Cheers, Salut, Chin Chin, Slainte !!!
Gin is one of my favourite drinks. I have tried and enjoyed many different gins and flavour combinations with herbs, aromatics and spices and I have to say that this is the ultimate combination for me and my current go to drink.
The secret to this cocktail is infusing the gin with smoked black tea leaves, it gives a lovely smoky aroma but also an incredible flavour to the gin.
My mother in law introduced me to Lapsang souchong tea, she is a huge fan of the tea and has always got some for me when she bought hers. We would always have it for tea and now we are enjoying it in our cold drinks.
Here is a little more about Lapsang souchong Tea.
Lapsang souchong sometimes called or referred to as smoked tea, is a black tea that originates from the mountainous Wuji region in China. It is very destinct from other types of tea as the leaves are smoke dried over pinewood fires, imparting a flavour of smoky pine. The leaves are roasted in a bamboo basket which contributes to the smoky flavour.
Souchong refers to the leaves further away from the bud of the tea plant. These leaves are coarser then the leaves closer to the bud, they contain fewer aromatic compounds and by smoking them, this creates a marketable product from less desirable leaves.
You will need for 2 drinks
2 measure of gin approx 35ml each
1 teabag of lapsang douching tea
300ml tonic water I used elderflower
fresh lemon peel to garnish
• add the gin to a glass jug and allow to infuse for 1 minute.
• add ice cubes to glasses fill about 3/4 of each glass.
•swirl glasses around and remove any melted ice.
• add the gin to the glass and then slowly add the tonic water, this helps keep the fizz in the tonic.
•add the lemon peel and enjoy!!!!
