Lockdown cocktails, week 2: Bashall Brunch Martini

Espresso Martinis have a wonderful indulgence about them -- ideal for lazy weekends when it's neither too late for coffee nor too early for gin.

They're traditionally vodka-based, with the flavour coming from the coffee and Kalua, but we decided to combine them with Breakfast Martinis -- whose decadence speaks for itself! -- using our Orange & Quince Gin, based on an 18th century marmalade recipe (or "marmalet", as they used to say).

During lockdown, if you can't find Kalua, you can easily make a sugar syrup. We found some muscavado in the cupboard, which makes a rich dark syrup, but any sugar will do.

Ingredients (per cocktail): 50g sugar, 25ml water, 50ml espresso, 100ml Orange & Quince gin.

(We used a stove pot, as we don't have an espresso machine -- but even strongly-made instant coffee should work!)

Instructions: add the sugar and water to a saucepan and heat gently till the sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool. If you have a cocktail shaker, add all ingredients to it and shake with ice. If not, simply stir together and enjoy!

All of our gins are available from http://bashallspirits.co.uk. Delivery is free and we’ll give you £5 if you enter the code LOCKTAILS.