Tea has long been a staple cocktail ingredient, whether we’re talking about the infamous Long Island variety or The Dorchester Hotel’s iconic Her Majesty’s Cup, which combines gin with Earl Grey tea and fresh berries as an homage to the Queen. Considering it’s the nation’s favourite drink, it’s no surprise that this trend has caught like wild fire over the last few years, with bars across the country coming up with their own tea-based tipples. Now, thanks to a new release from Fortnum & Mason, you can create you own versions at home.
The legendary department store, best known for its 300-year tea pedigree, has just released the world’s first cold brew tea liqueur, which features their signature Countess Grey black tea. Expertly cold-brewed for 24 hours, the tea is then distilled in traditional copper pot stills and blended with New Forest spring water; the result is a complex, intricate flavour, with punchy bergamot and orange notes packed into every sip. Here, Fortnum’s shares three at-home cocktail recipes, featuring their Conker Countess Grey Tea Liqueur and their popular Sparkling Tea, guaranteed to add a little spice to your next tea party.
Breakfast MarTEAni
Ingredients
40ml Conker Dorset Dry Gin
25ml Conker Countess Grey Tea Liqueur
20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 spoon of Fortnum & Mason grapefruit marmalade
Method
Shake all the ingredients with ice and fine strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with lemon peel (and a piece of toast, if you fancy – it is breakfast, after all).
The Fortnum’s Tea Room Cocktail
Ingredients
40ml Conker Gin
40ml Conker Countess Grey Tea Liqueur
3 dashes of orange bitters
Ice cubes
Method
Mix all the measurements together and stir with ice. Pour into a tumbler already filled with ice cubes. To finish, garnish with a lemon peel.
Fortnum’s TSL
Ingredients
40ml Casamigos Tequila
3 lemon wedges
15ml honey
5 sage leave
Fortnum’s Sparkling Tea (top up)
Method
Place the three lemon wedges in a highball glass and muddle to extract the juice. Add the honey as well as the sage leaves, tequila and ice cubes. Stir while adding the Fortnum’s Sparkling Tea and garnish with sage leaves.
