The Kit
The Gin Producer
Ginspirational
Andy Woodfield founded Lilliput Gin in Dorset in January
2017. Its Mediterranean botanicals make it a great summer gin
Fill a copa glass with ice
and garnish with a big sprig
of rosemary for the perfect
gin and tonic.
Would you say that a gin and tonic is
the classic summer cocktail?
Yeah, but people are being more adventurous now.
gin & tonic is the emergency ‘I’ve had another day
at work, where’s my life going’ drink! I think when
people are having friends over or a party, they’re
being more adventurous now.
What are your favourite summer gin
cocktails?
I love a French 75, which is sugar syrup, lemon juice,
quite a lot of gin and you top it up with champagne
or prosecco.
I also like to start with a classic G&T and than add
half a shot of either Campari or Aperol, which makes
it into a much more exciting drink.
Lilliput is really good with more juice-based
summer cocktails because it’s really versatile –the
balance of those savoury flavours (basil, thyme,
olives and rosemary) make it a well-balanced gin,
which makes it perfect for cocktails.
How do you make the perfect gin &
tonic?
I would get a deeper-sized glass and fill it with some
nice, clear freshwater ice. Then I would put a double
measure into the glass. I’d then put in a decent wedge
of lemon or lime, and a decent sprig of rosemary that
goes from the bottom of the glass to just above the
top. Then I would throw in a decent light tonic to fill
up the glass and give it a bit of a swizz.
Good quality tonic is going to create a lot of
bubbles, and they grab hold of the flavour and brings
it up your nose more effectively.
Get the ice from the supermarket. If you make ice
at home, because our water is quite heavy, you get
that cloudy ice. So, when your ice melts, all of that
cloudy residue that you normally get in your
kettle ends up in the bottom of your drink and it’s
really horrible.
Lilliput gin is great for cocktails as it doesn’t contain an
overwhelming botanical that jarrs with other flavours.
What do you think of the copa glasses
that are on trend now?
Copa glasses are nice, they’re big and you get a lot of
the zing into the tonic right up your nose. It’s down
to individual preference – I like a G&T in a hi-ball
glass but the big copa glasses are cool. For a French
75, you need a good champagne glass, and if you’re
doing a dirty martini – which is amazing – a cocktail
glass. I’m not mad on little tiny cocktail glasses.
56
www.hartsofstur.com