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Summertime Sipping – Blackberry & Elderflower Julep

19th August 2014 By Urvashi Roe 20 Comments

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

With the recent weather we have been having in England it’s perhaps more apt to call this post ‘Summertime Slipping’.  It really does seem like those summer days have drifted away.  But one thing has been constant for us at home this summer.  A little Friday night tradition we’ve started.  Cocktails and canapés.

The tradition starts with blinis

Blinis are the basis of our supper on a Friday night.  They a brilliant for a canapés and a great way to use up those leftovers in the fridge – of which we have lots as it’s school holidays and the girls are at home.  Our blinis are a simple pancake mix which is a little thicker than usual.  They take a little effort to make but as they are so expensive to buy it’s worth a go.  Try this recipe using rye flour from Kellie at Food To Glow.

canape, blini

Image courtesy of Kellie at Food to Glow

And then the cocktail fun begins

Then we line up a range of juices, cordials and glasses for our cocktails.  Some vodka, gin and rum for the adults.  Mini paper umbrellas, cocktail sticks for threading fruit and sugar to crystallise the glasses are also essential.

Cocktail Making with Children

Loading the cocktails up with fruits

Cocktail Making with Children

The obligatory umbrella

Experimenting is part of the fun

My favourite cocktail until recently would have been a Margarita or perhaps a Mojito but after attending a recent class at Mixology in Shoreditch I’ve changed my mind to an Elderflower Julep.

It’s a blend based on the Middle eastern custom of infusing mint and sugar into soft spirits.  The version we learned used gin, (which I love), elderflower cordial, (another favourite) and a little mint of course.  I also mixed in some blackberries to keep it a little more seasonal.

Print Recipe

Blackberry and Elderflower Julep

Total Time10 mins
Servings: 1

Notes

cocktail

Blackberry and Elderflower Julep

You'll need

  • 8 – 10 mint leaves
  • 1 lemon wedge
  • 2 measures of gin
  • 1 measure of elderflower cordial
  • 1 measure of blackberry juice - about 6 large blackberries
To make it place all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with lots of ice.  Mix it all up for a few minutes, pour it into your glass through a strainer. Easy!

I was invited to try my hand at cocktail making by Three in celebration of the new countries added to their Feel at Home service which enables travellers to use their phone abroad with no extra or hidden costs.  It was a fun night but I rather prefer my disorganised approach to making cocktails.  A bit of this and a bit of that and then boom! The perfect mix.  (Downside is I never remember how to recreate it!)

What’s your favourite cocktail? Do you have any summery Friday night rituals? 

Related

Filed Under: Drinks Tagged With: cocktails, elderflower, mint julep

Previous Post: « Let’s Not Waste The Courgette Flowers
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lizard100 says

    19th August 2014 at 10:12 pm

    What a great ritual!

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      20th August 2014 at 7:29 am

      Thanks. It is the perfect start to weekends

      Reply
      • lizard100 says

        20th August 2014 at 7:34 am

        I want a ritual like this! Now you’ve got me thinking!

        Reply
        • Urvashi Roe says

          29th August 2014 at 11:17 pm

          So, did you have a cocktail Friday?

          Reply
          • lizard100 says

            30th August 2014 at 6:49 am

            Not yet. It’s still holidays but I’m going to find a Friday night ritual.

  2. MC2 says

    19th August 2014 at 11:08 pm

    Cocktails and canapés sounds like a brilliant tradition! Might have to start that in my home 😉 Cheers!

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      20th August 2014 at 7:30 am

      Cheers!

      Reply
  3. Benjamin says

    20th August 2014 at 1:51 am

    That julep looks delicious…The perfect tipple for August!

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      20th August 2014 at 7:30 am

      Perfect indeed. I might try with elderberries

      Reply
  4. Helene @Croque-Maman says

    20th August 2014 at 11:11 am

    This such a lovely family ritual. These are things your little ones will always remember.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      20th August 2014 at 11:16 am

      Hope so. Hope they have these little rituals into their grown up lives too

      Reply
  5. Emily @amummytoo says

    20th August 2014 at 1:55 pm

    I have a bottle of gin in the fridge and have been wondering what to do with it as I don’t like tonic. This will do nicely!

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      29th August 2014 at 11:17 pm

      Perfect Friday 🙂

      Reply
  6. arecipeforgluttony says

    21st August 2014 at 12:04 pm

    Love your Friday tradition, I could get into that one. I am so gonna try this cocktail it sounds amazing I love those flavours.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      24th August 2014 at 7:47 pm

      Thank you. Do let me know if you like it. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Sally says

    21st August 2014 at 9:42 pm

    Love blinis – especially with a cocktail

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      29th August 2014 at 11:17 pm

      Me too 🙂

      Reply
  8. Good Food Everyday says

    25th August 2014 at 4:52 am

    Lovely !

    Reply

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Hi I'm Urvashi!

I love food. This blog is a little glimpse into my foodie world which is an escape from two teenage girls, a busy job and my little cafe.

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