Behold the colours of Spring with a refreshing Spring Equinox Cocktail

Spring is in the air and blossom by blossom, mother nature unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil! It is time for outdoor picnics, to enjoy the flush of bright flowers, and to inhale the sweet air of Spring before Summer sets in. There is nothing better than celebrating this sun-soaked season with its clear blue skies than with our floral, fruity, and herbaceous cocktails.

We picked the combination of Kiwi with Elderflower from Mother Nature’s bounty to indulge in our quest for discovering cocktails that truly reflect the bright freshness of this season.

Kiwi is a small sweet and tangy fruit that is also known as Chinese Gooseberry since it originated from China. It has a fuzzy brown skin and bright green pulp with tiny black seeds and is packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants, and a whole lot of other nutrients. This fruit was introduced to New Zealand as late as the 20^th century, wherein they started cultivating it commercially and named it after their national bird. The Kiwifruit is said to have immense health benefits. It helps boost immunity, improves or reduces Asthma, eases digestion, promotes bone health, is good for the skin, improves eye health and is good for the heart.

Elderflower is light, dainty, subtle, and floral. It is more a perfume than a taste. A lychee is closest in taste. Even though Elderflowers are not herbal flowers, they do boost immunity as they are rich in antioxidants. The flowers also contain antiseptic & anti-inflammatory properties. Elderflower extracts are used to treat cold, sinuses, common flu, bronchitis, pain and swelling, diabetes, and constipation.

Spring Equinox

A perfectly refreshing cocktail for those warm Spring days. The flavour combination in this beautiful cocktail is so quintessentially Spring that one cannot stop sipping this cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

• 45 ml / 1.5 oz Gin
• 20 ml / 2/3 oz St. Germain Liqueur
• 15 ml / ½ oz Lillet Blanc
• 15 ml / ½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 Kiwi – Cut into wedges
• 2-3 dashes Bitters
• Soda Water to top up.
• Garnish: Kiwi Slice & Flowers.

DIRECTIONS

• Add the cut Kiwi to the shaker tin along with fresh lime Juice and muddle to get the kiwi juice out.
• Then add the Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Lillet Blanc & the Bitters along with Ice & hard shake.
• Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice.
• Top up with Soda. Give a gentle stir to the drink & garnish with a Kiwi Slice and Flowers.

Tasting Notes: This cocktail is a perfect balance of fruity & floral flavours. The fruity flavours of Kiwi pairs beautifully with the delicate perfume and flavour of Elderflower. The floral notes of the Gin just enhance it all. Lillet Blanc brings complexity to the drink with its honey, candied orange peel, raisin, and spring flowers notes. The Bitters inject the herbaceous flavours whereas the lemon juice adds the citrus notes needed to balance the drink.

Food Pairing:

• Small Plates: Seafood Espetada; Tandoori Fish Tikka; Chicken Tikka; Chicken Dim Sums; Char Siu Bao; Smoked Salmon Crostini; Crab Cake Sliders; Pita with Tzatziki; Paneer Pakora; Crispy Tofu with Sweet Chili Sauce; Spring Rolls, Chili Paneer
• Greens / Soups: Strawberry, Arugula, Almonds & Feta Salad with Balsamic Honey Vinaigrette; Vietnamese Shrimp Salad with Noodles
• Big Plates: Spicy Korean Pork Stir Fry with Steamed Rice; Pork Chops with Grilled Pineapple Salsa; Akhrot Murg with Tandoori Roti; Grilled Chicken Tacos; Chicken Burgers with Fries; Tempura Red Snapper Banh Mi; Pan-Fried Sea Bass in Lemon Caper Sauce; Barramundi with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce served with some oven-roasted Vegetables; Tofu Pad Thai; Paneer Afghani with Tandoori Roti
• Desserts: Pavlova; Lemon Meringue Pie; Raspberry Lemon Cake; Lemon-Coconut Cake with Mascarpone Frosting; Chocolate Strawberry Torte; Blueberry Cheesecake; Dark Chocolate Coconut Truffles.