BOTANIC GARDENING
GROW A FEW AROMATIC PLANTS AND YOU’LL HAVE THE INGREDIENTS TO CRAFT YOUR OWN BOTANICAL GIN. DRINK WITH TONIC OR MIX INTO A SUMMERY COCKTAIL
There’s nothing quite so restorative as a G&T on a summer’s day; the cool clink of ice cubes against the glass, the refreshing fizz of the tonic, the soothing aromatics of the gin. It’s little wonder the nation’s favourite spirit was, at one time, prescribed as a medicine.
The popularity of gin has soared in recent years, particularly craft varieties, such as the fruity Rock Rose or the spicy Trevethan, made using traditional methods in small-scale distilleries.
Delectable though they may be, artisan gins are often expensive, but it’s easy to craft your own botanical gin at home for a fraction of the cost.
Fragrant herbs can be grown on a sunny windowsill, berries can flourish in pots in the garden or be foraged from the hedgerows, and even fruit and veg from the allotment can be revamped into something deliciously decadent.
Add your flavours to a sterilised jar, top up with gin (Oliver Cromwell is a great economy brand) and allow to steep until you’re happy with the taste. Strain through a muslin and bottle. Serve over ice with tonic or use as a base for cocktails. Garnish with leaves, fruit or peel for the ultimate home-crafted gin indulgence.
HERBS
Primarily flavoured with juniper, gin is herbal at its heart and blends well with all manner of aromatics you may have growing in your garden, such as rosemary, thyme and bay. These sorts ofhardy perennials require very little maintenance, so they’re a dream for the newbie gardener or mixologist.
If you lack outside space, a windowsill is really all your need for mint, basil and coriander, flavours that effortlessly elevate your standard gin into something entirely more flavoursome. Grow them from seed or buy herb pots from the supermarket and pot on immediately – they tend to be overstuffed – to prevent them withering and dying. Basil prefers full sunlight but take care not to overwater. Mint, on the other hand, likes plenty of water and can tolerate partial shade. Coriander needs plenty of sunshine and water, and a deep pot to accommodate its long roots. (Seeds available from chilternseeds.co.uk.)
BERRIES
Sloe gin may be the traditional favourite, but why limit yourself to the sour sloe when raspberries, blueberries and strawberries can all add a summery zing to your gin, too?
Sweet raspberries are a delicious crop if you have the space for them, although the dwarf variety, Ruby Beauty (available from thompson-morgan.com), is suited to containers if you’re limited to a balcony or patio.
Blueberries also flourish in pots, so long as you plant them in ericaceous compost and water them with rainwater, as they require acidic conditions. I grow my strawberries in hanging baskets: they look fabulous, are safely out of the reach of slugs, and offer a surprisingly good return, so long as you feed and water them regularly.
Alternatively, scour the hedgerows in late summer to take advantage of the wild berry bounty on offer. Blackberries and elderberries infuse gin with the essence of sweet summer days and add a delicate blush to your cocktails.
FRUIT AND VEG
There’s only so much salad you can eat and if you’re looking for an altogether more exciting use for your cucumbers, then a Kilner jar with a splash of mother’s ruin is the best place for them.
Cucumbers will thrive in the humidity of a greenhouse, although some smaller varieties, such as ‘Green Fingers’ (available from mr-fothergills.co.uk), can grow outdoors.
Radishes lend an earthy kick to gin and are a quick and easy summer crop. Sow into moisture-retentive soil, water regularly and you’ll be harvesting these robust little roots a month later.
Citrus fruit always blends beautifully with gin and they tend to grow quite happily in pots on a sunny patio, too (available from citruscentre.co.uk). If you find you’ve grown more rhubarb than you know what to do with, steep it in gin for four weeks, along with some sugar, for a prettily pink gin that’s delicious with tonic.