Happy Valentine’s Day! As you start your romantic (or not so romantic) evening, why not kick it off with this vintage cocktail, the Honeymoons? Definitely a cocktail- made of gin, lemon, mint, sugar, and plenty of ice; and vintage in my eyes, as this recipe was written in my grandmother’s hand and passed to my mother probably in the 1960s or 70s. I don’t know where my grandmother got the recipe or the name. Did she invent it? I wish I knew… a Google search revealed that there is a vintage cocktail known as a “Honeymoon” but it is nothing like this recipe. This drink is very refreshing! Tart, crisp, and bright with a touch of sweetness. Have you ever had a Tom Collins? The Honeymoons reminds me of a Tom Collins, but without the splash of soda water. I made it exactly as my grandmother directed, with a teaspoon of fine sugar. I love tart and sour drinks, but next time I’ll make a sugar syrup to ever so slightly better mellow the tartness. It would be the perfect cocktail to hand to your guests on a hot summer night, not exactly Valentine’s Day weather in the Northern Hemisphere, but with a name like Honeymoons I think an exception can be made. Enjoy!
Honeymoons
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons gin
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely chopped and bruised mint leaves
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
plenty of ice
Instructions:
Pour gin and lemon juice into a shaker. Add mint and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add ice and shake well. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.
I KNEW there was a reason I’ve been nurturing that mint plant in the kitchen …. thank you – how can I resist something handed down in your grandmother’s hand – it adds a poignant dimension to the name which I will share with my husband later when the sun goes down π
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Fresh mint in the winter is such a treat… It must be fate that you have a plant growing at home! And I love the name Honeymoons, I couldn’t resist posting it for Valentine’s Day. Hope you had a wonderful evening!
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I can now formally endorse ‘Honeymoons’ as quite delicious and possibly addictive …. we had a FABULOUS evening!!!
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That is awesome, Osyth!!! Thank you! π
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Thank YOU (and Granny!)
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Sounds delicious!
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Thanks, Cynthia! I love the tartness of the lemon with the freshness of the mint… so good together!
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All those things sound great together. I’ll let you know when I get my hands on some gin and try it out
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What a wonderful heirloom drink! Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
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You too, Kathryn!
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It does sound good!
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This sounds good, and different. Love the mint idea, must give it a nice twist and must be so refreshing…
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Thank you, Lynne. It is the perfect hot weather drink… very refreshing!
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Sounds great Jean! Pinning it!
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I love the photos especially the tall glass and the mint! gorgeous! The hand written recipe is priceless Jean!
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Thank you, Lynn! I definitely have a soft spot for those handwritten recipes passed down through generations! π
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I do too! Such a treasure! A lovely post!
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I’m tee total nowadays and never really did fancy Gin but I do like the look of this….!
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Thank you, Cameron! Maybe you could try substituting water for gin and making it as a tart lemonade with mint? Good for you for tee totaling! I know you’ve written how much the decision has benefitted you mentally and physically. I know you are inspiring others with your healthy choices!
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Wow! Thank you for those kind words and yes, I think I may just do that. Maybe mineral water would be the thing….
Staying Tee Total is difficult but worth it for sure.
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Wow sounds Nectarous. …:)
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This was a lovely Valentines Day post, with a fine recipe and I may try to substitute white rum. I am not a gin drinker. So, this is a Tom Collins and then it may become a Rum Collins? Not sure about the name but I have this delicious recipe now on my phone! Smiles, Robin
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This isn’t quite a Tom Collins because there isn’t any soda water, but it’s a very close cousin. And, yum! Rum would be great with this too…
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It does look a very refreshing drink, and ideal for a summer’s evening, as you say. But it could be equally refreshing on a cosy night indoors on a cold, February night. The tall glasses are ideal for giving that celebratory look. Your grandmother was an inventive lady with her recipes. It’s great that you have her wonderful recipe book.
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