British Summertime Cooler

This cooler tastes a lot like a Pimm’s Cup, but you don’t need to go out of your way to find Pimm’s in your local liquor store. I’m not a huge fan of mint in general, but it pairs eloquently with the herbaceous gin and floral elderflower. I could imagine myself sipping this in the Kensington Palace gardens — now if only Queen Elizabeth could mail me an invite.

I also thought the apple juice would make this too sweet, but instead it’s a subtle and lovely taste. It also gives the cooler a light gingery tint which you may or may not find aesthetically appealing.

I used 3 ounces of Seagram’s since that’s what I had on hand, but you could also use a flavored seltzer that complements the floral notes found in the gin and cordial. I’d personally go with a simple lemon soda water. Makes one very refreshing drink.

Restrained, refined, refreshing--all that one might expect from a British summer cocktail. Oh, and gin, of course. Like a good friend once described his betrothed, I'd say this drink is a solid 4 out of 5 in most categories; good for the long haul. It's not too sweet, not too strong.

The cucumber is a surprisingly necessary choice. For the apple juice, I halved a fresh apple and mashed it in my lemon juicer and it yielded exactly 2 tbsp (1 oz), lucky for me. I added approximately 6 ounces of homemade sparkling water.

Gin and elderflower liquor are two staples in my drinks cabinet and I have not found a cocktail using them both that does them justice...until now! This is my new favorite drink—it’s refreshing on a summer’s day, but be warned, one is not enough! Yum!