Strawberry, elderflower, gin batch cocktail

Everyone needs a batch cocktail recipe to get through the holidays. I will stand by that! This one is exceptionally easy because all that I ask you to do is make a strawberry puree by blending fresh strawberries with water and sugar and straining it.

It’s very much a light, summer-fruit drink that is neither 1. too boozy or 2. too sweet. It’s light-medium in sweetness, most of which is made sweet naturally from strawberries with the gin peeking through enough to know it’s there without being a gin martini. Does that make sense? It’s just really good!

Making a batch cocktail is perfect for you if you are having guests over, since all you do is stir the ingredients together in a pitcher or carafe and keep cold in the fridge until ready to serve. The strawberry puree doesn’t separate from the rest of the liquids, don’t ask me how — but it works! It retains a beautiful light red colour. If you’re feeling up for it, top it off with prosecco or sparkling rose. You can even leave this out for guests to help themselves in a “DIY cocktail” station, kind of like a punch bowl vibe.

This recipe makes 1.5 litres, which serves approximately 8 people, depending on how large your glasses are.

Makes 1.5 litres

Ingredients:

550 ml gin

500 ml strawberry puree

250 ml elderflower liquor

200 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

handful of strawberries, sliced, for garnish

Strawberry puree:

500g fresh strawberries

75 g caster sugar

75 g water

Method:

Slice green tops off strawberries and cut the strawberries in half. Blend in a high speed blender with sugar and water until all the strawberries have blended through. Pour over a fine mesh strainer into a bowl to collect all the seeds. Discard anything in the fine mesh strainer. Keep the strawberry puree in the fridge to keep cold.

Juice 4-5 large lemons, measuring 200 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Strain over a fine mesh strainer to catch any seeds. Keep cold in the fridge.

In a large pitcher/carafe: pour strawberry puree, elderflower liquor, lemon juice and gin and stir to combine. Add fresh sliced strawberries on top and stir once more. Keep cold in the fridge until ready to serve. You can serve this on ice or without ice, as long as it’s cold. Personally, I like it on ice! Garnish with freeze dried strawberries and dried edible flowers.