Cocktails at home have become a big hit over the last year, whether as a treat at the end of the day, to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or just because it’s the weekend!

And using homegrown herbs and ingredients in cocktails and mocktails is a big trend in 2021. What could be fresher than ‘just picked’ fruit or herbs from your garden popped into an ice-cold drink? From garden to glass, once you start growing your own ingredients, you’ll realise that the taste is out of this world.

Squire’s Garden Centres has a selection of refreshing botanical drink recipes on their website, including Strawberry and Basil Infused Lemonade, Garden Gin & Tonic, Dill & Cucumber Gin Fizz and an Orange & Thyme Mocktail.

Botanical Drink Recipes – Squire’s Garden Centres (squiresgardencentres.co.uk)

Or be bold and create your own recipes depending on which ingredients you are growing.

“It is very easy to create a cocktail garden at home,” says Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres. “You can grow most fruit and herbs in flower beds or containers, and they tend to like a sunny spot with good drainage. Now that the weather is starting to warm up it is time to have fun in the garden, and what better way to enjoy your garden than with a cocktail in your hand which includes your own homegrown produce.”

Try growing the following:

Fruit

  • Rhubarb (great in a Martini)
  • Strawberries (to pop into a Pimms or to create a Strawberry & Basil Infused Lemonade)
  • Apple (tasty in Pimms or in a Martini)
  • Peach (add to champagne to create a Bellini)
  • Blueberry (perfect for muddling, or for making syrups to use in blueberry cocktails)
  • Cucumber (for Dill & Cucumber Gin Fizz or put in a Pimms)

Herbs

  • Mint (for Mojitos, Pimms and Mint Julep)
  • Basil (use a few fresh leaves as a garnish)
  • Rosemary (for infusions, syrups or muddling)
  • Thyme (essential in an Orange & Thyme Mocktail)
  • Dill (to create a Dill & Cucumber Gin Fizz)

Squire’s has a wide range of fruit plants and herbs to help you create your own cocktail garden at home. Buy plants in-store or online for local delivery at www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Please check out the June issue of VantagePoint for some cocktail recipe ideas.

Cheers!

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