Our Favourite Mandarin Gin Cocktail or Mocktail Recipe 😊🧡

 

Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you.

~ William Shakespeare

Hey, Lovelies.

As you will know, it’s become a tradition here at the Treehouse to celebrate Friday night with a Happy Hour.

Our neighbours often join us, or perhaps we’ll go to their place for Friday night drinks, but last night it was our turn to host. This has become one of our favourite celebration drinks. It’s super-refreshing, and I hope you enjoy it too. Our drink combines gin with freshly squeezed mandarin juice to create a bright, fresh, sunshiny drink that will chase the blues away.

We also enjoy this drink by the jugful for Sunday barbeques too.

If clementines are what you have to hand use, those, or even tangerines.

My favourite juicy sweet mandarin for this cocktail is the Honey Murcott. If you can find these, I highly recommend them.

*If you don’t drink alcohol, or want to make one for the kids this is a great Mocktail when you omit the gin or use an alcohol-free gin.

I was going to sign off with Chin Chin, which is what my grandparents often said as they clinked their glasses together in friendship before that first sip, but now that I know chinchin in Japanese means penis I just can’t without erupting into schoolgirl giggles, so instead I’ll say ‘Cheers!’

Love, hugs and weekend relaxation vibes, Nicole xx

Mandarin Gin Cocktail Ingredients

These are the proportions for one drink. Hot tip: If you are a beginner I recommend taking your glass, adding ice and then substituting water for the ingredients listed to make sure the drink will fit in the serving glass!

• Your favourite gin – I use Bombay Sapphire Gin because it is well suited to cocktails. I use 1.5 measures for a long glass (1.5 ounces, or 45ml) Not a fan of stronger drinks? Knock it back to one measure (1 ounce or 30 ml)
• Freshly squeezed mandarin juice 3 measures (3 ounces or 90ml)
• Tonic water of your choice 3 to 6 measures (3 to 6 ounces of 90ml to 180ml) or to fill your glass
• Ice
• Segments of mandarin or slices of mandarin, or fresh mint for garnish if you can be bothered

For a Mocktail (alcohol-free drink), just omit the gin or use a non-alcoholic gin. I promise it will still taste great.

Hacks

• If you prefer a sweeter drink use simple syrup (place 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup white sugar in small saucepan over low to medium heat until sugar dissolved – cool). Use 1/2 to 1 measure (1/2 ounce to 1 ounce or 15ml to 30ml) or to taste.
• If you prefer a sharper, more tart drink, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice

To Build Your Drink

1. Squeeze your mandarins by slicing in half lengthways with the skin on and then juicing. Remove seeds, or if you like a drink with no fruit particles, strain juice.
2. Select your glass and add ice.
3. Pour your measure of gin over the ice.
4. Add your mandarin juice.
5. Fill glass with tonic water, not quite to the brim. Stir and taste this first drink (use a tasting spoon unless this glass will be yours!) and decide if it needs simple syrup or a squeeze of lime. Adjust accordingly and then add your garnish if using.
6. Serve and enjoy.

Top Tip: To make many drinks, work out the quantities (eg enough for four or six drinks), and then add the ingredients into a large jug WITHOUT ice, so that you can refresh your drinks or serve this mixture over ice as required.