Spring Gin and Tonic
The following recipe and photography was provided by recipe developer and food photographer, Ashley Durand of Plate & Pen.
Spice up a classic cocktail and toast to the spring season!
When I was in my early 20’s, a gin and tonic was my drink of choice. Easy to make at home or order at a bar and equally easy to drink, it’s no wonder this cocktail is such a staple!
![Spring Gin and Tonic](https://marketing.heinens.com/content/uploads/2023/03/Spring-Gin-and-Tonic-600x700-2.jpg)
I don’t consider myself to be a professional mixologist, but I have gotten quite good at amplifying mixed drinks with seasonal colors and flavors. So, in the spirit of the impending spring season, I blended some of my favorite green produce, including grapes, green apples, cucumber, lime juice and mint leaves into a juice to use as a mixer in a standard gin and tonic. The color and refreshing flavor it lends to this adult beverage is both unique and delicious.
![Spring Gin and Tonic](https://marketing.heinens.com/content/uploads/2023/03/Spring-Gin-and-Tonic-600x700-4.jpg)
If you’re feeling spicy, rim your cocktail glasses with Tabasco and Tajin for a pop of color and heat that will have your taste buds begging for another sip.
Cheers to spring sipping!
![Spring Gin and Tonic](https://marketing.heinens.com/content/uploads/2023/03/Spring-Gin-and-Tonic-800x550-1.jpg)
Spring Gin and Tonic
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 20-25 green grapes, plus more for garnish
- 1 skin-on apple, cored, halved and quartered
- 1 large skin-on cucumber
- Juice of 2 limes, plus more for rim
- 7-8 mint leaves
- 2 oz. gin
- 3 oz. tonic water
- Green pepper tabasco, optional for rim
- Tajin seasoning, optional for rim
Instructions
- Blend the grapes, apple, cucumber, lime juice and mint in a blender until smooth.
- Strain the blended mixture through a sifter. Discard the pulp. The juice will yield 4 cocktails, but the recipe above is for one cocktail, so adjust the measurements of gin and tonic as needed.
- If desired, rim a chilled cocktail glass with lime juice and Tabasco, then dip in the Tajin seasoning.
- Add 3 oz. of the juice to the glass.
- Add the gin and tonic and stir until mixed.
- Garnish by spearing a grape with a toothpick and placing it over top of the glass.