While the practical side of me knows that we’ve got another month or two of winter left, the optimist in me sees a couple days of above zero temperatures and a bit of melting snow and breaks out the jean jacket and spring drinks.

We’re in a bit of a warm spell here in Edmonton, so my blogger bestie Holly and I decided to play around with some decidedly spring-like flavours to update a classic gin & tonic.

I’ve never really bought into the adage that ‘if something isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I think most things can benefit from a bit of refinement, cocktails especially. I don’t want to brag or anything, but Holly and I nailed it with this twist on a gin & tonic.

The star of the show is the Cherry Gin from my favourite Alberta distillery, Eau Claire. It’s a London Dry-style gin that is infused with sour cherries and more than 12 unique botanicals. It doesn’t have a super strong cherry flavour, just enough tartness to really elevate your cocktail, and give it a beautiful pink colour. We played up the cherry flavour with the addition of muddled blueberries and cocktail cherries. Hope you enjoy our updated G&T.

Very Cherry Gin & Tonic

Yields 1 drink

You’ll need:

1.5 oz Cherry Gin (we used Eau Claire Distillery)

3 cocktail cherries

2 tbsp of blueberries

Juice of half a lime

Lime round to garnish

Tonic water, to top

Ice

Directions:

Skewer a cocktail cherry and a few blueberries on a cocktail pick and set aside. Muddle remaining cherries and blueberries in a cocktail yum with the lime juice and cherry gin. Strain into a Copa de Balon or large Burgundy red wine glass filled with cubed ice. Top off with tonic water and lightly stir. Garnish with cocktail pick and lime round, serve and enjoy!

Hope you enjoy this delicious, updated gin & tonic. Be sure to tag us on Instagram (@alexandtribe @chandeliers.and.champagne) if you make any of our drinks!

Cheers, happy Thursday 😘

Alex & Holly