Wimbledon has begun, which can only mean one thing – summer is here! If you’re a fan of perfectly mixed doubles or a strong serve, we recommend trying this delicious cocktail created by The Copeland Distillery. Based in Donaghadee, the raspberry mint smash is Copeland’s take on the iconic Pimm’s drink and is the perfect accompaniment to this year’s Wimbledon Championship. Taking centre court in this recipe is the distillery’s Raspberry & Mint Gin created using local raspberries and mint leaves grown in Co. Down.

Ingredients:

4-6 Raspberries
6-8 Mint leaves
50ml Copeland Raspberry Mint Gin
25ml Lemon juice
25ml Sugar syrup

Method:

Use a spoon or pestle to muddle together (basically mash them about) the mint leaves and raspberries in the base of a cocktail shaker.
Next, add 25ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 25ml of sugar syrup and mix. (To make your own sugar syrup at home, simply heat 100ml of water and 200g of caster sugar in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves and let cool).
Pour in 50ml of Copeland Raspberry and Mint gin and add a good handful of ice. Shake for around 10-12 second until ice cold.
Strain your cocktail mix and pour into a rocks glass filled with ice. To finish, garnish with raspberries and a sprig of mint.

Gareth Irvine, Founder at The Copeland Distillery, said: “There’s no better way to enjoy this year’s Wimbledon that with the addition of a Raspberry and Mint Smash cocktail using our unique premium flavoured gin. Distilled in the rich maritime village of Donaghadee and bottled at 37.5% ABV, this a proper gin with a great juniper-forward taste and hints of sweet raspberry and tangy mint. It’s perfectly refreshing!

“Quality is at the heart of everything we do and moving forward we want to put our products on a global stage. It’s a testament to our innovation and allows us to continue our mission to create a world-class, varied portfolio of spirits that represent the island’s craftsmanship and history”.

Gin lovers can now spend a day out at the Co. Down distillery following amendments to Northern Ireland’s Licensing Order 1996. Visitors who partake in Distillery tours will now be able to sample and purchase Copeland’s portfolio of spirits on-site, whilst seeing first-hand how the products are made.

Copeland’s Raspberry & Mint Gin is priced at £24.99 (RRP) for 700ml and is available at copelanddistillery.com. Always drink responsibly, for more information visit drinkaware.co.uk.

For more cocktail and perfect serve inspiration visit Copeland Distillery on YouTube.