A word on ice

I’ve mentioned “large ice” a few times. There are ways to make this. Some supermarkets carry large ice cubes; these are easy to use and perfect for drinks such as the Forest Green. You can buy trays for large ice – there are plenty available for around £10. They make a nice, non-boozy Christmas present for the gin-lover in your life.

For the adventurous home bartenders, you could do what I tend to do and freeze a tub of ice (I use an old Christmas cracker tub, half-filled with water) and use an ice-pick to break it into chunks that can be kept in the freezer until needed. A word of caution: ice picks are sharp and should be handled carefully. Please take your time when using one and – most importantly – carve the ice before you start enjoying any drinks. If in doubt, buy your ice or use ice trays.