a combination of highly flavorful and aromatic plants can dramatically and surprisingly alter the taste of your favourite gin and tonic.
South African master mixologist Marson Strydom who works to create delicious cocktails for brands such as Hendrick’s Gin, Tullamore DEW, and Monkey Shoulder provides a guide on how you can combine flavours collected from your garden in your gin and tonic to create a wholly new and unusual experience. What’s more enjoyable than taking time to appreciate all the work you have put into your garden by consuming the plants you have lovingly grown in a cocktail. It’s a glorious case of consuming the essence of what you have poured your essence into growing.
The standard Hendrick’s and Tonic cocktail comprises of one part Hendrick’s Gin (a gin that is oddly infused with Bulgarian Rose and English Cucumber) to three parts premium Indian Tonic Water, poured over ice, and garnished with three thinly sliced pieces of cucumber. We add the three thinly sliced cucumber pieces to accentuate the infused cucumber note in the gin to increase the summery, refreshing, and pleasant notes.
However, if you want to explore home grown variations of the classic Hendrick’s and Tonic, consider the following:
Cucumber & Mint: The cucumber will enhance the notes of the gin and the mint will add that summery, refreshing flavour to your G&T.
Cucumber & Mint
Orange & Rosemary: The orange will bring out more of the citrus flavours in the gin, while the rosemary will lift up slightly woody and peppery flavours from the hardier botanicals.
Orange & Rosemary
Strawberry & Fennel: Strawberries will complement the lighter floral flavours, while the fennel will add a really fresh, bright note to the nose and pallet.
Strawberry & Fennel
Strawberry & Basil: Strawberries will compliment lighter floral flavours as well as add a fruity note, while the basil will compliment it with a hint of citrus and a slight peppery flavour.
Strawberry & Basil
Lemon & Lavender: The lemon will add the zesty, refreshing citrus and the lavender will compliment it with it’s beautiful cool floral aroma and taste.
Lemon & Lavender
A Spekboom Tip:
If you are wanting to grow more Spekboom (and who wouldn’t want to aid in growing more of this wonderfully helpful bush), give a Spekboom clipping an added boost in its first few days by placing it inside the end stub of a sliced cucumber. The moisture and nutrients inside the cucumber will provide a much needed head start for the offshoot to develop a root system.
