A martini is a drink with a sophisticated reputation. It is a layered and complex cocktail that requires an equally interesting base – something that packs a punch yet enhances the other ingredients. This is where The Botanist gin comes in. Crafted in Scotland, this balanced blend of 22 hand-foraged botanicals is a distillation of the isle of Islay’s heritage, showcasing the best of this beautiful remote location.
The Botanist gin is the product of slow distilling, where the local botanicals, nine berries, barks, seeds and peels are tied together in a lightly floral bouquet. Satin smooth in the mouth, the taste is rich and mellow. What starts as cool and refreshing, soon turns to a warming blend that stimulates the taste buds with zingy citrus notes. These are the special qualities that make The Botanist the perfect choice of gin for a martini.
While many of us might think of the martini as a drink to be savoured in buzzy bars and hotel lounges on special occasions, it is actually an ideal drink for any time, any place, anywhere, and can be reinvented and tailored to every season. Here, the experts from The Botanist share their favourite recipes for enjoying this drink all year round.
Spring
50ml The Botanist gin
10ml dry vermouth
5ml elderflower liqueur
Mint, to garnish
Spring requires something fresh and floral – a flavour that invigorates the palette just as nature reawakens after the winter months. The Botanist’s elderflower martini is a wonderful way to welcome in the season, whether mixing martinis at home in your sitting room or celebrating the much-anticipated return of the al fresco aperitivo. The Botanist recommends adding a mint garnish to create the ultimate spring martini.
Summer
50ml camomile-infused The Botanist gin
10ml bianco vermouth
Orange twist, to garnish
Summer is the time for outdoor drinks with friends, raising a toast in the sun, and long, leisurely lunches that stretch pleasurably into the dusk. A traditional martini might not always have been top of your list on such occasions, but given a contemporary twist, it pairs better with a sunny day than any other drink. The camomile martini is summer in a glass, balancing citrus notes with the gentleness of camomile.
Autumn
50ml The Botanist gin
15ml Rosa Americano
Dash grapefruit bitters
Rosemary, to garnish
Roses might seem more aligned with the summer months, but as the final blooms fade in late September, why not raise a glass to the final flourish of this most beloved of flowers? The Botanist’s rose martini is exactly the drink for this moment. Add a dash of grapefruit bitters to 50ml gin and 15ml Rose Americano, and finish with a rosemary garnish.
Winter
50ml Pomegranate Infused The Botanist, 10ml bianco vermouth, thyme garnish
50ml pomegranate-infused The Botanist gin
10ml bianco vermouth
Thyme, to garnish
Winter is the time for a stronger martini that will see you through the cold, dark nights that lie ahead. The pomegranate martini is just such a warming, fortifying drink. Made with The Botanist gin infused with pomegranate, this recipe is best balanced with 10ml bianco vermouth.
The first gin distillery in the UK to receive the impressive B Corp Certification, The Botanist gin has all the right credentials for those who like to enjoy their spirits with a clear conscience. Celebrate B Corp Month with The Botanist Gin and its partner bar and restaurants until the end of March!
Discover more at TheBotanist.com.
Please drink responsibly.
