"spring cocktails" news and stories

Spring's here! Mix up a fresh, simple cocktail to ring in the season. Here are three to choose from.

Just a few weeks until summer comes, so let's get some more spring recipes into the mix. Of course, these light, low-calorie drinks sound like they'd be refreshing on a hot July day too and not just a slightly warm May one.

They're from the Drink of the Week site. One is a Midori Fizz, one is a Midori Lemonade, one is a Zen Cooler, and the other is a Zen Iced Tea. Two of the drinks are made with Zen Green Tea Liqueur, from Suntory. The Zen Cooler is made with Fresca, which I think is a really underrated soft drink, so I'll post that recipe after the jump.

To be honest it is far too cold in the UK for any type of garden party. Spring might be here in the form of daffodils and other spring flowers but the weather is not yet conducive for sitting outside. Not today anyway. Still the one thing, drink-wise, that sums up warmer days is Pimms. Quintessentially English - days of tennis, cricket, river regattas and lazy days sitting in fields or parks.

Created by James Pimm in his 1820`s Oyster Bar. Pimm began to market it ready-mixed in 1859, such was its popularity. It was taken as a digestive tonic, due to the high level of quinine and the mash of herbs involved in its production. Fashionable society began to drink Pimm`s as a cocktail during the later part of the 19th century, partially for the alcoholic lift and partially because it was weak enough to be drunk all afternoon.

There are innumerable cocktail recipes using Pimms; some place great play on shoving as much fruit in the cup as possible others are more understated. This is my classic version

Pimms Original

• 2 measures of Pimm`s
• 2 measure of Ginger Ale
• 2 measures of Lemonade
• 1 slice of Cucumber
• 1 slice of Lemon
• 1 slice of Orange
• 1 slice of strawberry
• Fresh Mint

2 measures of Pimm`s

Mix and drink.