Gin quenchers to try this Summer

A clever spin on the classic gin sour. Origin elevated the drink by adding a rich and fragrant guava-redistilled gin and mixing it with lemon juice, breakfast tea cordial, Cointreau, simple syrup, and egg white. We love the addition of the tea cordial, which adds tannin to the drink, balancing the richness of the guava. The Guava Tea Sour gives you a taste of the tropics, transporting you to a sultry paradise.

Doubleshot is a cafe and cocktail bar in Hollywood Road that makes specialty brews, serves alcoholic beverages, and offers a full dining service every time of the day. Though their establishment is not really focused on gin, you might want to hit up the bar from June 8 to 24 to explore three signature gin cocktails made with locally made gin, Two Moons. The menu includes a peach-forward G&T called Two Moons Tonic (HK$108), the fruity apricot-based Luna (HK$118), and our favourite from the list, the Negroni Sbagliato twist, Apollo Negroni (HK$128).   

For those who want to meet the founders of Two Moons distillery, hit up the bar on June 24 to catch the bar takeover party. Doubleshot's head bartender Jade Lau and Two Moons founders Ivan Chang and Dimple Yuen will be hosting gin tipples the whole night. 

If you want an immediate refreshment, then an effervescent G&T is the perfect summer beverage. The head doctor at Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour prescribes a generous serving of their summer gin and tonic made with Porcelain Shanghai Dry Gin, Folkington’s Indian Tonic, garnished with a slice of orange, pink pepper, and lavender. It’s our kind of OJ for summer! Sweet, bitter, and tangy.

For the entire month of June, Dr Fern’s is celebrating World Gin Month by giving highlight to Hong Kong made and inspired gins – Two Moons Distillery Gin, Perfume Trees Gin, Gweilo Gin, Bauhinia Gin, N.I.P. Gin, and Porcelain Shanghai Mandarin Gin. Drop by at their gin parlour and take advantage of their gin flight promotion highlighting these local gins. You can order three from any of the six bottles and avail a gin flight for only $250. The flights will come with tonics and botanicals should you want to enjoy it as a gin and tonic. The local gins are also available by the glass. 

Inspired by JM Barrie’s famous work, Finding Neverland, Cool Lagoon ($140) has been a menu mainstay at Quinary since 2018, and though we love having this drink on a regular day, it should be one of your summer companions. It’s a complex rendition of basil smash using Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto (an aromatic Italian liqueur with flavours of bergamot and other botanicals), Iron Balls Gin, Thai and Italian basil leaves, muscat grape liqueur, pickled jalapeño syrup, cucumber bitters, and lime juice, garnished with frozen grapes. Be warned, it is very refreshing but also very potent.

A pomada is a classic Mediterranean staple from one of Spain's Balearic islands, typically made with Xoriguer’s gin, lemonade, and served with ice and a slice of lemon. From mid-May until the end of July, Ping Pong 129 Gintoneria is adding their twist to this invigorating classic. Ping Pong’s rendition is made with Xoriguer Mahon gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice, Indi & Co Lemon Tonic Water, garnished with lemon zest and mint leaves. The drink is perfect for a hot day, it’s simple, refreshing, and dangerously easy to drink!

Artesian cocktail bar by night Rest Coffee Gin shines the spotlight on G’Vine Floraison gin – which uses the green flowers of Ugni Blanc, a grape variety commonly used to make Cognac – and infuses it with jasmine tea, mixed with lemon juice, Prucia Plum Liqueur, and Japone Cherry Blossom Liqueur. Inspired by the falling cherry blossom scene in the Japanese animated film, 5 Centimeters Per Second, this drink ($148) – which is served in a salt-rimmed glass – is floral and fruity at the same time. If you like floral flavours, then this cocktail is for you