Recipes: Spring Tipples

Blackberry Smash

Ingredients
50 ml Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin (product code: 3325)
½ a cup of white sugar (product code: 7118)
½ a cup hot water
10-12 blackberries (product code: 55038)
25ml fresh lemon juice (product code: 64568)
6 mint leaves
Sparkling water to top (product code: 6189)

Methodology
1) Fill a tall glass and a cocktail shaker with cubed ice
2) To make blackberry syrup dissolve the white sugar in the hot water. Once dissolved add in 10/12 blackberries and allow to cool down to room temperature before straining and chilling in the fridge
3) Add 25ml of blackberry syrup and all ingredients (except the sparkling water) to the cocktail shaker
4) Shake hard for ten seconds and then strain through a tea strainer into the ice-filled tall glass
5) Slowly top with sparkling water

Decoration / to serve
Garnish with a lemon wedge, blackberry and large mint sprig. Finely dust with castor sugar to give a frosted look.

Tasting notes
Delicious fresh berries and fresh lemon juice combine with the crisp taste of gin to make this cocktail the perfect drink for a summer afternoon. With its uplifting citrus and berry notes, Blackberry Smash is an excellent drink to pair with a summer picnic or a cocktail you can enjoy in the garden.

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Prosecco Thyme?

Ingredients
1 bottle Valdobbiadene Prosecco Spumante DOCG (product code: 43421)
2 large ripe plums (product code: 5283)
½ cup of white sugar(product code: 7118)
½ cup hot water
4 springs of fresh thyme (product code: 59975)
25ml fresh lemon juice (product code: 64568)

Methodology
1. Cut the plums into quarters and discard the stones
2. Muddle the plums in a cocktail shaker
3. To make thyme syrup add dissolve the white sugar in the hot water. Once dissolved add the thyme sprigs. Allow the mix to cool, and then strain before storing in the fridge until needed
4. Add 25ml of thyme syrup and ice to the cocktail shaker
5. Add the remaining lemon juice and shake hard
6. Strain into a rocks glass filled with cubed ice and top with Prosecco

Decoration / to serve
Cut a fresh plum into wedges and place this into the glass. Strip a few leaves of fresh thyme and scatter over the drink.

Tasting notes
Prosecco Thyme is the perfect cocktail for a celebration, whether you're toasting the Queen's 90th birthday or just celebrating the first signs of spring. The cocktail is full of fresh seasonal flavours and zing.

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White Sangria

Ingredients
1 bottle of The Exquisite Collection Limestone Coast Chardonnay (product code: 53821)
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura (product code: 4711) to top
1 green apple
1 red apple
15 red grapes (product code: 51058)
1 stone fruit de-stoned and quartered
3 strawberries halved
1 punnet of raspberries (product code: 50273)
Soda water to top (product code: 6189)

Methodology
1) Add all the fruit to a large jug or pitcher and lightly muddle using the back of a wooden spoon
2) Pour over The Exquisite Collection Limestone Coast Chardonnay and stir to combine with the fruit. Refrigerate for 1 hour or ideally overnight
3) Take the cold mixture from the fridge pour into a wine glass and add cubed ice
4) Top with Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura or soda water for a lighter drink

Decoration / to serve
Garnish with fresh mint springs or fresh basil leaves for a more Mediterranean feel.

Tasting notes
This simple yet tasty cocktail can be made well ahead of time and served on the day. With Aldi's White Sangria you can use a range of fruit, allowing you to have fun coming up with different taste combinations, and can easily scale it up to share with large parties.

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Grilled Peach Julep

Ingredients
50 ml Highland Black 8 Year Old Whisky (product code: 3319)
6-8 mint leaves (product code: 67495)
15ml honey (product code: 46118)
1 peach (product code: 1112)
10ml fresh lemon juice (product code: 68487)

Methodology
1) Add the mint to the cocktail shaker and cover with the Highland Black 8 Year Old Whisky. Lightly muddle using a wooden spoon
2) Add the honey to the cocktail shaker and stir until dissolved
3) To make peach puree cut 1 peach in half and de-stone. Lightly grill the two halves until they begin to caramelise. Add to a blender until smooth and place in the fried to chill
4) Add 25ml of peach puree and all the remaining ingredients and stir to ensure all the flavours are combined
5) Pour into an ice-filled tall glass

Decoration / to serve
Serve with a large mint sprig.

Tasting notes
The Grilled Peach Julep is a great drink to have after a Sunday roast lamb. The caramelised homemade peach puree adds another depth of flavour to the smoky Whisky notes. The mint cuts through with a crisp and light refreshing finish.

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The Bellucci Job

Ingredients
25ml Tamova Vodka (product code: 53557)
25ml Bellucci Amaretto (product code: 46287)
3 strawberries (product code: 57475)
1 teaspoon of white sugar (product code: 49427)
75ml cranberry juice (product code: 9952)
2 lemon wedges (product code: 68487)
Soda water to top (product code: 54297)

Methodology
1) Cut the strawberries into quarters, add to the cocktail shaker and sprinkle with white sugar
2) Using the back of a wooden spoon muddle or press down on the strawberries
3) Add the remaining ingredients (except the soda water) and shake hard over ice
4) Using a tea strainer fine strain the liquid into a tall ice-filled glass
5) Top with soda water

Decoration / to serve
Garnish with a large slice of lemon and place half a strawberry on the glass rim to decorate. Serve with two straws.

Tasting notes
Aldi's Bellucci Amaretto provides an appetising sweet undertone of exotic marzipan to The Bellucci Job, giving balance to the sweetness of the strawberries and the tartness from the cranberry juice. The mix of sweet and sour flavours allows this drink to cater to all palates.