This summer, whether you plan to pack your calendar full of parties with friends, days out to races and festivals or relaxed afternoons in the sunshine, make sure you do so with a good drink in hand. Our pick of the season is Nicholson Gin, a classic British tipple that ticks all of our thirst-quenching boxes.
Why Nicholson Gin is the Tipple of the Summer Season
Nicholson Gin is one of Britain’s oldest providers of spirits and gins, dating all the way back to 1736 when the Nicholson and Bowman families set up in Clerkenwell. Popularity came quickly for Nicholson, as the brand continued to refine its distillery and upscale its production for its thirsty London customers. By the mid-1830s, Nicholson had developed the first London Dry style gin and was one of the largest and most successful distillers in the UK – it was so popular, in fact, that even the Duke of Wellington was known to partake in a glass or two.
By the 1900s, Nicholson was a household name not just in the UK, but all over the world. The brand distributed its beverages to over 130 countries, and was praised for its purity and classic dry taste. Famed hotels like The Savoy and Waldorf Astoria even teamed up with the brand to create limited-edition drinks for special occasions – some of which have been featured in The Savoy Cocktail Book, The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book and Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails.
This year, Nicholson Gin is entering its renaissance. Entrepreneurs Alex Johns and Steve Goldman are leading the brand through a relaunch with a new range of drinks and some exciting events this summer…
Fresh Flavours
While you can still get your hands on the original London Dry, Nicholson fans can now try a new selection of drinks this summer. On Friday 17 June, Nicholson Gin unveiled a new blood orange flavoured gin, a zesty take on the brand’s classic bottle.
Nicholson will also be launching two new premium ready-to-drink beverages this summer, the first being a classic gin and tonic, and the second a London Dry and pink citrus tonic. Ideal for meet-ups with friends, Friday pick-me-ups and picnics on sunny afternoons.
A Summer to Remember
This summer, Nicholson will be first to the races, kicking off the season with Goodwood Racecourse, one of Britain’s most iconic horseracing tracks. As the official gin supplier for the venue, Nicholson Gin will take pride of place at ‘Glorious Goodwood’ (known officially as Qatar Goodwood Festival), held from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 July 2022.
Guests to the event will have the chance to sample the brand’s famous London Dry, and pay a visit to the Nicholson Gin Pavilion adjacent to the paddock. Celebrations will continue well into the evening, with Nicholson hosting a pop-up gin cart at the Lord Taverners vs Lord March Cricket Match following racing at the first day of the festival.
Nicholson Gin Cocktails to Try at Home
Want to bring the flavours of summer home? Channel your inner mixologist and give these delicious cocktails a whirl.
Original Martini
The golden age of cocktails was dominated by the classic Martini. Often drunk very dry, we have added a twist of lemon to highlight the refreshing citrus coriander notes in Nicholson Original Gin.
Ingredients
50ml Nicholson Original Gin
10ml Dry Vermouth
Garnish with a lemon peel
Method
Grab a mixing glass and then top with ice, add 50ml of Nicholson, 10ml dry vermouth, stir for 10-15 seconds, strain liquid into martini glass, grab lemon peel, split on top of glass to release citrus notes, run around rim of the glass and drop lemon peel into glass.
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Hanky Panky
Created in the early 1900s by Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman, at The Savoy’s ‘American Bar’ for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey.
Ingredients
50ml Nicholson Original Gin
50ml Antica Formula Vermouth
2 dashes of Fernet-Branca
Garnish with an orange zest twist
Method
Grab a mixing glass and top with ice and then pour 50ml of Nicholson original, 50ml antica formula, 2 dashes of fernet-branca, stir for 10-15 secs and then strain into glass. Split the Orange zest over the liquid to release the orange essence and then present the orange zest on the rim of the glass to finish.
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Nicholson Negroni
The Negroni is an adaptation of the Americano, a simple blend of Campari, vermouth and soda. The story goes that the drink was invented in Florence in 1919, when Count Negroni asked for a slug of gin in his Americano in place of the soda.
Ingredients
30ml Nicholson Original
30ml Antica Formula Vermouth
30ml Campari
Garnish with a slice of orange
Method
Take a Nicholson Tumbler and grab a mixing glass. Add 30ml Nicholson Original London Dry and then pour in 30ml Campari, finally add 30ml of Antica Formula into the mixing glass and top with ice, stir for 15 seconds. Take your tumbler and add a block of ice, strain liquid over ice. Add an Orange slice.
Nicholson 66
Created to celebrate our ancestor, William Nicholson, saving Lord’s Cricket Ground for the MCC in 1866. The Lemon Thyme reflects the herbal citrus notes at the heart of Nicholson Original Gin.
Ingredients
50ml Nicholson Original Gin
25ml Fresh lemon juice
20ml sugar syrup
Top with English sparkling wine
Garnish with a sprig of lemon thyme
Method
Put 50ml of Nicholson, 25ml of fresh lemon juice, 20ml of sugar syrup and a handful of ice cubes into a cocktail shaker and then shake for 10-15 seconds. Strain into glass, top with English sparkling wine and garnish with a sprig of lemon thyme.
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Stiff Upper Lip
Developed specially for Glorious Goodwood by Head Mixologist of the Ivy Group, Jean Vital. An elegant, highly refreshing tipple.
Ingredients
Nicholson Blood Orange Gin
Elderflower
Supusawa
Classic tonic or soda water
Basil leaf (to garnish)
Method
Add 50ml of Nicholson Blood Orange Gin, 20ml of elderflower, 25ml of Supusawa and top with a classic tonic or soda water and garnish with a basil leaf.
Bitter and Twisted
Developed specially for Glorious Goodwood by Head Mixologist of the Ivy Group, Jean Vital. Sunshine in a glass!
Ingredients
Nicholson Original London Dry Gin
Aperol
Lemon juice
Rhubarb bitters
Classic tonic
Orange peel (to garnish)
Method
Add 35ml of Nicholson Original London Dry Gin, 15ml Aperol, 20ml lemon juice, 3 dashes of rhubarb bitters over ice and top up with a classic tonic and garnish with orange peel.
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The Bloody Good Spritz
Developed specially for Glorious Goodwood to celebrate the launch of Nicholson’d Blood Orange Gin. The clue is in the name, simply delicious.
Ingredients
Nicholson Blood Orange Gin
Monins orange syrup
Tonic water
Stawberries (to garnish)
Mint (to garnish)
Method
Take a large jug and add 150ml Nicholson Blood Orange Gin, 25ml of Monins orange syrup, 600ml of premium tonic water, good quality ice and garnish with strawberries and a generous sprig of mint. Stir for 10-15 seconds. This recipe serves four highballs.
The Glorious Spritz
Developed specially for Glorious Goodwood, this mouthwatering summer spritz is served in a jug and is perfect for hot afternoons.
Ingredients
Nicholson Original Gin
Elderflower cordial
Tonic water
Cucumber shavings (to garnish)
Method
Take a large jug and add 150ml Nicholson Original Gin, 75ml Elderflower cordial, 600ml of premium tonic water add good quality ice and garnish with cucumber shavings and a generous sprig of mint. Stir for 10-15 seconds and enjoy. This recipe serves four highballs.
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For more information, please visit nicholsongin.com. Must be over 18. Enjoy responsibly.
