Lavender Gin- to make a Lavender Lane!

Here we go with the LAVENDER again!

I had to pick up my favourite Magazine at the LCBO today. ( Liquor Store)

they hand these out for free every season, and they are full of great recipes and drink idea's!

Today I found this one.

Lavender Lane Cocktail

6 lemon bits ( a slice of lemon cut into small triangles)

3 mint leaves

1 1/2 oz Lavender Gin ( recipe to follow)

dash of bitters

1/2 oz honey syrup

soda water

 Muddle lemon and mint in a 10 oz highball glass. Add ice to fill. Add lavender Gin, bitters and honey syrop. Stir. top with soda, garnish with a mint sprig.

Lavender Gin Recipe

Add 1 tsp dried lavender flowers to a 26 oz bottle of gin. Let sit for 4 days, Strain and rebottle the gin. Lavender Gin can be used in all recipes that call for Gin.

Tips:

Simple Syrup:  We keep a bottle of this in our bar fridge at all times. Make ahead and have handy.

Just combine equal parts sugar and boiling water, still until dissolved, store in fridge.

and how about this appetizer to serve with them?

Cucumber Rolls with Smoked Trout

If you don't like smoked trout replace it with thin slices of rare roast beef. If you use beef, you will probably have to cut the slices in half lengthwise. You can make these up to an hour ahead of time.

1 English cucumber
salt
1 smoked trout or 12 thin slices of roast beef
Lemon juice
½ cup (125 mL) freshly grated horseradish

1. Cut the cucumber in half crosswise. Using a vegetable peeler or a mandolin, cut thin strips lengthwise from each half, turning the cucumber as you reach the seeds. You want strips of cucumber with a band of green skin at the top and bottom. Trim the strips.
2. Divide the smoked trout into 24 pieces and squeeze over a little lemon juice. Place a piece of trout on each cucumber strip and roll up, securing with a toothpick. Top with grated horseradish.

Makes about 24

Cheers!